Hexify

A Go tool that converts binary files (images, fonts, etc.) into C++ hex byte arrays for embedding directly into your C++ code.

Features

• Convert any binary file to C++ hex array format
• Automatic variable naming based on filename
• Configurable bytes per line for readable output
• Support for multiple input files
• Output to file or stdout
• Preserves file size information

Installation

1. Make sure you have Go installed (version 1.21 or later)
2. Clone or download this project
3. Build the executable:

go build -o hexify main.go

Usage

Basic Usage

# Convert a single file (auto-creates image.h)
hexify image.png

# Convert with .cpp extension (creates image.cpp)
hexify -ext cpp image.png

# Convert multiple files (creates image.h, font.h, icon.h)
hexify image.png font.ttf icon.ico

# Save output to custom file
hexify -o resources.h image.png

# Output to stdout instead of file
hexify -stdout image.png

# Specify custom variable name
hexify -var my_custom_image image.png

Command Line Options

• -o <file>: Output file (default: auto-generated .h file)
• -var <name>: Variable name for the hex array (default: auto-generated)
• -bytes <n>: Number of bytes per line (default: 16)
• -ext <ext>: Output file extension (h or cpp, default: h)
• -stdout: Output to stdout instead of file
• -h: Show help

Examples

Convert an image file (auto-creates logo.h):

hexify logo.png

Output (saved to logo.h):

// Auto-generated from: logo.png
// File size: 1234 bytes
const unsigned char logo_png_hex[] = {
    0x89, 0x50, 0x4e, 0x47, 0x0d, 0x0a, 0x1a, 0x0a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0d, 0x49, 0x48, 0x44, 0x52,
    0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x20, 0x08, 0x06, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x73, 0x7a, 0x7a,
    // ... more bytes ...
};
const unsigned int logo_png_hex_size = 1234;

Convert with .cpp extension:

hexify -ext cpp logo.png

Creates logo.cpp with the same content.

Convert with custom settings:

hexify -o resources.h -var my_logo -bytes 8 logo.png

Convert multiple files (creates separate files):

hexify image.png font.ttf icon.ico

Creates image.h, font.h, and icon.h files.

Use Cases

This tool is perfect for:

• Game Development: Embed textures, sounds, and fonts directly into your game executable
• Embedded Systems: Include configuration files, firmware updates, or resources
• Standalone Applications: Bundle resources without external file dependencies
• Cross-platform Development: Ensure resources are always available regardless of file system

C++ Usage Example

After converting your files, you can use them in your C++ code like this:

#include "resources.h"

// Use the embedded image
void displayLogo() {
    // logo_png_hex contains the PNG file data
    // logo_png_hex_size contains the file size
    displayImage(logo_png_hex, logo_png_hex_size);
}

// Use the embedded font
void loadFont() {
    loadFontFromMemory(font_ttf_hex, font_ttf_hex_size);
}

Supported File Types

This tool works with any binary file:

• Images: PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, ICO, etc.
• Fonts: TTF, OTF, etc.
• Audio: MP3, WAV, OGG, etc.
• Documents: PDF, DOC, etc.
• Any other binary file format

Building for Different Platforms

# Windows
go build -o hexify.exe main.go

# Linux
GOOS=linux go build -o hexify main.go

# macOS
GOOS=darwin go build -o hexify main.go

License

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.