# spore-decomp: reconstructing SporeApp.exe resource handling

> spore-decomp reconstructs behaviour from Spore's SporeApp.exe in portable C++17, currently covering DBPF, RefPack and name hashing. It annotates reimplemented functions with original addresses and provides Ghidra scripts plus a Unicorn harness for differential tests against a user's game copy. The source tree also includes matching experiments and progress records.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Binary · Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/NoahBPeterson/spore-decomp>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/NoahBPeterson/spore-decomp/blob/35666b0d4442aba86bd71df20b4fcb9bc3661be7/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/spore-decomp-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/spore-decomp-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/spore-decomp-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A user's own SporeApp.exe is needed for binary analysis and differential tests; installed Data/ files enable corpus tests.
- **Prerequisites:** Python dependencies named in the setup instructions, CMake and Ninja are needed for the documented workflow.
- **Scope:** The portable src/ reimplementation currently covers resource handling.
- **License:** GPL-2.0-only license for project-authored code; third-party components retain their own terms.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/NoahBPeterson/spore-decomp/blob/35666b0d4442aba86bd71df20b4fcb9bc3661be7/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/NoahBPeterson/spore-decomp/blob/35666b0d4442aba86bd71df20b4fcb9bc3661be7/CMakeLists.txt>

## More in Games

- [Spyro the Dragon: testing C reconstructions through function hooks](https://awesomerea.org/resources/spyro-the-dragon-function-reconstruction-case/index.md) · Case study
- [SSX 3: a work-in-progress GameCube decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ssx-3-gamecube-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Star Fox Adventures: debug build decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sfa-debug-decomp/index.md) · Case study
- [Star Fox Adventures: kiosk default.dol decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/star-fox-adventures-kiosk-dol-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Starmaster: a commented Atari 2600 disassembly](https://awesomerea.org/resources/starmaster-atari-2600-disassembly-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Starquake: BBC Micro disassembly](https://awesomerea.org/resources/starquake-bbc-micro-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.