Getting Started with RegexCraft

What is RegexCraft?

RegexCraft is a modern, cross-platform regular expression workbench built for multiple regex flavors. Test patterns under .NET, PCRE2, and JavaScript, with approximate testing for Python, Java, PHP, and more — plus professional highlighting, replace/split previews, GREP across files, multi-flavor Compare, code generation, and a live analysis tree.

Current version: 1.2.0

Download (pre-built)

Portable self-contained builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS are on the public RegexCraft-Releases page (or regexcraft.com/download). Unzip and run RegexCraft.App / RegexCraft.App.exe.

License: free for personal use; business use requires a paid license (honor system — no keys). See Pricing and the EULA.

First five minutes

1. Launch the app — the window title is RegexCraft, with a sample email pattern pre-filled.
2. Watch matches highlight in the Subject editor and expand groups on the right.
3. Export matches with CSV / JSON / Copy JSON next to Run (see Exporting).
4. Expand the Analysis Tree — named groups and sequence parts should appear nested; click a node to select it in the editor.
5. Open the Flavor dropdown — try JavaScript, Python, or PHP. Note the fidelity banner when testing is approximate.
6. Search Tokens for named and click to insert a named group.
7. Open Replace, set a replacement like [$1] or [${user}], and preview highlighted substitutions.
8. Try Split with a pattern like ,\s* on a comma-separated subject.
9. Open Generate — C# code appears immediately; switch language to see other snippets and Copy code.
10. Open GREP, pick a project folder, set include globs (e.g. *.cs), and Search.
11. Open Compare (Ctrl+6) — select 2–4 flavors and review side-by-side match results and differences.
12. Open Library — load a Built-in pattern (email, UUID, …), or save your own with category/tags.
13. Cycle Theme (System → Light → Dark), quit, and relaunch — your theme should restore.
14. Open Help → About RegexCraft for version, EULA/pricing links, and the optional business-license checkbox.

Keyboard shortcuts

Learn more

• Flavors & testing fidelity
• Testing regular expressions
• Comparing flavors
• Replacing
• GREP (file search & replace)
• Generating code
• Library and History
• Theme & appearance
• Architecture

Logs

Rolling logs live under logs/ (for example logs/regexcraft-20260711.log). Retention defaults to 7 days via appsettings.json.