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GTKWave vs WaveForms

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

GTKWave

6.0
Developer Tools

GTK+ based wave viewer

WaveForms

7.0
Developer Tools

Virtual instrument suite for Digilent Test and Measurement devices

Metric GTKWave WaveForms
Category Developer Tools Developer Tools
AI Score 6.0 7.0
30-day Installs 1.2K 47
90-day Installs 4.0K 118
365-day Installs 15.0K 142
Version 3.3.107 3.25.1
Auto-updates No No
Deprecated Yes No
GitHub Stars 920 59
GitHub Forks 159 19
Open Issues 197 5
License GPL-2.0 MIT
Language C Python
Last GitHub Commit 2mo ago 1y ago
First Seen Jan 22, 2017 Jan 8, 2026

Reviews

GTKWave

GTKWave is a versatile wave viewer supporting multiple file formats, ideal for hardware engineers and digital circuit designers. It offers a robust solution for viewing LXT, VZT, FST, and Verilog VCD files, making it an essential tool for those working with digital designs.

GTKWave displays waveform data from various file formats, enabling detailed analysis of digital circuits.

Pros

  • + Supports multiple file formats for comprehensive waveform analysis
  • + Open-source with active development, ensuring continued updates
  • + Cross-platform compatibility, usable on Unix, Win32, and macOS

Cons

  • - Known issues with launching on macOS Sonoma
  • - High-DPI display issues affecting UI quality

WaveForms

WaveForms is a virtual instrument suite designed for Digilent Test and Measurement devices, offering a comprehensive solution for engineers and researchers. It provides a wide range of tools for device interaction, making it particularly useful for those working with specific hardware.

WaveForms controls and interacts with Digilent's Test and Measurement devices through virtual instruments.

Pros

  • + Open-source with an MIT license
  • + Supports various instruments via SDK
  • + Python-based for developer familiarity
  • + Active development and updates

Cons

  • - No auto-update feature
  • - Niche appeal limiting widespread adoption
  • - Open issues may affect functionality