Install REA on Windows

Unofficial guide. This site is an independent community guide and is not affiliated with the REA project. For authoritative docs see the official REA website and the morluto/rea GitHub repository. Commands here are taken from the official README/docs (checked 2026-10-13); REA changes quickly, so verify against the official docs.

REA runs on Windows, but native-binary analysis there is labeled experimental "Windows Ghidra P0" by the project. This page collects what the official docs say.

Requirements

Windows 10+ x64, target and temp folders on a fixed local NTFS volume
Node.js 22.x (≥22.19), 24.x (≥24.11) or 26+
For native binaries: Ghidra 12.1.x (verified with 12.1.4) you install yourself, plus a 64-bit full JDK 21+

1. Install REA and connect your agent

npm install --global rea-agents
rea setup

Or skip the global install with npx rea-agents setup. On Windows, setup wraps package-runner commands in cmd.exe /d /c so clients can start them.

2. Point REA at Ghidra (PowerShell)

$env:GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR = "C:\tools\ghidra_12.1.4_PUBLIC"
$env:JAVA_HOME = "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21"
rea doctor --json
rea providers --json

The Windows guide also sets $env:REA_ANALYSIS_PROVIDER = "ghidra" to select the provider.

What works on Windows (and what doesn't)

Native x86 / x86-64 PE applications and DLLs, through 25 read-only Ghidra operations
Hopper installation is unavailable on Windows; setup never installs Ghidra, Java or Python
Annotations/renames and Ghidra GUI state are not available through this provider
.NET assemblies use a separate execution-free provider (see .NET guide); JavaScript/Electron analysis needs no engine

Known Windows issues

Open bug reports at the time of writing include an intermittent Open Windows path component failed [C:\] (Win32 32) error in analyze-javascript-application (#2257). If you hit it, update REA first and check the issue.

FAQ

Does REA work on Windows?

Yes. Setup and static JavaScript/.NET analysis work; native PE analysis via Ghidra is an experimental read-only boundary on Windows 10+ x64.

Can REA install Hopper on Windows?

No. Hopper installation is unavailable on Windows; use an existing Ghidra 12.1.x install or the IDA adapter.