Natively 16-bit sophisticated cross-reference DOS program. Convenient way to test NTVDM support on Windows 10 x86.
Publisher’s description
What is XREF?
XREF is an open-source program for Windows from Ethan Winer and Gene Buckle. It is written in QuickBASIC.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 32-bit as Portable. The main installer is 175 KB. It runs without installation (portable).
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (geneb/XREF) has 3 stars.
Project description on GitHub: “Don Malin's XREF - The Most Sophisticated Cross-Reference Program Ever Developed”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Small download (175 KB)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
In short: XREF is an open-source Windows tool for 32-bit PCs.
Is XREF safe to download?
- The file is served by raw.githubusercontent.com; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
6EC1160E99A7E4AF76AA14123E5D60FA9F143BB331B52F581E418FC68E19A71F· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Latest | April 27, 2026 | 175 KB | 32-bit Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id DonMalin.XREF -eRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Ethan Winer and Gene Buckle
- Licence
- Public domain
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/geneb/XREF
- Written in
- QuickBASIC
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1
- Released
- April 27, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- April 27, 2026
- Versions listed
- 1
- GitHub stars
- 3
- GitHub forks
- 3
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- DonMalin.XREF
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Frequently asked questions
Is XREF free?
Yes. XREF is open-source software under the Public domain licence.
Is XREF safe to download?
The download comes from raw.githubusercontent.com; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install XREF with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does XREF run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Can I use XREF without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.