Can inspect a binary protocol in a text editor? Or do I have to go hunt down a hex editor? Can I use the protocol with simple command line tools or do I have

Can inspect a binary protocol in a text editor? Or do I have to go hunt down a hex editor? Can I use the protocol with simple command line tools or do I have to spend several hours coding up a protocol handler? Will implementers be more or less likely to fuck up their implementation of a binary protocol? How will you version the binary protocol? How will you maintain backwards compatibility?