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A WAD editor is a program designed to make editing WAD files easier. It simplifies the process of creating WAD files by either adding a graphical user interface or by doing raw calculations for the user.
The below is a list of WAD editors of different kinds. The SRB2 community, in general, uses one of the following WAD editors.
Map Editors
Doom Builder
Doom Builder is a Windows-based open source map and script editor designed for Doom games. SRB2 Doom Builder was built on top of an old version of Doom Builder. However, the more recent Doom Builder 2.0 is the most popular alternative to SRB2 Doom Builder as it offers some new features. It is not officially supported, but unofficial configuration files are available for it.
SRB2 Doom Builder
SRB2 Doom Builder is a map editor tailored specifically for use with SRB2, and is therefore widely used. It is maintained by Oogaland, a community regular. Many of its SRB2-specific features broke with the release of Version 2.0, but it still remains the most popular map editor, as well as one of the two officially supported ones.
SRB2 Workbench
SRB2 Workbench is an in-progress map and script editor designed specifically for Sonic Robo Blast 2, whereas SRB2 Doom Builder is based off of the original Doom Builder. It is currently in development and is only for release to users who submit a correct password, though it can be checked out and compiled from the SVN repository. Together with SRB2 Doom Builder, it is the only officially supported map editor for SRB2, and an official configuration file is available for it.
WadAuthor
WadAuthor is an old map editor that was a popular alternative to SRB2 Doom Builder during the Final Demo era. However, support for it was abandoned with the release of Version 2.0, as no configuration file for it was released. Thus, it isn't used anymore by the SRB2 community.
DeePsea
DeePsea is a shareware Windows-based map and lump editor. The demo version will load, but not save, maps with more than 800 linedefs and/or 1200 sidedefs. This restriction can be unlocked with pay. The lump editor is unrestricted.
Yadex
Yadex is a map editor for Linux. It is unique for this reason and provides alternatives for Unix users who don't want to use WINE. It is, however, extremely complicated.
SLADE
SLADE is a recent map editor for Windows, with features comparable to Doom Builder as well as newer ones.
Lump Editors
Be sure to know that with a Lump Editor, you can try to open more than just a WAD file. You can, for example, open a PLR file, which is where the Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles sprites are located. On the Open window, type in the box sonic.plr (or the file that you want to open) and you'll be able to edit it just as any other WAD file. Just remember to keep a backup first. It should be noted that these PLR and other files are merely renamed WADs.
XWE
XWE is a Windows-based lump editor. It's quite powerful, but it also has major quirks.
SLumpEd
SLumpEd is an open-source Windows-based lump editor that is quite comparable to XWE. It doesn't have the bad quirks XWE has, but it's prone to other bugs.
Lumpmod
Lumpmod is a command-line lump editor for Windows, released under the GNU GPL. It's very powerful, since batch scripts can be written for it. However, it only handles moving around of lumps and not actual formats.
Wintex
Wintex is a rather antiquated Windows-based lump editor. It is powerful, but very old. Since it's a 16-bit program, it won't work with the x64 editions of Windows.
WADMangle
WADMangle is a recent lump editor for Windows, released under the GNU GPL. It is highly extensible using plugins.
Miscellaneous
CleanWAD
A small utility that processes a WAD file and optimizes it as much as possible. In other words, it reduces the size of the WAD file. XWE has this feature built in but it might not be as effective.
ZenNode
A very widely used nodebuilder. It's included with SRB2 Doom Builder and is enabled by default. Users of other map editors can download ZenNode manually.
ZDBSP
ZDoom's internal nodebuilder, which, while works, causes some graphical glitches on bigger maps. It is, however, extremely fast, as it is used by ZDoom to build nodes on loading each map.