Lzip
Encyclopedia
lzip is a free
, command-line
tool for the compression of data; it employs the Lempel–Ziv–Markov chain algorithm (LZMA) with a user interface that is familiar to users of usual Unix compression tools, such as gzip
and bzip2
.
The lzip program is primarily used to compress single files at a time, and archives of multiple files are frequently created by running lzip on the output of an archiver such as tar
; however, lzip is also capable of creating its own multimember archives as well as split output for the creation of multivolume archives. The file that is produced by lzip is usually given
, and the data is described by the MIME type
for each compressed stream; this is used in combination with the lziprecover program to detect and reconstruct damaged data.
The lzip suite of programs was written in C++
by Antonio Diaz and is being distributed as free software
under the terms of version 3 or later of the GNU General Public License
(GPL).
was released in 2000; a tool employing LZMA first became available on Unix-like
operating systems in 2004 when a port of the command line version of 7-Zip (p7zip) was released. In the same year, the LZMA SDK
became available, which included the program called “lzma_alone”; less than a year later, Lasse Collin released LZMA Utils, which at first only consisted of a set of wrapper scripts implementing a gzip-like interface to lzma_alone. In 2008, Antonio Diaz released lzip, which uses a proper container format with checksums and magic numbers
instead of the raw LZMA data stream, providing a complete Unix-style solution for using LZMA. Nevertheless, LZMA Utils was extended to have similar features and then renamed to XZ Utils.
employs lzip for its software packages.
In popular Linux distributions, lzip can usually be installed from official package repositories. GNOME's archiving tool, File Roller
, supports lzip files.
The lzip suite of programs is directly competing with XZ Utils.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, command-line
Command-line interface
A command-line interface is a mechanism for interacting with a computer operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks...
tool for the compression of data; it employs the Lempel–Ziv–Markov chain algorithm (LZMA) with a user interface that is familiar to users of usual Unix compression tools, such as gzip
Gzip
Gzip is any of several software applications used for file compression and decompression. The term usually refers to the GNU Project's implementation, "gzip" standing for GNU zip. It is based on the DEFLATE algorithm, which is a combination of Lempel-Ziv and Huffman coding...
and bzip2
Bzip2
bzip2 is a free and open source implementation of the Burrows–Wheeler algorithm. It is developed and maintained by Julian Seward. Seward made the first public release of bzip2, version 0.15, in July 1996.-Compression efficiency:...
.
The lzip program is primarily used to compress single files at a time, and archives of multiple files are frequently created by running lzip on the output of an archiver such as tar
Tar
Tar is modified pitch produced primarily from the wood and roots of pine by destructive distillation under pyrolysis. Production and trade in tar was a major contributor in the economies of Northern Europe and Colonial America. Its main use was in preserving wooden vessels against rot. The largest...
; however, lzip is also capable of creating its own multimember archives as well as split output for the creation of multivolume archives. The file that is produced by lzip is usually given
.lz as its filename extensionFilename extension
A filename extension is a suffix to the name of a computer file applied to indicate the encoding of its contents or usage....
, and the data is described by the MIME type
application/x-lzip. As for the file format, special emphasis has been put on enabling integrity checks by means of an integrated 32-bit checksumChecksum
A checksum or hash sum is a fixed-size datum computed from an arbitrary block of digital data for the purpose of detecting accidental errors that may have been introduced during its transmission or storage. The integrity of the data can be checked at any later time by recomputing the checksum and...
for each compressed stream; this is used in combination with the lziprecover program to detect and reconstruct damaged data.
The lzip suite of programs was written in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
by Antonio Diaz and is being distributed as free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
under the terms of version 3 or later of the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
(GPL).
History
7-Zip7-Zip
7-Zip is an open source file archiver. 7-Zip operates with the 7z archive format, but can read and write several other archive formats. The program can be used from a command line interface, graphical user interface, or with Microsoft Windows shell integration. 7-Zip began in 1999 and is actively...
was released in 2000; a tool employing LZMA first became available on Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
operating systems in 2004 when a port of the command line version of 7-Zip (p7zip) was released. In the same year, the LZMA SDK
Software development kit
A software development kit is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.It may be something as simple...
became available, which included the program called “lzma_alone”; less than a year later, Lasse Collin released LZMA Utils, which at first only consisted of a set of wrapper scripts implementing a gzip-like interface to lzma_alone. In 2008, Antonio Diaz released lzip, which uses a proper container format with checksums and magic numbers
Magic number (programming)
In computer programming, the term magic number has multiple meanings. It could refer to one or more of the following:* A constant numerical or text value used to identify a file format or protocol; for files, see List of file signatures...
instead of the raw LZMA data stream, providing a complete Unix-style solution for using LZMA. Nevertheless, LZMA Utils was extended to have similar features and then renamed to XZ Utils.
Adoption
The GNU/Linux distribution DragoraDragora
Dragora GNU/Linux is an Argentinean distribution focused in freedom, stability, and support. It's entirely written from scratch sharing some similarities with Slackware. It has a very simple packaging system that allows installing, removing, upgrading and creating packages. Novice users might find...
employs lzip for its software packages.
In popular Linux distributions, lzip can usually be installed from official package repositories. GNOME's archiving tool, File Roller
File Roller
File Roller is the archive manager of the GNOME desktop environment.-Features:File Roller Archive Manager can:* Create and modify archives.* View the content of an archive.* View a file contained in the archive.* Extract files from the archive....
, supports lzip files.
The lzip suite of programs is directly competing with XZ Utils.