XZ is a data compression software that uses the LZMA2 algorithm. It is capable of compressing large files, resulting in smaller sizes and faster transfer times.
XZ Utils is a free general-purpose data compression software that excels at having a high compression ratio. It was primarily written for POSIX-like systems such as GNU/Linux and *BSDs but is also compatible with some non-POSIX systems like Windows. It is an upgrade to LZMA Utils and has a modified core compression code. XZ Utils use LZMA2, which is the primary compression algorithm, and it is utilized inside the .xz container format.
With XZ Utils, output sizes are reduced by 30% compared to gzip and 15% compared to bzip2 in typical files. It encompasses multiple components, including liblzma, xz, xzdec, a set of shell scripts, and emulation of command-line tools of LZMA Utils that make the transition more manageable. XZ Utils provide a compression library with an API similar to that of zlib, making it easier to use.
While liblzma has a zlib-like API, it doesn't contain any file I/O functions. However, a separate I/O library is in the works, which would facilitate handling of .gz, .bz2, and .xz files with an easy-to-use API.
The public domain parts of XZ Utils, including the most interesting ones like liblzma, can be used for whatever purpose. However, some parts, such as the build system and some utilities, are under different free software licenses, including GNU LGPL version 2.1, GNU GPL version 2, or GNU GPL version 3.
Overall, XZ Utils are an excellent option for data compression, providing high compression ratio, efficient output sizes and being compatible with different systems.
With XZ Utils, output sizes are reduced by 30% compared to gzip and 15% compared to bzip2 in typical files. It encompasses multiple components, including liblzma, xz, xzdec, a set of shell scripts, and emulation of command-line tools of LZMA Utils that make the transition more manageable. XZ Utils provide a compression library with an API similar to that of zlib, making it easier to use.
While liblzma has a zlib-like API, it doesn't contain any file I/O functions. However, a separate I/O library is in the works, which would facilitate handling of .gz, .bz2, and .xz files with an easy-to-use API.
The public domain parts of XZ Utils, including the most interesting ones like liblzma, can be used for whatever purpose. However, some parts, such as the build system and some utilities, are under different free software licenses, including GNU LGPL version 2.1, GNU GPL version 2, or GNU GPL version 3.
Overall, XZ Utils are an excellent option for data compression, providing high compression ratio, efficient output sizes and being compatible with different systems.
What's New
Version 4.999.9 Beta: N/A