PAQ software series offer high-compression rates at a cost of memory and speed.
Compression is a simple process and can be initiated by using the command "paq8o4 -5 archive [files_or_folders...]", where the -5 option is the default. The software necessitates 233 MB of memory for both compression and decompression, and available options range from -1 (35 MB) to -8 (1643 MB). Greater memory usage commonly results in greater compression rates.
Additionally, the Windows version allows for compression and decompression by simply dropping files or folders onto the paq8o4.exe icon located on the desktop. The compressed files and folders have a .paq8o4 extension while the original input remains unaltered.
It is important to note that files can only be decompressed using the same version of PAQ that was used to compress them. However, links to all versions can be accessed on the website. Decompression time and memory requirements mirror those of compression.
As PAQ is still experimental, users should expect frequent updates. Three different files exist within the software series, including paq8o64, a version designed specifically for the AMD64, paq8osse, developed for the SSE2, and paq8o, intended for generic MMX.
Version 8Ov2: N/A