Linux compression shootout
I decided to run some tests to see which compression methods are the most effective and most efficient. I tested the 4 main utilities that I know of (info-zip, gzip, bzip, and compress)
I've included my results below, but I will give you some of my feelings as well. Basically it appears that tar + gzip is the fastest/most effective for everyday use. Seperating the commands (tar and then a seperate gzip/bzip) doesn't add any extra compression. Bzip is a very effective compression method, but it's also considerably slower. Info-zip doesn't compress very well, and it's only moderately speedy. However info-zip is very cross platform compatible, while the others are not.
I've included my results below, but I will give you some of my feelings as well. Basically it appears that tar + gzip is the fastest/most effective for everyday use. Seperating the commands (tar and then a seperate gzip/bzip) doesn't add any extra compression. Bzip is a very effective compression method, but it's also considerably slower. Info-zip doesn't compress very well, and it's only moderately speedy. However info-zip is very cross platform compatible, while the others are not.
Apache (11243520 bytes - 972 files) ----------------------------------- info zip: real 0m4.140s 2883675 bytes apache.zip zip -9r apache.zip apache_1.3.23/* tar + gzip: real 0m2.876s 2223231 bytes apache.tar.gz tar cfvpz apache.tar.gz apache_1.3.23 tar and seperate gzip: tar took: real 0m0.261s gzip took: real 0m2.462s 2223242 bytes apache.tar.gz tar cfvp apache.tar apache_1.3.23/ && gzip apache.tar tar + bzip: real 0m11.456s 1760375 bytes apache.tar.bz tar cfvpj apache.tar.bz apache_1.3.23 tar then bzip: tar: real 0m0.261s bzip2: real 0m11.235s 1760375 bytes apache.tar.bz2 tar cfvp apachec.tar apache_1.3.23/ && bzip2 apache.tar tar then compress: tar: real 0m0.261s compress: real 0m2.550s 3531552 bytes apache.tar.Z tar cfvp apache.tar apache_1.3.23/ && compress apache.tar MP3 (3229988 bytes - 1 file) ---------------------------- info zip: real 0m1.540s 3156391 bytes quite_bitter_beings.zip zip -9v quite_bitter_beings.zip quite_bitter_beings.mp3 tar + gzip: real 0m1.373s 3156430 bytes quite_bitter_beings.tar.gz tar cfvpz quite_bitter_beings.tar.gz quite_bitter_beings.mp3 tar then gzip: tar: real 0m0.048s gzip: real 0m1.405s 3156454 bytes quite_bitter_beings.tar.gz tar cfvp quite_bitter_beings.tar quite_bitter_beings.mp3 && gzip quite_bitter_beings.tar tar + bzip: real 0m6.680s 3139187 bytes quite_bitter_beings.tar.bz tar cfvpj quite_bitter_beings.tar.bz quite_bitter_beings.mp3 tar cfvp quite_bitter_beings.tar quite_bitter_beings.mp3 && time bzip2 quite_bitter_beings.tar tar then bzip: tar: real 0m0.048s bzip2: real 0m6.624s 3139187 bytes quite_bitter_beings.tar.bz2 tar cfvp quite_bitter_beings.tar quite_bitter_beings.mp3 && bzip2 quite_bitter_beings.tar tar then compress: tar: real 0m0.261s compress: real 0m1.298s Isn't working!!! tar cfvp quite_bitter_beings.tar quite_bitter_beings.mp3 && compress quite_bitter_beings.tar