Source code in xz format

[cheesedude]

Greetings . I used VLC Media Player for a while, switched to KMPlayer and due to their recent virus issue, am looking at VLC again. I love open source software. I'm a Windows guy by the way with no experience using Linux--yet. One day when I find the time I'll download a Linux distro and devote some time to learning it.

One of the things I wanted to do is download the VLC source and spend a few hours looking it over tonight. I doubt I have the skill to be a contributor, but you never know. I can learn anything and I love writing code. Problem is that the source is archived in a xz format which is quite obscure. In fact, this is the first time I have ever encountered that xz format. There are not a whole lot of programs available for Windows to extract from that format. 7-Zip is one. Not much else.

I am wondering: is there any advantage to archiving the source code in a xz format instead of a more widely used gz or other format? Seems to me this is just another roadblock one has to get around and I cannot see any point in erecting roadblocks unless you are trying to keep people out of your clique of Linux wizards. As much as I want to look over the VLC source code, I can't say I want to download and install 7-Zip to use it only one time.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-sources.html

[JSLover]

Problem is that the source is archived in a xz format which is quite obscure.

...xz, as well as lzip, are 2 semi-new formats, that are better than zip (or any other compression format). Their use should be encouraged.

In fact, this is the first time I have ever encountered that xz format.

...a few months ago, when I stumbled on the xz format (not sure where, possibly here with VLC), I thought it was just a typo of gz...but, after Googling, I learned it was a new format!...so it's kinda new to me too!

I can't say I want to download and install 7-Zip to use it only one time.

...you shouldn't use it only once, you should use it as your PRIMARY unzipping program.

[cheesedude]

Problem is that the source is archived in a xz format which is quite obscure.

...xz, as well as lzip, are 2 semi-new formats, that are better than zip (or any other compression format). Their use should be encouraged.

I doubt that the xz format is much better and no, something obscure should not be used just because somebody wants to feel cool requiring people to hunt down and install a program to unpack an archive format nobody uses.

I can't say I want to download and install 7-Zip to use it only one time.

...you shouldn't use it only once, you should use it as your PRIMARY unzipping program.

No, I will not be using 7-Zip. WinRAR does everything I need (including conventional gz and tar formats plus 7z and many more that nobody uses) and I am not going to risk downloading obscure programs from sources I don't trust just because somebody wants to make something off limits to the rest of the world.

Thanks, but I think I will move on. The last thing I want to do is waste my time learning something that a bunch of Linux snobs intentionally make difficult for outsiders to learn.

[Arite]

Support for *.xz archives was added in WinRAR 5.00 beta 1 (see the changelog here). You can get the newest version, currently 5.00 beta 8, from here:
http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm

Arite.

[JSLover]

No, I will not be using 7-Zip. WinRAR...

...wow, how did I KNOW you used WinRAR. Have fun with your payware.

I am not going to risk downloading obscure programs from sources I don't trust...

...so you have to pay for it, before you trust it?

Thanks, but I think I will move on.

...goodbye!

But seriously, why does anybody use WinRAR??? Why? It's PAYWARE. Payware is the root of all evil. I would never suggest anyone use WinRAR in a million years.

I love open source software.

...yet you use payware?!? Does that make sense?...if you "love" open source, use it!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I doubt that the xz format is much better and no, something obscure should not be used just because somebody wants to feel cool requiring people to hunt down and install a program to unpack an archive format nobody uses.

Yes, it is based on lzma and yes it is MUCH better.

And yes, ALL open source software are slowly moving to .xz

And if you care about the source of open source software, having 7-zip is not asking for much. Especially since it is the only correct open source unarchiver on Windows.

Topic closed.