5 Must-Know Linux Command Line Archive Tools – Part 1

Managing archived files is a common task in Linux. This article, the first of a two-part series, explores five powerful command-line archive tools, detailing their features and usage with examples.

1. The tar Command: A Versatile Archiving Utility

tar, originally a Tape Archiving Program, is the standard UNIX/Linux archiving tool. It's evolved into a versatile utility capable of handling various archive formats. Key options include:

• -A: Append to existing archives.
• -c: Create a new archive.
• -d: Compare archive contents with the filesystem.
• -j: bzip2 compression.
• -r: Append files to an existing archive.
• -t: List archive contents.
• -u: Update an existing archive.
• -x: Extract files from an archive.
• -z: gzip compression.
• --delete: Delete files from an archive.

Creating a tar archive:

tar -zcvf archive_name.tar.gz /path/to/directory

Extracting a tar archive:

tar -zxvf archive_name.tar.gz

For more comprehensive examples, refer to our guide on Tar Command Examples in Linux.

2. shar (Shell Archive): A Self-Extracting Legacy Tool

shar creates self-extracting archives. While a legacy tool, it's noteworthy for its plain-text format. However, its executable nature presents a potential security risk. Key options include:

• -o: Specify output archive filename.
• -l: Limit output size without splitting.
• -L: Limit output size and split the archive.
• -n: Specify archive name in the header.
• -a: Automatically generate headers.

Creating a shar archive:

shar file_name.extension > file_name.shar

Extracting a shar archive:

unshar file_name.shar

Note: -o is required with -l or -L; -n is required with -a.

3. ar (Archiver): Primarily for Object Files

ar is used for creating and manipulating archives, especially binary object file libraries. While it can handle other archive types, tar has largely superseded it. Its primary use today is managing static library files. Key options include:

• -d: Delete members from the archive.
• -m: Move members within the archive.
• -p: Print specific archive members.
• -q: Quick append.
• -r: Insert file members.
• -s: Add an index to the archive.
• -a: Add files to existing archive members.

Creating an ar archive:

ar cr libmylib.a file1.o file2.o

Extracting an ar archive:

ar x libmylib.a

4. cpio (Copy In and Out): A General-Purpose Archiver

cpio is a versatile archiving tool used by RPM and in Linux kernel initramfs. It's also important in Apple's Installer (as pax). Key options include:

• -0: Null-terminated filenames.
• -a: Reset access times.
• -A: Append to an archive.
• -b: Byte swapping.
• -d: Create directories as needed.

Creating a cpio archive:

ls | cpio -ov > archive.cpio

Extracting a cpio archive:

cpio -idv

5. gzip: Compression and Decompression

gzip is a popular compression utility, often used with tar to create .tar.gz or .tgz archives. It also supports file concatenation. Key options include:

• --stdout or --to-stdout: Output to standard output.
• --decompress or --uncompress: Decompress a file.
• -d: Decompress a file.
• -f: Force compression or decompression.

Creating a gzip compressed archive (using tar):

tar -cvzf archive_name.tar.gz /path/to/directory

Extracting a gzip compressed archive:

gunzip archive_name.tar.gz  # then tar -xvf archive_name.tar

Note: Data recovery from corrupted .gz files is difficult. Multiple backups are recommended.

Conclusion:

This part introduced five essential Linux command-line archive tools. Part 2 will cover five more. Stay tuned for more Linux tips and tricks!

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