tgz vs zip downloads

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Level 1

29 points

tgz vs zip downloads

Hi all. I suspect either is okay, but just thought I'd ask. I've been offered the choice of downloading a .tgz file or a .zip file. Can I indeed choose either? Any advantage one has over the other? Thanks in advance.

Posted on Feb 25, 2014 3:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

C F McBlob

Level 4

2,885 points

Feb 25, 2014 4:38 AM in response to EddieT

tar (which creates tgz files) in itself just bundles files together, while zip applies compression as well.

They will both open the same with Stuffit™ or TheUnarchiver™, but the zip will generally be a smaller file and download faster.

tgz is most connomly used on Linux systems.

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Answer 2

EddieT Author

Level 1

29 points

Feb 25, 2014 5:03 AM in response to C F McBlob

Thanks, CF. When I downloaded the .tgz file, like you said, it downloaded as a zipped .tar file, when, when clicked on just automatically unzipped on my OS 10.9.1. When I clicked on the zip file, it automatically unzipped and downloaded. The zip file, in this case, was actually a bit bigger.

Thanks again!

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