[Linux] C Shell (csh) bzip2 Uso: Compress and decompress files

Overview

The bzip2 command is a file compression utility that reduces the size of files using the Burrows-Wheeler block sorting text compression algorithm. It is particularly effective for compressing text files and can significantly decrease file size, making it easier to store and transfer data.

Usage

The basic syntax of the bzip2 command is as follows:

bzip2 [options] [arguments]

Common Options

• -d, --decompress: Decompress the specified file.
• -k, --keep: Keep the original file after compression.
• -f, --force: Force compression or decompression, even if the output file already exists.
• -v, --verbose: Display the compression ratio and other details during the process.
• -z, --compress: Compress the specified file (default action).

Common Examples

Here are some practical examples of using the bzip2 command:

1. Compress a file:

   bzip2 myfile.txt
   

   This command compresses myfile.txt and creates a new file named myfile.txt.bz2.

2. Decompress a file:

   bzip2 -d myfile.txt.bz2
   

   This command decompresses myfile.txt.bz2 back to myfile.txt.

3. Keep the original file while compressing:

   bzip2 -k myfile.txt
   

   This command compresses myfile.txt and retains the original file.

4. Force compression:

   bzip2 -f myfile.txt
   

   This command compresses myfile.txt, overwriting any existing compressed file without prompting.

5. Verbose output during compression:

   bzip2 -v myfile.txt
   

   This command compresses myfile.txt and provides detailed output about the compression process.

Tips

• Use the -k option if you want to keep the original files when compressing.
• For large files, consider using bzip2 in a script to automate the compression process.
• Always check the integrity of your compressed files with bzip2 -t filename.bz2 to ensure they are not corrupted.