The .tzst file format is a tar archive that uses the Zstandard (zstd) compression algorithm. This format is rapidly gaining popularity due to its exceptional performance and modern features. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of the advanced capabilities of the .tzst format and provides a detailed guide for managing these files across different platforms.

The Superiority of the tzst Archive Format

The .tzst archive format represents a significant advancement in modern compression technology. It combines the traditional tar archiving method with the cutting-edge Zstandard compression algorithm to create a file format that is efficient, secure, and feature-rich.

Technical Foundation

A .tzst file is essentially a tar archive compressed with Zstandard. It works by first bundling files into a tar archive (a “tarball”) and then applying the Zstandard compression algorithm to reduce the overall file size. This two-step process is particularly popular for backups, as it efficiently compresses large sets of files while maintaining fast decompression speeds.

The Power of the Zstandard Algorithm

Developed by Meta, Zstandard is a lossless data compression algorithm that incorporates several groundbreaking technical features. It combines the latest breakthroughs in compression, such as Finite State Entropy, with a performance-first design philosophy.

Performance Advantages:

  • Achieves 10-15% smaller file sizes than existing algorithms at the same compression speed.
  • Decompression speed is nearly twice as fast as traditional algorithms.
  • On the Silesia corpus, Zstandard’s decompression speed is approximately 550 MB/s, compared to zlib’s 270 MB/s.

Key Technical Features:

  • Uses Finite State Entropy (FSE) for advanced compression encoding, based on Asymmetric Numeral Systems (ANS).
  • Supports fractional bit encoding, which is more efficient than traditional Huffman coding that can only use whole integer bits.
  • Eliminates conditional branching to avoid CPU pipeline stalls, ensuring consistently high performance.

Compression Performance Comparison

Real-world test data demonstrates Zstandard’s outstanding compression efficiency:

Compression Algorithm Average Compression Ratio
GZIP 2.56:1
Zstandard 2.86:1
Brotli 3.08:1

Compared to other algorithms, Zstandard offers an optimal balance between speed and compression ratio. Tests show that zstd -3 provides better compression than any gzip mode while also being faster.

Compression Levels and Optimization

Zstandard supports 22 granular compression levels for fine-tuning:

  • Levels 1-3: Fast compression, resulting in larger files.
  • Level 3 (Default): A good balance between speed and compression.
  • Levels 10-15: Better compression ratios at slower speeds.
  • Levels 20-22: Maximum compression, but significantly slower.

This level of control allows Zstandard to compete with both the fastest and the highest-compression algorithms across various use cases, all while maintaining a significant decompression speed advantage.

Industry Adoption and Practical Applications

The .tzst format has been adopted by several key platforms:

  • Duplicati backup software: Used as its primary archive format.
  • Plesk server management: Used for backup and restore operations since version 18.0.40.
  • Nodecraft: Employed for modern compressed archives of server files.

Plesk switched from GZIP/DEFLATE to .tzst due to its faster compression speeds and better compression ratios. The company officially advises against switching back to the older format, as it would degrade web server performance.

The superiority of the .tzst archive format lies in its technical innovation, performance advantages, security features, and modern implementation, marking a major milestone in the evolution toward more efficient and secure compression technologies.

Platform Support

The .tzst format enjoys excellent support on all major operating systems.

Windows

Windows 11 added native support for the .tzst format through the KB5031455 preview cumulative update, allowing users to handle these files directly in File Explorer. In addition to native support, several third-party tools are available:

  • 7-Zip with ZSTD support: A custom build of 7-Zip that includes support for .tzst.
  • WinRAR v6.x: The latest versions of WinRAR now support the .tzst archive format.
  • PeaZip: A free RAR/ZIP opener application that can extract .tzst archives on Windows.

macOS

Mac users can manage .tzst files in the following ways:

  • Homebrew: Install the zstd utility with brew install zstd, then decompress files using the zstd -d yourfile.tzst command.
  • Keka: A popular GUI archive manager that natively supports the .tzst format.
  • Terminal: Use the zstd command-line tool for manual decompression.

Linux

Linux systems provide comprehensive support for .tzst:

  • Native tar Support: Many modern Linux distributions can decompress .tzst files directly using the command tar -xvf filename.tzst --use-compress-program=pzstd.
  • Archive Managers: Various archive managers in Linux desktop environments (such as File Roller) support .tzst archives out of the box.
  • Command-Line Tools: The zstd tool package can be easily installed via system package managers like apt, yum, or pacman.

Cross-Platform Tool: tzst

tzst

tzst is not just a format but also a Python library for creating and managing .tzst / .tar.zst archive files. Its Command-Line Interface (CLI) offers a completely consistent user experience across Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a powerful tool for cross-platform file management and development.

Installation

You can choose one of the following three installation methods based on your needs:

  1. Standalone Binary This is the most convenient method as it has no dependency on a system Python installation and often delivers the best performance.

  2. pip Installation If you already have Python and pip installed, this is the traditional way to install it. Run the following command in your terminal:

     pip install tzst

  3. Run with uvx (Installation-Free) uvx is a modern Python package runner that can execute tzst directly without installing it globally or in a virtual environment. It is often faster than running with pip/python. Run the following command in your terminal:

     uvx tzst [COMMAND] [ARGS]...

    For example, to view the help message: uvx tzst --help

Usage

The tzst CLI is simple and intuitive, using subcommands to perform different operations.

  • Create an archive (a)

      tzst a <archive_name>.tzst <file_or_dir_1> [<file_or_dir_2> ...]

    Example:

      tzst a my_archive.tzst file1.txt my_directory/

  • Extract an archive (x)

      tzst x <archive_name>.tzst

    Example:

      tzst x my_archive.tzst

  • List archive contents (l)

      tzst l <archive_name>.tzst

    Example:

      tzst l my_archive.tzst

  • Test archive integrity (t)

      tzst t <archive_name>.tzst

    Example:

      tzst t my_archive.tzst

The tool also includes advanced features such as intelligent file extension handling, adjustable compression levels from 1 to 22, a memory-efficient streaming mode for large archives, atomic operations with automatic cleanup, and comprehensive error handling.

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