Ouch

(De)compression CLI.

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Console’s review

· Reviewed by David Mytton

What we like

Simple CLI to compress or decompress. Automatically detects the right algorithm based on the file extension (or file signature) - no need to specify flags. Can decompress multiple files of multiple types in one go. List archive contents (with tree view). Static MUSL (Rust) binary. Open source.

Tradeoffs

.zip doesn’t support streaming. Doesn’t support adding/removing files from an existing archive.

Is Ouch a fit?

Based on Console’s review published on 2023-03-16. Summary updated .

Who it’s for

Developers needing a simple compression tool

Why consider it

Automatically detects the right algorithm based on the file extension or signature

Keep in mind

Limited support for zip archives

Console is a free weekly newsletter with short reviews of developer tools, covering strengths and tradeoffs. This review reflects Console’s assessment at publication on 2023-03-16. Features and limitations may have changed since the review date. Read our selection criteria and learn about Console.

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