# Tarlz > combination of the tar archiver and the lzip compressor **Wikidata**: [Q131427290](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131427290) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tarlz ## Summary Tarlz is a free software tool that combines the tar archiver with the lzip compressor, enabling efficient creation and extraction of compressed archive files. It is designed for Unix-like systems and is actively maintained under the GNU General Public License (version 2.0 or later). ## Key Facts - Combines tar archiving and lzip compression into a single utility - Licensed under GNU GPL v2.0 or later; classified as free software - Runs on Unix-like systems including BSD and Linux distributions - Maintained by Antonio Diaz since at least 2018 - Latest stable version is 0.29, released on January 4, 2026 - Available in major package managers such as Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, NixOS, and OpenBSD - Source code hosted at https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/lzip/tarlz/ - Official manual: https://www.nongnu.org/lzip/manual/tarlz_manual.html ## FAQs ### Q: What is Tarlz used for? A: Tarlz is used to create and extract tar archives compressed with the lzip algorithm. It streamlines workflows involving archival and compression tasks in Unix-like environments. ### Q: Is Tarlz free to use and modify? A: Yes, Tarlz is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 or later, allowing users to run, study, change, and redistribute it. ### Q: How can I install Tarlz on my system? A: Tarlz is packaged for Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, NixOS, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and other systems. It can also be compiled from source using the latest tarball available at https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/lzip/tarlz/. ## Why It Matters Tarlz plays a critical role in data management within Unix-like systems by integrating two essential tools—tar for archiving and lzip for lossless compression. This integration simplifies command-line operations and improves efficiency when handling large datasets or backups. As part of the broader ecosystem of free software, Tarlz supports transparency, auditability, and user freedom. Its adoption across multiple Linux and BSD distributions underscores its reliability and utility in both personal and enterprise computing contexts. ## Notable For - First and only tool combining tar archiving with native lzip compression support - Actively maintained with regular updates and bug fixes through official mailing list communication - Packaged in all major free operating system repositories including Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, and OpenBSD - Uses multimember lzip format which enhances robustness and recovery capabilities during decompression ## Body ### Overview Tarlz is a specialized file archiver and compression utility that merges the functionality of the tar archiving program with the lzip compression algorithm. Designed primarily for Unix-like systems, it provides an integrated solution for creating and managing compressed archives without requiring separate invocation of tar and lzip commands. ### Development and Maintenance The project has been maintained continuously by Antonio Diaz since its initial packaging in July 2018. Updates are announced via the lzip-bug mailing list hosted at https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/, ensuring community involvement and peer review. All releases are published under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 or later. ### Versions and Releases As of early 2026, the current stable version is **0.29**, released on **January 4, 2026**. Recent development history includes: - Version **0.28.1**: Bug-fix release on June 24, 2025 - Version **0.28**: Stable release on June 20, 2025 - Version **0.27.1**: Bug-fix release on March 4, 2025 - Version **0.27**: Stable release on March 1, 2025 All versions are downloadable from the official Savannah download area: https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/lzip/tarlz/ ### Platforms and Packaging Tarlz operates on Unix-like systems, including but not limited to: - Linux-based distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, and Gentoo - BSD variants such as FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD It is officially packaged under identifiers including: - **Debian**: `tarlz` (since July 30, 2018) - **Ubuntu**: Launchpad project ID `ubuntu/+source/tarlz` - **Gentoo**: `app-arch/tarlz` - **OpenBSD**: Port name `archivers/lzip/tarlz` - **NetBSD**: Package ID `archivers/tarlz` - **Nixpkgs**: Identifier `tarlz` - **Guix**: Variable name `tarlz` ### Licensing and Legal Status Tarlz is copyrighted software developed and maintained by Antonio Diaz. The copyright status is explicitly stated in Debian metadata archives. It is licensed under the **GNU General Public License version 2.0 or later**, making it fully compliant with free software standards. ### Documentation and Resources Official documentation and usage instructions are available online: - User Manual: https://www.nongnu.org/lzip/manual/tarlz_manual.html - Project Homepage: https://www.nongnu.org/lzip/tarlz.html - Mailing List Archive: https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/ - Source Repository: https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/lzip/tarlz/ These resources provide comprehensive guidance for installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. ## References 1. [Source](https://metadata.ftp-master.debian.org/changelogs//main/t/tarlz/tarlz_0.23-3_copyright) 2. GNU Guix 3. [Tarlz 0.25 released. 2024](https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/2024-01/msg00002.html) 4. [Tarlz 0.26 released. 2024](https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/2024-12/msg00007.html) 5. [Tarlz 0.27 released. 2025](https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/2025-03/msg00000.html) 6. [Re: FTBFS tarlz 0.27. 2025](https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/2025-03/msg00006.html) 7. [Tarlz 0.28 released. 2025](https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/2025-06/msg00000.html) 8. [Source](https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/lzip/tarlz/) 9. [Tarlz 0.29 released. 2026](https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/lzip-bug/2026-01/msg00006.html) 10. [Source](https://packages.debian.org/source/bookworm/tarlz)