# Install lz4 with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper Extremely Fast Compression algorithm. Version 1.10.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:lz4 ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install lz4 ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install lz4 ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: archivers/lz4/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add lz4 ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install liblz4-1 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: liblz4-1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install lz4 ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lz4 from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#lz4 ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lz/lz4/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S lz4 ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: lz4 from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/core/os/x86_64/core.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install liblz4-1 ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: liblz4-1 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/lz4 ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lz4.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:lz4 - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.10.0 - **Source summary:** Extremely Fast Compression algorithm - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-2-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - lz4 (cli) - lz4c (cli) - lz4cat (cli) - unlz4 (cli) - lz4 (alias) - lz4c (alias) - lz4cat (alias) - unlz4 (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sequoia, sonoma, tahoe, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.10.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Upstream latest detected: v1.10.0 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage LZ4 is a lossless compression format, C library, and command-line tool centered on very high compression and decompression throughput. The official project describes it as an algorithm with compression above 500 MB/s per core and a decoder that can run in the multiple-GB/s-per-core range, with LZ4_HC available when users want a slower but denser high-compression mode. ### Project history The reference implementation is associated with Yann Collet and dates to the early 2010s; the official library license carries a 2011 copyright line. The project settled into the familiar Unix package shape of a small C library plus CLI programs such as lz4, unlz4, lz4cat, and legacy-compatible lz4c. LZ4's upstream history is unusually important for package maintainers because the format became embedded below the application layer: libraries, storage systems, language bindings, kernels, databases, and transport protocols all wanted a very fast, low-latency compressor. Later releases kept that core identity while expanding the production surface, including official frame-format support, dictionary APIs, and, in the v1.10.0 release, multithreaded compression work aimed at modern multi-core and high-throughput storage systems. ### Adoption history LZ4 became a default packaging candidate because it fills a practical niche that gzip, bzip2, and xz do not: fast enough for hot paths, simple enough to vendor, and portable enough for every Unix-like distribution. The input package facts show it packaged across Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, and openSUSE-style ecosystems. In package-manager culture, LZ4 is often installed less as an end-user archiver and more as infrastructure: a build dependency, a runtime shared library, or a fast compressor used by other tools. That makes ABI stability, CLI compatibility, and the distinction between raw blocks and framed .lz4 files recurring concerns for maintainers. ### How it is used The lz4 command compresses and decompresses files, while unlz4 and lz4cat provide decompression-oriented entry points. Users pick it when speed is more important than maximum compression ratio, especially for logs, caches, temporary artifacts, backup pipelines, and data streams. Developers usually consume liblz4 directly for in-memory buffers or the LZ4 frame API when data needs a self-describing stream format. High-compression mode is useful for precompressed assets, but the package's everyday reputation comes from the fast path. ### Why package nerds care LZ4 is a package nerd staple because it is a small C project with huge transitive reach. It shows up as both a leaf CLI and a dependency of larger systems, so distributions care about symbol versions, shared-library packaging, test vectors, frame-format compatibility, and whether downstreams accidentally mix raw LZ4 blocks with framed files. It also marks a generational shift in compression packaging: instead of treating compression as a storage-only tradeoff, LZ4 made compression cheap enough to appear in latency-sensitive runtime paths. ### Timeline - 2011: liblz4 copyright era begins in the official source tree. - 2010s: LZ4 spreads from a standalone compressor into Unix package repositories and system libraries. - 2024: v1.10.0 adds major multithreading work and promotes dictionary compression support. ### Related projects - LZ4_HC is the high-compression variant shipped with the same upstream project. - lz4-java, python-lz4, and similar bindings expose the format to language ecosystems. - Zstandard is another Yann Collet compression project, optimized for a different speed/ratio point. ### Sources - - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** lz4 - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - liblz4-1 - 1.10.0-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: liblz4-1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - runtime | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Debian apt - liblz4-dev - 1.10.0-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: liblz4-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - development files | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Debian apt - lz4 - 1.10.0-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: lz4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - tool | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Nix - lz4: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lz/lz4/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - liblz4-1 - 1.9.4-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: liblz4-1 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - runtime | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Ubuntu apt - liblz4-dev - 1.9.4-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: liblz4-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - development files | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Ubuntu apt - liblz4-tool - 1.9.4-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: liblz4-tool from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - transitional package | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - Ubuntu apt - lz4 - 1.9.4-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: lz4 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Fast LZ compression algorithm library - tool | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - apk - lz4 - 1.10.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | LZ4 is lossless compression algorithm with fast decoder @ multiple GB/s per core. | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - apk - lz4-dev - 1.10.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | LZ4 is lossless compression algorithm with fast decoder @ multiple GB/s per core. (development files) | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - apk - lz4-doc - 1.10.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | LZ4 is lossless compression algorithm with fast decoder @ multiple GB/s per core. (documentation) | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - apk - lz4-libs - 1.10.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | LZ4 is lossless compression algorithm with fast decoder @ multiple GB/s per core. (libraries) | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - apk - lz4-static - 1.10.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | LZ4 is lossless compression algorithm with fast decoder @ multiple GB/s per core. (static library) | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - apk - lz4-tests - 1.10.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lz4-tests from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | LZ4 is lossless compression algorithm with fast decoder @ multiple GB/s per core. (tests) | https://github.com/lz4/lz4 - dnf - lz4 - 1.10.0-4.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lz4 from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Extremely fast compression algorithm | https://lz4.github.io/lz4/ - dnf - lz4-devel - 1.10.0-4.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lz4-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for lz4 | https://lz4.github.io/lz4/ ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Archive and compression packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression metadata. - [adios2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adios2/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [apache-arrow](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/apache-arrow/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [apt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/apt/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [bilix](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bilix/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [borgbackup](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/borgbackup/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [lzsa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lzsa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, lossless-compression, system. - [clzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/clzip/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, lossless-compression, system. - [crabz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/crabz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, system. - [gzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gzip/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, system. - [lizard](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lizard/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, system. - [lunzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lunzip/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, system. - [lzfse](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lzfse/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, system. - [lzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lzip/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, decompression, system. - [lz4](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/cargo/lz4/) - Same normalized package name exists in another local package ecosystem. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/lz4.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/lz4.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph