macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install lzfselocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install lzfseMacPorts ports tree · archivers/lzfse/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install lzfse with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper
Apple LZFSE compression library and command-line tool. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add lzfseAlpine Linux edge package indexes · lzfse · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install liblzfse-devDebian stable package indexes · liblzfse-dev · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install lzfseFedora Rawhide package metadata · lzfse · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#lzfsenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/lz/lzfse/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install lzfseopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · lzfse · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Apple LZFSE compression library and command-line tool
Project links
Commands and aliases
- lzfse
history
Project history and usage
LZFSE is Apple's Lempel-Ziv plus Finite State Entropy compression algorithm and the name of Apple's portable reference C implementation. The upstream README describes it as the reference compressor introduced in Apple's Compression library with OS X 10.11 and iOS 9, targeting deflate-like compression ratios with higher speed.
Project history
LZFSE entered public developer consciousness through Apple's platform Compression APIs, then gained a cross-platform package identity when Apple published the reference C implementation and a small command-line tool. That made it possible for non-Apple systems and package managers to build and test LZFSE streams without depending on private Apple frameworks.
The project is narrower than LZ4, xz, or zstd: it exists primarily to expose and document Apple's algorithm outside the OS SDK. The repository's contents reflect that role, with a Makefile, Xcode project, encoder and decoder sources, and a single lzfse executable rather than a larger suite of tools.
Adoption history
Adoption follows two paths. On Apple platforms, LZFSE is recommended through system APIs for cases where Apple wants a balanced speed/ratio codec with good energy behavior. In package managers, lzfse is usually provided as a compatibility tool and library for reading or creating streams outside the Apple SDK environment.
The input package facts show packaging in Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, and openSUSE-style ecosystems, which is broad for a platform-originated codec whose main upstream is a compact reference implementation.
How it is used
The lzfse command-line tool compresses and decompresses files in LZFSE format. Developers on Apple platforms generally use Compression.framework or related Apple APIs; developers elsewhere use the reference C implementation when they need interoperable LZFSE support.
Its practical niche is Apple-format interoperability and a middle point between very fast compressors such as LZ4 and denser but slower compressors.
Why package nerds care
LZFSE matters to package people because it turns a platform codec into a portable build artifact. That helps Linux and macOS package sets process Apple-originated data and gives downstreams a small, BSD-licensed reference implementation rather than reverse-engineered code.
It is also a useful example of modern compression design crossing from OS vendor APIs into normal Unix package repositories.
Timeline
- 2015: LZFSE is introduced with OS X 10.11 and iOS 9's Compression library.
- 2010s: Apple publishes the reference C implementation and command-line tool on GitHub.
- 2010s-2020s: Distribution packages adopt lzfse as a small compatibility compressor.
Related projects
- Apple Compression.framework exposes LZFSE and other algorithms through system APIs.
- LZ4 and zlib occupy neighboring speed/ratio tradeoff points.
- Finite State Entropy is the entropy-coding family named in the LZFSE design.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:compress
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
lzfse | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedlzfse-1.0
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:lzfse |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/lzfse |
| Homepage | https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse |
| Repository | https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse#readme |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse/archive/refs/tags/lzfse-1.0.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | cmake |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | lzfse |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
liblzfse-dev 1.0-1+b3
LZFSE Compression library (development files)
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apt install liblzfse-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
Debian apt95%
liblzfse1 1.0-1+b3
LZFSE Compression library
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apt install liblzfse1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
Debian apt95%
lzfse 1.0-1+b3
LZFSE Compression library (command line tool)
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apt install lzfse- Section: misc
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
Nix95%
lzfse
nix profile install nixpkgs#lzfse- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
Ubuntu apt95%
liblzfse-dev 1.0-1
LZFSE Compression library (development files)
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apt install liblzfse-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
Ubuntu apt95%
liblzfse1 1.0-1
LZFSE Compression library
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apt install liblzfse1- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
Ubuntu apt95%
lzfse 1.0-1
LZFSE Compression library (command line tool)
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apt install lzfse- Section: universe/misc
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
apk95%
lzfse 1.0-r0
lzfse compression library and command line tool
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apk add lzfse- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
apk95%
lzfse-dev 1.0-r0
lzfse compression library and command line tool (development files)
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo apk add lzfse-dev- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lzfse
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
dnf95%
lzfse 1.0-9.fc44
LZFSE compression library and command line tool
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo dnf install lzfse- License: BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
dnf95%
lzfse-devel 1.0-9.fc44
Development headers and libraries for lzfse
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo dnf install lzfse-devel- License: BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: lzfse
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
dnf95%
lzfse-libs 1.0-9.fc44
Shared libraries for lzfse
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo dnf install lzfse-libs- License: BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: lzfse
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
zypper95%
lzfse 1.0-3.1
Reference C implementation of the Lempel-Ziv Finite State Entropy compressor
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo zypper install lzfse- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
zypper95%
lzfse-devel 1.0-3.1
Reference C implementation of the Lempel-Ziv Finite State Entropy compressor
https://github.com/lzfse/lzfse
sudo zypper install lzfse-devel- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: lzfse
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
MacPorts95%
lzfse
sudo port install lzfse- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lzfse
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment