# Install lzsa with Homebrew, Nix Lossless packer that is optimized for fast decompression on 8-bit micros. Version 1.4.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:lzsa ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install lzsa ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#lzsa ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lz/lzsa/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:lzsa - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.4.1 - **Source summary:** Lossless packer that is optimized for fast decompression on 8-bit micros - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Zlib AND CC0-1.0 - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - lzsa (cli) - lzsa (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.4.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/emmanuel-marty/lzsa - Upstream latest detected: 1.4.1 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage LZSA is Emmanuel Marty's byte-aligned lossless packer family optimized for very fast decompression on 8-bit computers. Its upstream README describes LZSA1 and LZSA2 as formats designed to beat familiar retrocomputing tradeoffs: LZSA1 as an LZ4-like choice for 8-bit scenarios, and LZSA2 as a ZX7-like choice with much faster decompression. ### Project history LZSA is not a general Unix compressor in the gzip tradition. It is a modern tool built for old hardware constraints: small decompressors, simple byte-aligned decoding, limited 8-bit arithmetic, and assets that must unpack quickly on Z80, 6502, 8088, 6809, 6309, and related targets. The repository combines a command-line compressor, formal stream/block format documents, benchmark comparisons, and contributed assembly depackers. Releases through the 1.3 and 1.4 series focused on ratio improvements, faster LZSA2 compression, and a growing collection of platform-specific depackers. ### Adoption history LZSA's adoption is concentrated in retrocomputing, demoscene, and homebrew game development rather than mainstream system archives. The official README lists concrete uses including ZX Spectrum demos, Apple II projects, Commander X16 ROM work, RomWBW, rasm-compressed data sections, and Amstrad CPC game assets. Package-manager adoption is correspondingly smaller than LZ4 or lzip. The input package facts show Homebrew and Nix packages, enough to make the compressor easy to install on developer machines even though the decompression targets are often vintage CPUs. ### How it is used Developers run the lzsa tool on modern systems to pack assets, then include the matching depacker on the target machine. The key choice is not just compression ratio but the decompressor's speed and code size on a specific CPU. The upstream format documentation supports implementers who need to write or audit their own depackers, which is common in size-constrained retro projects. ### Why package nerds care LZSA is package-nerd significant because it is a niche tool with real cross-compilation value: the package runs on modern macOS/Linux build hosts but exists to feed 8-bit runtime environments. It also shows a different kind of compression packaging pressure. For LZSA, the artifact that matters may be a 67-byte Z80 depacker or a 6502 speed-optimized routine, not a shared library ABI. ### Timeline - 2010s: LZSA appears as a retrocomputing-focused compressor and format family. - 2019-2020: Upstream README records use in demos, games, and ROM projects across Z80, 6502, and related systems. - 2023: GitHub releases include the 1.4.x series, continuing performance and depacker work. ### Related projects - LZ4 is an explicit design reference for LZSA1. - ZX7 is an explicit comparison point for LZSA2. - Lizard/LZ5 and other optimal packers appear in upstream comparisons. ### 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:** lzsa - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - lzsa: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lz/lzsa/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## 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. - [lz4](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lz4/) - 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. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/lzsa.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/lzsa.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