LZ4 Windows binary package

The package contents

  • lz4.exe : Command Line Utility, supporting gzip-like arguments
  • dll\liblz4.dll : The DLL of LZ4 library
  • dll\liblz4.lib : The import library of LZ4 library for Visual C++
  • example\ : The example of usage of LZ4 library
  • include\ : Header files required with LZ4 library
  • static\liblz4_static.lib : The static LZ4 library

Usage of Command Line Interface

Command Line Interface (CLI) supports gzip-like arguments. By default CLI takes an input file and compresses it to an output file:

    Usage: lz4 [arg] [input] [output]

The full list of commands for CLI can be obtained with -h or -H. The ratio can be improved with commands from -3 to -16 but higher levels also have slower compression. CLI includes in-memory compression benchmark module with compression levels starting from -b and ending with -e with iteration time of -i seconds. CLI supports aggregation of parameters i.e. -b1, -e18, and -i1 can be joined into -b1e18i1.

The example of usage of static and dynamic LZ4 libraries with gcc/MinGW

Use cd example and make to build fullbench-dll and fullbench-lib. fullbench-dll uses a dynamic LZ4 library from the dll directory. fullbench-lib uses a static LZ4 library from the lib directory.

Using LZ4 DLL with gcc/MinGW

The header files from include\ and the dynamic library dll\liblz4.dll are required to compile a project using gcc/MinGW. The dynamic library has to be added to linking options. It means that if a project that uses LZ4 consists of a single test-dll.c file it should be compiled with “liblz4.dll”. For example:

    gcc $(CFLAGS) -Iinclude\ test-dll.c -o test-dll dll\liblz4.dll

The compiled executable will require LZ4 DLL which is available at dll\liblz4.dll.

The example of usage of static and dynamic LZ4 libraries with Visual C++

Open example\fullbench-dll.sln to compile fullbench-dll that uses a dynamic LZ4 library from the dll directory. The solution works with Visual C++ 2010 or newer. When one will open the solution with Visual C++ newer than 2010 then the solution will upgraded to the current version.

Using LZ4 DLL with Visual C++

The header files from include\ and the import library dll\liblz4.lib are required to compile a project using Visual C++.

  1. The header files should be added to Additional Include Directories that can be found in project properties C/C++ then General.
  2. The import library has to be added to Additional Dependencies that can be found in project properties Linker then Input. If one will provide only the name liblz4.lib without a full path to the library the directory has to be added to Linker\General\Additional Library Directories.

The compiled executable will require LZ4 DLL which is available at dll\liblz4.dll.