Compressing files and directories is an essential task in Linux systems, including Ubuntu. Compression helps reduce the size of files, making them easier to transfer, store, and manage. Two popular command-line tools used for compression in Linux are tar and xz. In this article, we will explore how to use these tools to compress a directory full of files on Ubuntu.

Understanding tar and xz

Before diving into the compression process, let's briefly understand what tar and xz do:

• tar (Tape Archive) is a command-line utility used to create, modify, and extract archive files. It can bundle multiple files and directories into a single archive file, making it easier to manage and transfer them.


• xz is a compression tool that uses the LZMA2 algorithm to compress files. It is known for its high compression ratio, making it an excellent choice for compressing large files and directories.

Compressing a Directory Using tar and xz

To compress a directory full of files using tar and xz, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal: Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open the Terminal on your Ubuntu system.


2. Navigate to the Directory: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory you want to compress. For example: cd /path/to/directory


3. Use tar and xz: Run the following command to compress the directory:

tar -cf - directory | xz -9 -c > compressed_directory.tar.xz

Here's a breakdown of the command:

• tar -cf - directory: Creates a tar archive of the directory using the -c option (create) and -f option (output to a file). The - symbol tells tar to output the archive to the standard output.


• | xz -9 -c: Pipes the output of tar to xz, which compresses the archive using the -9 option ( maximum compression level) and -c option (output to the standard output).


• > compressed_directory.tar.xz: Redirects the compressed output to a file named compressed_directory.tar.xz.

Options and Variations

You can customize the compression command to suit your needs:

• Compression Level: Adjust the compression level by changing the -9 option to a value between 0 (fastest) and 9 (best compression).


• Archive Name: Choose a different name for the compressed archive file by modifying the compressed_directory.tar.xz part of the command.


• Exclude Files: Use the --exclude option with tar to exclude specific files or directories from the archive. For example: tar -cf - directory --exclude='*.txt' | xz -9 -c > compressed_directory.tar.xz

Example Use Case

Suppose you have a directory named documents containing multiple files and subdirectories, and you want to compress it using tar and xz. You can run the following command:

tar -cf - documents | xz -9 -c > compressed_documents.tar.xz

This will create a compressed archive file named compressed_documents.tar.xz in the current working directory.

Conclusion

Compressing a directory full of files using tar and xz is a straightforward process on Ubuntu. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create compressed archive files that are easy to transfer, store, and manage. Remember to adjust the compression level and archive name to suit your specific needs. With tar and xz, you can efficiently compress and manage large directories on your Ubuntu system.

Reference: How to Compress a Directory Full of Files Using tar and xz on the Terminal in Ubuntu