Why does everyone feel the need to Zip EVERYTHING

[Endless Summer]

I have come across the problem recently of programmers or site managers storing every single god damn file as a zip file.

I can understand multiple files being stored as a zip file, but come on, who in their right mind stores something like Avichop as a zip file?

If your aprogrammer, or a site manager, I implore you, STOP STORING SINGLE FILES AS ZIP FILES, it just adds another step for everyone, and it really doesnt' save that much space.

[setarip]

1) It makes for more certainty of error-free downloading

2) It makes for faster downloads

3) It makes for a more orderly filing system

[Enchanter]

I agree with Setarip. However, I still don't understand why some people store avi files in zip format too. It does not save that much space, and people who wish to resume downloads of the avi cannot do so with the zip file. It only, sort of, adds another version of the file.

[setarip]

To Enchanter

Compressing video files in particular (especially those already compressed with a DivX or other codec) is an EXTREMELY dangerous process - which can readily lead to corrupt files...

[Endless Summer]

Originally posted by setarip
1) It makes for more certainty of error-free downloading

2) It makes for faster downloads

3) It makes for a more orderly filing system

1. How?

2. By a few seconds

3. what the alphabet isnt' good enough?

[admin]

File compression is essential for running a good file/software archive. While some files don't compress extremely well, any little bit counts. When you have 100,000+ people downloading the same file, if you can save 10 KB by compression, this means a bandwidth saving of nearly 1 GB - and this is just one file. 1 GB costs about $USD 3 - 5, so this amounts to significant savings for the average webmaster.

If you are on a 56K modem connection (which still accounts for the majority of web users), this also means a quicker download. 100 KB on a 56 K connections means an extra 20 - 30 seconds of downloading time.

Even this page you are viewing right now is compressed using GZIP before being sent to you, and decompressed by your browser. On most browsers, you shouldn't be able to see any difference, since the compression/decompression overhead will always be lower than the extra time required to download the uncompressed text/HTML/PHP file.

Programs that are packaged as a "single self-installable EXE" file don't usually need compression though, since most of them are already compressed with ZIP or some other compression format.

The AVIChop program you are talking about actually contains 2 files, a EXE file and a TXT file - so this makes ZIP (or some other compression format) essential. Uncompressed, AVICHOP is 32.8 KB - compressed, it is only 8.86 KB - that's a saving of 23.94 KB, which means quite a bit of bandwidth costs for a popular download.

Some people don't like to download EXE files, fearing they will be viruses. Similarly, some don't like to send EXE files, fearing they will be confused with viruses - wrapping them up in a ZIP file makes everyone feel safer (honestly - this is a tip I saw in a PC magazine once).

I normally use ZIP to compress most files, but occasionally use a self-extracting RAR/EXE file, if it saves more space.

With that said, compressing already compressed movie/audio files won't achieve much (unless you've got other files you'd like to include with the files). Using RAR/ACE to split large files into multiple archives is useful though, although if you do use RAR/ACE, it may be better to wrap these up in ZIP packages, since a lot of browser mistake RAR/ACE/R01/R02/001/002 ... files for text/ASCII files, and will open them up happily in your browser window, instead of starting a downloading prompt. ZIP files are more "mainstream" and most browsers don't have problems with these files, and most properly configured browsers/servers won't have problems with RAR/ACE/R01/001 ... files (although it does confuse users, wanting to know how to "play" these files).

[Endless Summer]

Originally posted by admin


If you are on a 56K modem connection (which still accounts for the majority of web users), this also means a quicker download. 100 KB on a 56 K connections means an extra 20 - 30 seconds of downloading time.

I think it's time we showed 56kers just how unwelcome they are..=]

But seriously, not EVERything needs to be Zipped. Especially files under 1mb in size.

[Enchanter]

I think it's time we showed 56kers just how unwelcome they are..=]

That's a very rude statement. There are some 56Kers who have no choice but to use dial-up because either there is no broadband providers in the area or the access is so expensive you need to either be a king's son or have a thriving drug backyard. Australia is one perfect example.

[admin]

Australia is one perfect example.

How true. And even if you have access to broadband, there is a big possibility you may only be able to use Telstra's (a telecommunication company that has a monoply here is Australia) BigPond Broadband services, which may be down, slower than 56 K or so expensive that it may be cheaper to move to somewhere else where other cable services are available (BTW : I am using Telstra's competitor, Optus' Broadband services, which is fast and cheap compared to BigPond).

I am currently using a 56 K connection right now on my secondary machine (got cable on my primary machine) - in my area, cable/ADSL is not available yet.

[johnbmx4christ]

to endless summerthe high and mighty rich spoiled one)
like those guys said..you gotta be rich to have a fast connect.
i am on 56k.thats the least of my problems.i need to feed my family which is way more important than fast downloads and surfing.i can surf just as much..maybe not as fast. but if you go too fast you are gonna miss life.and i also have a life...i am not a monitor zombie.

[Enchanter]

Just because you have broadband, summer, and a lot others don't, does not make you a king and have the right to so easily and thoughtlessly condemn those on dial-up.

I know broadband access is much more widely available in countries like the US. It's not always the same case in other countries, as the previous posts described. To tell you the truth, I'm on an ADSL connection PLUS a dial-up. Why, you may ask? The freaking Tel$tra company put a 3GB/mth on our ADSL accounts. Breach that and I'll be paying $0.19 per extra MB, be it up- or down-loaded. That easily equals to $19 per extra 100MB, which is really a small amount even for a 56K connection. My dial-up is simply there to supplement my download needs. And here you are suggesting to people to make life that much more difficult...

[Batman]

Also, on certain free service providers media files are not allowed. To circumvent this, they are often zipped. To save additional space files may compressed using WinRAR and then zipped.

Broadband still remains expensive. However, the price is decreasing. Still, about $45 per month is a significant expenditure.

[setarip]

Poor endless summer

Didn't anybody notice the smile ( =] ) attached to endless summer's joke?

[Enchanter]

It does not change the fact that it was a rude statement.

[sarit16]

ADSL in australia Help...

Att: Administrator, from your previous posting u said u use Optus for your broadband connection, how much does it cost cheaper than iinet? where can I find out more about Optusses Broadband facilities. coZ in Perth everything is backward's.