Question 1

How to compress a large file in chunks with lua-zlib?

Accepted Answer

Use zlib.deflate() to create a stream function, then call it repeatedly with data chunks and optional flush options. Finish with 'finish' flush to complete compression, as shown in the deflate API documentation.

Question 2

lua-zlib vs lzlib which is better for streaming?

Accepted Answer

lua-zlib is designed with a functional, streaming API from the ground up, making it superior for incremental processing. lzlib may have a simpler interface but lacks built-in support for concatenated streams and has compatibility quirks.

Question 3

Does lua-zlib support gzip format decompression?

Accepted Answer

Yes, lua-zlib supports gzip through zlib's inflate function with appropriate window sizes, and it correctly handles concatenated gzip streams by managing EOF and byte counts, as detailed in the README.

Question 4

How to install lua-zlib on Windows without luarocks?

Accepted Answer

On Windows, you may need to build from source using make with the provided platform targets, ensuring zlib is installed and linked. This can be more complex than on Linux with package managers.

Question 5

How to compute CRC32 checksum incrementally in lua-zlib?

Accepted Answer

Call zlib.crc32() to get a checksum function, then update it with input strings in multiple calls. You can also combine checksums from different instances, as illustrated in the checksum examples.

Question 6

What happens if I call the inflate stream after EOF in lua-zlib?

Accepted Answer

Calling the stream function after eof=true returns an IllegalState error, so you must check the eof flag and stop processing, as explicitly warned in the inflate documentation to avoid crashes.

lua-zlib

What is lua-zlib?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions