7-Zip

7-Zip is free file archiver with a high level of data compression. It supports several compression algorithms and lots of data formats, including native format 7z with highly efficient compression algorithm LZMA, as well as ZIP, RAR, CAB, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, DEB and RPM files. The program has an open source, the most part of which is freely licensed under the GNU LGPL (except for the unRAR decompression code, which has some restrictions). The main platform is Windows (including Windows CE), which is available in two versions: with a graphic user interface and a command line version. Apart from it, 7-Zip also works with Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista. There is a port of the command line version to Linux / Unix. 32- and 64-bit operating systems are supported in the program.

The archiver is very easy and simple to use. With a user-friendly and intuitive interface, 7-Zip is translated into 60 languages, which highlights the uniqueness of the program.

The main features of 7-Zip:

• Supported formats: 7z, ZIP, CAB, Z, MSI, RPM, DEB, NSIS, LZH, RAR, ARJ, WIM, CHM, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, ISO and RPM.
• Very high compression ratio in the 7z format.
• For ZIP and GZIP formats a compression ratio is 2-10% better than in PKZip and WinZip.
• Ability to create self-extracting archives for the 7z format.
• Ability to encrypt the archives.
• Built-in File Manager.
• Integration with Windows Shell.
• Plug-in for FAR Manager.
• Plug-in for Total Commander and Unreal Commander.
• Powerful command line version.
• Multilingual interface with two-windows file manager functions.
• Special version for 64-bit operating systems.
• Support for Unicode filenames.

One of the advantages of 7-Zip is that you can use it on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization, and you don't have to register.

In general, 7-Zip is considered to be a compression leader among similar free and paid programs.

Author Roman Softobase.