Are both '.7z' and '.zip' portable archives necessary ?

guy038

Hello, All,

I was about to download the N++ 8.9.7 RC2, but when I saw the total number of versions available, I wondered :

Would it be possible to simplify this list by offering only .zip archives for the portable versions ? I assume that would make @donho’s job easier !

npp.8.9.7.Installer.arm64.exe

npp.8.9.7.Installer.exe

npp.8.9.7.Installer.x64.exe

npp.8.9.7.Installer.x64.msi

npp.8.9.7.portable.7z

npp.8.9.7.portable.arm64.7z

npp.8.9.7.portable.arm64.zip

npp.8.9.7.portable.minimalist.7z

npp.8.9.7.portable.minimalist.arm64.7z

npp.8.9.7.portable.minimalist.x64.7z

npp.8.9.7.portable.x64.7z

npp.8.9.7.portable.x64.zip

npp.8.9.7.portable.zip

Source code (zip)

Source code (tar.gz)

Presently, as reported in the section above, the portable minimalist versions are .7z archives and all the other portable versions are proposed with, both, the .7z and .zip archives

But, maybe, Don has a specific reason for offering these two options ? Let’s wait for his answer !

Best Regards,

guy038

PeterJones

@guy038 ,

I believe that 7z is a more-efficient compressed file, and a decade or two ago, a lot of people were moving toward it instead of zip. I think he started offering both to accommodate those who preferred the 7z. (It would also explain why the minimalist is only-7z, if it’s better-compressed.)

As far as making his job easier, I am sure the zipping was automated years ago as part of the build/release process, so it’s no extra effort on his part.

I assume he has access to download logs, at least through the website downloads if not through the GitHub direct downloads. My guess is if no one was downloading the 7z version, he probably would have decided to stop providing it, so there are probably some users who prefer that version.

That’s, obviously, just my guess, but I offer it for what it’s worth.

guy038

Hello, @peterjones and All,

I should have guessed that @donho doesn’t have to do any manual work to create the different versions of each N++ release !

I personally always use the 7z archive, as the 7z application is installed on my Windows 11 machine !

BR

guy038

Alan Kilborn

@guy038 said:

I personally always use the 7z archive, as the 7z application is installed

I use the 7z archive, but only use the WinZip application (as WinZip “knows” the 7z format).
Why do I do this? I don’t know…just the habit I got into.