Virtual Machines for lightweight virtualisation on Apple silicon Macs rely on sparse files. Here are tips to ensure they stay small and don’t explode to full size.
AppleArchive
Explains how Huffman code works, how it’s used for compressed files, and how other techniques including LZ, LZW and LZFSE differ.
Lossy and non-lossy compression explained, with examples and an outline of how JPEG compression is performed.
Now has three presets to control speed and energy consumption of compression and decompression, together with complete custom control.
How to work out how many threads and which cores are needed to achieve a compression rate up to 1.7 GB/s, and how to estimate power and energy.
Provided in Archive Utility and three command tools, its LZFSE compression even supports APFS special files like clones and sparse files.
How can you compress and decompress small files faster? In AppleArchive, just send more of them for processing at the same time.
First full release of this free utility designed to help move apps and more using AirDrop, as it doesn’t put decompressed contents into quarantine.
A new feature in Big Sur, which provides ready access to fast, efficient compression and decompression. Here’s first look and test app.
The Eclectic Light Company 