Archive Manager

6 Best Free and Open Source Linux Terminal-Based Archive Managers

A file archiver is computer software which brings together a group of files into a single archive file. An archive file is therefore a collection of files and directories that are stored in one file. There are many advantages of storing multiple files this way. For example, an archive is a great way to store backup data, transfer files to another directory, or to a different computer. Archive files are often compressed to save disk space and reduce transfer times.

This type of utility lets users compress, decompress, and archive files and directories. Most archivers also store additional metadata such as user and group permissions, timestamps, and directory structures. Other features often found in archive managers include support for multiple volumes, encryption, Unicode names, password protection, and integration into the shell.

The granddaddy of archive managers is the tar utility (together with the ar and cpio tools). Tar was created in the early days of Unix and remains an essential utility for any Linux system. The filename extension .tar is synonymous with file archives. Other types of archive formats include .iso (for optical storage mediums such as CDROM and DVD-ROMs), .shar, .cpio, and .ar.

We make the following recommendations captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. All the software featured is free and open source goodness.

Ratings chart for the best free and open source terminal-based archive managers

Click the links in the table below to learn more about each archive manager.

Terminal-Based Archive Managers
DARDisk ARchive: Backup directory tree and files
tarA file archiver and archive format developed since the early days of Unix
patoolPortable archive file manager
TUI ArchiverTerminal application to list / manage archives
tarnationSimple, extensible tar backup/restore utility
tarlzMassively parallel combined implementation of tar and lzip

If you want graphical archive managers, they are covered in this roundup.

Best Free and Open Source SoftwareRead our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software.

The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk.

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