CDZ source code? - What is it really?

[kenzeitak]

Greetings i found the CDZ utility brought along with pSX quite interesting and im wondering how its coded.
Does it use any already available streamable compression?

Ive tried BZIP2 and LIBBZIP2 among many other extentions, what is it really? Or did you remove or edit the file header?

If possible i would like to see the source code or possibly a DLL file with instructions on how you can code your own reader.

Integration with other programs such as 7zip and/or image mounting tools like daemon or alcohol would be interesting features. As long as there are source code available i think the people over at D-tools would like to implement CDZ into their software.

Great work people, the emulator seems very promising!
CDZ is a great alternative for removeable mediums that doesnt have the NTFS format being able to use NTFS compression.
A wonderful way of backing up your old games also being able to play them without having to extract them.

Regards, Kenzeitak
www.kenzeitak.inc.se

[kenzeitak]

I must beg your apardon for double posting but since i havnt recieved any response in 24 hours im beginning to ponder if there are any developers active in this forum.

Does anyone know who i could contact?

Regards, Kenzeitak

[Ultima]

pSX Author visits the forums occasionally, so sit back and wait a bit I guess.

[pSX Author]

kenzeitak said:

Greetings i found the CDZ utility brought along with pSX quite interesting and im wondering how its coded.
Does it use any already available streamable compression?

Ive tried BZIP2 and LIBBZIP2 among many other extentions, what is it really? Or did you remove or edit the file header?

If possible i would like to see the source code or possibly a DLL file with instructions on how you can code your own reader.

Integration with other programs such as 7zip and/or image mounting tools like daemon or alcohol would be interesting features. As long as there are source code available i think the people over at D-tools would like to implement CDZ into their software.

Great work people, the emulator seems very promising!
CDZ is a great alternative for removeable mediums that doesnt have the NTFS format being able to use NTFS compression.
A wonderful way of backing up your old games also being able to play them without having to extract them.

Regards, Kenzeitak
www.kenzeitak.inc.se

CDZ uses zlib, but its not just straight zlib compression. It is designed for random access (which zlib/etc.. do not support well). So the main binary section is compressed in "chunks" with a directory stored at the end. CDZ file also contain various other compressed stuff at the start (eg. the .cue or .ccd file).

I'm not ready to release source code for this at the moment - the format has changed several times recently (this will not have been obvious because I make an effort to support all old versions). I'm also considering making a change which will mean better compression in the future, so I expect the format will be in constant flux for a while yet.

Also the CDZ util and pSX share a lot of code, so its not easy to release just the util on its own.

I guess I could create a .dll which allows access to the files though... I'll think about doing this (probably not for v1.8 though).

[kenzeitak]

Wonderful! A dll file would be highly appreciated.
If you make CDZ a GPL/open source project i have no doubt you could find a lot of willing coders to support your work! www.sourceforge.net is a great community to spread source.

I will check back to look at your progress!

Regards, Kenzeitak

[ZeXr0]

Actually it has been said that pSX Author won't give the source unless there is a quite good reason. Personnaly, I would do the same thing...