diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'FAQ')
| -rw-r--r-- | FAQ | 259 |
1 files changed, 132 insertions, 127 deletions
| @@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ | |||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | If your question is not there, please check the zlib home page | 5 | If your question is not there, please check the zlib home page |
| 6 | http://www.zlib.org which may have more recent information. | 6 | http://zlib.net/ which may have more recent information. |
| 7 | The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | 7 | The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://zlib.net/zlib_faq.html |
| 8 | 8 | ||
| 9 | 9 | ||
| 10 | 1. Is zlib Y2K-compliant? | 10 | 1. Is zlib Y2K-compliant? |
| @@ -13,54 +13,51 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 13 | 13 | ||
| 14 | 2. Where can I get a Windows DLL version? | 14 | 2. Where can I get a Windows DLL version? |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| 16 | The zlib sources can be compiled without change to produce a DLL. | 16 | The zlib sources can be compiled without change to produce a DLL. See the |
| 17 | See the file win32/DLL_FAQ.txt in the zlib distribution. | 17 | file win32/DLL_FAQ.txt in the zlib distribution. Pointers to the |
| 18 | Pointers to the precompiled DLL are found in the zlib web site at | 18 | precompiled DLL are found in the zlib web site at http://zlib.net/ . |
| 19 | http://www.zlib.org. | ||
| 20 | 19 | ||
| 21 | 3. Where can I get a Visual Basic interface to zlib? | 20 | 3. Where can I get a Visual Basic interface to zlib? |
| 22 | 21 | ||
| 23 | See | 22 | See |
| 24 | * http://www.dogma.net/markn/articles/zlibtool/zlibtool.htm | 23 | * http://marknelson.us/1997/01/01/zlib-engine/ |
| 25 | * contrib/visual-basic.txt in the zlib distribution | ||
| 26 | * win32/DLL_FAQ.txt in the zlib distribution | 24 | * win32/DLL_FAQ.txt in the zlib distribution |
| 27 | 25 | ||
| 28 | 4. compress() returns Z_BUF_ERROR. | 26 | 4. compress() returns Z_BUF_ERROR. |
| 29 | 27 | ||
| 30 | Make sure that before the call of compress, the length of the compressed | 28 | Make sure that before the call of compress, the length of the compressed |
| 31 | buffer is equal to the total size of the compressed buffer and not | 29 | buffer is equal to the available size of the compressed buffer and not |
| 32 | zero. For Visual Basic, check that this parameter is passed by reference | 30 | zero. For Visual Basic, check that this parameter is passed by reference |
| 33 | ("as any"), not by value ("as long"). | 31 | ("as any"), not by value ("as long"). |
| 34 | 32 | ||
| 35 | 5. deflate() or inflate() returns Z_BUF_ERROR. | 33 | 5. deflate() or inflate() returns Z_BUF_ERROR. |
| 36 | 34 | ||
| 37 | Before making the call, make sure that avail_in and avail_out are not | 35 | Before making the call, make sure that avail_in and avail_out are not zero. |
| 38 | zero. When setting the parameter flush equal to Z_FINISH, also make sure | 36 | When setting the parameter flush equal to Z_FINISH, also make sure that |
| 39 | that avail_out is big enough to allow processing all pending input. | 37 | avail_out is big enough to allow processing all pending input. Note that a |
| 40 | Note that a Z_BUF_ERROR is not fatal--another call to deflate() or | 38 | Z_BUF_ERROR is not fatal--another call to deflate() or inflate() can be |
| 41 | inflate() can be made with more input or output space. A Z_BUF_ERROR | 39 | made with more input or output space. A Z_BUF_ERROR may in fact be |
| 42 | may in fact be unavoidable depending on how the functions are used, since | 40 | unavoidable depending on how the functions are used, since it is not |
| 43 | it is not possible to tell whether or not there is more output pending | 41 | possible to tell whether or not there is more output pending when |
| 44 | when strm.avail_out returns with zero. | 42 | strm.avail_out returns with zero. See http://zlib.net/zlib_how.html for a |
| 43 | heavily annotated example. | ||
| 45 | 44 | ||
| 46 | 6. Where's the zlib documentation (man pages, etc.)? | 45 | 6. Where's the zlib documentation (man pages, etc.)? |
| 47 | 46 | ||
| 48 | It's in zlib.h for the moment, and Francis S. Lin has converted it to a | 47 | It's in zlib.h . Examples of zlib usage are in the files example.c and |
| 49 | web page zlib.html. Volunteers to transform this to Unix-style man pages, | 48 | minigzip.c, with more in examples/ . |
| 50 | please contact us (zlib@gzip.org). Examples of zlib usage are in the files | ||
| 51 | example.c and minigzip.c. | ||
| 52 | 49 | ||
| 53 | 7. Why don't you use GNU autoconf or libtool or ...? | 50 | 7. Why don't you use GNU autoconf or libtool or ...? |
| 54 | 51 | ||
| 55 | Because we would like to keep zlib as a very small and simple | 52 | Because we would like to keep zlib as a very small and simple package. |
| 56 | package. zlib is rather portable and doesn't need much configuration. | 53 | zlib is rather portable and doesn't need much configuration. |
| 57 | 54 | ||
| 58 | 8. I found a bug in zlib. | 55 | 8. I found a bug in zlib. |
| 59 | 56 | ||
| 60 | Most of the time, such problems are due to an incorrect usage of | 57 | Most of the time, such problems are due to an incorrect usage of zlib. |
| 61 | zlib. Please try to reproduce the problem with a small program and send | 58 | Please try to reproduce the problem with a small program and send the |
| 62 | the corresponding source to us at zlib@gzip.org . Do not send | 59 | corresponding source to us at zlib@gzip.org . Do not send multi-megabyte |
| 63 | multi-megabyte data files without prior agreement. | 60 | data files without prior agreement. |
| 64 | 61 | ||
| 65 | 9. Why do I get "undefined reference to gzputc"? | 62 | 9. Why do I get "undefined reference to gzputc"? |
| 66 | 63 | ||
| @@ -77,12 +74,12 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 77 | 74 | ||
| 78 | 11. Can zlib handle .zip archives? | 75 | 11. Can zlib handle .zip archives? |
| 79 | 76 | ||
| 80 | Not by itself, no. See the directory contrib/minizip in the zlib | 77 | Not by itself, no. See the directory contrib/minizip in the zlib |
| 81 | distribution. | 78 | distribution. |
| 82 | 79 | ||
| 83 | 12. Can zlib handle .Z files? | 80 | 12. Can zlib handle .Z files? |
| 84 | 81 | ||
| 85 | No, sorry. You have to spawn an uncompress or gunzip subprocess, or adapt | 82 | No, sorry. You have to spawn an uncompress or gunzip subprocess, or adapt |
| 86 | the code of uncompress on your own. | 83 | the code of uncompress on your own. |
| 87 | 84 | ||
| 88 | 13. How can I make a Unix shared library? | 85 | 13. How can I make a Unix shared library? |
| @@ -99,8 +96,10 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 99 | 96 | ||
| 100 | However, many flavors of Unix come with a shared zlib already installed. | 97 | However, many flavors of Unix come with a shared zlib already installed. |
| 101 | Before going to the trouble of compiling a shared version of zlib and | 98 | Before going to the trouble of compiling a shared version of zlib and |
| 102 | trying to install it, you may want to check if it's already there! If you | 99 | trying to install it, you may want to check if it's already there! If you |
| 103 | can #include <zlib.h>, it's there. The -lz option will probably link to it. | 100 | can #include <zlib.h>, it's there. The -lz option will probably link to |
| 101 | it. You can check the version at the top of zlib.h or with the | ||
| 102 | ZLIB_VERSION symbol defined in zlib.h . | ||
| 104 | 103 | ||
| 105 | 15. I have a question about OttoPDF. | 104 | 15. I have a question about OttoPDF. |
| 106 | 105 | ||
| @@ -121,39 +120,39 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 121 | symbol __register_frame_info: referenced symbol not found | 120 | symbol __register_frame_info: referenced symbol not found |
| 122 | 121 | ||
| 123 | The symbol __register_frame_info is not part of zlib, it is generated by | 122 | The symbol __register_frame_info is not part of zlib, it is generated by |
| 124 | the C compiler (cc or gcc). You must recompile applications using zlib | 123 | the C compiler (cc or gcc). You must recompile applications using zlib |
| 125 | which have this problem. This problem is specific to Solaris. See | 124 | which have this problem. This problem is specific to Solaris. See |
| 126 | http://www.sunfreeware.com for Solaris versions of zlib and applications | 125 | http://www.sunfreeware.com for Solaris versions of zlib and applications |
| 127 | using zlib. | 126 | using zlib. |
| 128 | 127 | ||
| 129 | 18. Why does gzip give an error on a file I make with compress/deflate? | 128 | 18. Why does gzip give an error on a file I make with compress/deflate? |
| 130 | 129 | ||
| 131 | The compress and deflate functions produce data in the zlib format, which | 130 | The compress and deflate functions produce data in the zlib format, which |
| 132 | is different and incompatible with the gzip format. The gz* functions in | 131 | is different and incompatible with the gzip format. The gz* functions in |
| 133 | zlib on the other hand use the gzip format. Both the zlib and gzip | 132 | zlib on the other hand use the gzip format. Both the zlib and gzip formats |
| 134 | formats use the same compressed data format internally, but have different | 133 | use the same compressed data format internally, but have different headers |
| 135 | headers and trailers around the compressed data. | 134 | and trailers around the compressed data. |
| 136 | 135 | ||
| 137 | 19. Ok, so why are there two different formats? | 136 | 19. Ok, so why are there two different formats? |
| 138 | 137 | ||
| 139 | The gzip format was designed to retain the directory information about | 138 | The gzip format was designed to retain the directory information about a |
| 140 | a single file, such as the name and last modification date. The zlib | 139 | single file, such as the name and last modification date. The zlib format |
| 141 | format on the other hand was designed for in-memory and communication | 140 | on the other hand was designed for in-memory and communication channel |
| 142 | channel applications, and has a much more compact header and trailer and | 141 | applications, and has a much more compact header and trailer and uses a |
| 143 | uses a faster integrity check than gzip. | 142 | faster integrity check than gzip. |
| 144 | 143 | ||
| 145 | 20. Well that's nice, but how do I make a gzip file in memory? | 144 | 20. Well that's nice, but how do I make a gzip file in memory? |
| 146 | 145 | ||
| 147 | You can request that deflate write the gzip format instead of the zlib | 146 | You can request that deflate write the gzip format instead of the zlib |
| 148 | format using deflateInit2(). You can also request that inflate decode | 147 | format using deflateInit2(). You can also request that inflate decode the |
| 149 | the gzip format using inflateInit2(). Read zlib.h for more details. | 148 | gzip format using inflateInit2(). Read zlib.h for more details. |
| 150 | 149 | ||
| 151 | 21. Is zlib thread-safe? | 150 | 21. Is zlib thread-safe? |
| 152 | 151 | ||
| 153 | Yes. However any library routines that zlib uses and any application- | 152 | Yes. However any library routines that zlib uses and any application- |
| 154 | provided memory allocation routines must also be thread-safe. zlib's gz* | 153 | provided memory allocation routines must also be thread-safe. zlib's gz* |
| 155 | functions use stdio library routines, and most of zlib's functions use the | 154 | functions use stdio library routines, and most of zlib's functions use the |
| 156 | library memory allocation routines by default. zlib's Init functions allow | 155 | library memory allocation routines by default. zlib's Init functions allow |
| 157 | for the application to provide custom memory allocation routines. | 156 | for the application to provide custom memory allocation routines. |
| 158 | 157 | ||
| 159 | Of course, you should only operate on any given zlib or gzip stream from a | 158 | Of course, you should only operate on any given zlib or gzip stream from a |
| @@ -161,27 +160,27 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 161 | 160 | ||
| 162 | 22. Can I use zlib in my commercial application? | 161 | 22. Can I use zlib in my commercial application? |
| 163 | 162 | ||
| 164 | Yes. Please read the license in zlib.h. | 163 | Yes. Please read the license in zlib.h. |
| 165 | 164 | ||
| 166 | 23. Is zlib under the GNU license? | 165 | 23. Is zlib under the GNU license? |
| 167 | 166 | ||
| 168 | No. Please read the license in zlib.h. | 167 | No. Please read the license in zlib.h. |
| 169 | 168 | ||
| 170 | 24. The license says that altered source versions must be "plainly marked". So | 169 | 24. The license says that altered source versions must be "plainly marked". So |
| 171 | what exactly do I need to do to meet that requirement? | 170 | what exactly do I need to do to meet that requirement? |
| 172 | 171 | ||
| 173 | You need to change the ZLIB_VERSION and ZLIB_VERNUM #defines in zlib.h. In | 172 | You need to change the ZLIB_VERSION and ZLIB_VERNUM #defines in zlib.h. In |
| 174 | particular, the final version number needs to be changed to "f", and an | 173 | particular, the final version number needs to be changed to "f", and an |
| 175 | identification string should be appended to ZLIB_VERSION. Version numbers | 174 | identification string should be appended to ZLIB_VERSION. Version numbers |
| 176 | x.x.x.f are reserved for modifications to zlib by others than the zlib | 175 | x.x.x.f are reserved for modifications to zlib by others than the zlib |
| 177 | maintainers. For example, if the version of the base zlib you are altering | 176 | maintainers. For example, if the version of the base zlib you are altering |
| 178 | is "1.2.3.4", then in zlib.h you should change ZLIB_VERNUM to 0x123f, and | 177 | is "1.2.3.4", then in zlib.h you should change ZLIB_VERNUM to 0x123f, and |
| 179 | ZLIB_VERSION to something like "1.2.3.f-zachary-mods-v3". You can also | 178 | ZLIB_VERSION to something like "1.2.3.f-zachary-mods-v3". You can also |
| 180 | update the version strings in deflate.c and inftrees.c. | 179 | update the version strings in deflate.c and inftrees.c. |
| 181 | 180 | ||
| 182 | For altered source distributions, you should also note the origin and | 181 | For altered source distributions, you should also note the origin and |
| 183 | nature of the changes in zlib.h, as well as in ChangeLog and README, along | 182 | nature of the changes in zlib.h, as well as in ChangeLog and README, along |
| 184 | with the dates of the alterations. The origin should include at least your | 183 | with the dates of the alterations. The origin should include at least your |
| 185 | name (or your company's name), and an email address to contact for help or | 184 | name (or your company's name), and an email address to contact for help or |
| 186 | issues with the library. | 185 | issues with the library. |
| 187 | 186 | ||
| @@ -197,111 +196,112 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 197 | 196 | ||
| 198 | 26. Will zlib work on a 64-bit machine? | 197 | 26. Will zlib work on a 64-bit machine? |
| 199 | 198 | ||
| 200 | It should. It has been tested on 64-bit machines, and has no dependence | 199 | Yes. It has been tested on 64-bit machines, and has no dependence on any |
| 201 | on any data types being limited to 32-bits in length. If you have any | 200 | data types being limited to 32-bits in length. If you have any |
| 202 | difficulties, please provide a complete problem report to zlib@gzip.org | 201 | difficulties, please provide a complete problem report to zlib@gzip.org |
| 203 | 202 | ||
| 204 | 27. Will zlib decompress data from the PKWare Data Compression Library? | 203 | 27. Will zlib decompress data from the PKWare Data Compression Library? |
| 205 | 204 | ||
| 206 | No. The PKWare DCL uses a completely different compressed data format | 205 | No. The PKWare DCL uses a completely different compressed data format than |
| 207 | than does PKZIP and zlib. However, you can look in zlib's contrib/blast | 206 | does PKZIP and zlib. However, you can look in zlib's contrib/blast |
| 208 | directory for a possible solution to your problem. | 207 | directory for a possible solution to your problem. |
| 209 | 208 | ||
| 210 | 28. Can I access data randomly in a compressed stream? | 209 | 28. Can I access data randomly in a compressed stream? |
| 211 | 210 | ||
| 212 | No, not without some preparation. If when compressing you periodically | 211 | No, not without some preparation. If when compressing you periodically use |
| 213 | use Z_FULL_FLUSH, carefully write all the pending data at those points, | 212 | Z_FULL_FLUSH, carefully write all the pending data at those points, and |
| 214 | and keep an index of those locations, then you can start decompression | 213 | keep an index of those locations, then you can start decompression at those |
| 215 | at those points. You have to be careful to not use Z_FULL_FLUSH too | 214 | points. You have to be careful to not use Z_FULL_FLUSH too often, since it |
| 216 | often, since it can significantly degrade compression. | 215 | can significantly degrade compression. Alternatively, you can scan a |
| 216 | deflate stream once to generate an index, and then use that index for | ||
| 217 | random access. See examples/zran.c . | ||
| 217 | 218 | ||
| 218 | 29. Does zlib work on MVS, OS/390, CICS, etc.? | 219 | 29. Does zlib work on MVS, OS/390, CICS, etc.? |
| 219 | 220 | ||
| 220 | Yes, there are working ports of zlib 1.1.4 to MVS which you can find | 221 | It has in the past, but we have not heard of any recent evidence. There |
| 221 | here: | 222 | were working ports of zlib 1.1.4 to MVS, but those links no longer work. |
| 223 | If you know of recent, successful applications of zlib on these operating | ||
| 224 | systems, please let us know. Thanks. | ||
| 222 | 225 | ||
| 223 | http://www.homerow.net/asm/zlib390.htm | 226 | 30. Is there some simpler, easier to read version of inflate I can look at to |
| 224 | http://www.homerow.net/asm/zlibLE.htm | 227 | understand the deflate format? |
| 225 | 228 | ||
| 226 | If these are updated to more recent versions of zlib, please let us | 229 | First off, you should read RFC 1951. Second, yes. Look in zlib's |
| 227 | know. Thanks. | ||
| 228 | |||
| 229 | 30. Is there some simpler, easier to read version of inflate I can look at | ||
| 230 | to understand the deflate format? | ||
| 231 | |||
| 232 | First off, you should read RFC 1951. Second, yes. Look in zlib's | ||
| 233 | contrib/puff directory. | 230 | contrib/puff directory. |
| 234 | 231 | ||
| 235 | 31. Does zlib infringe on any patents? | 232 | 31. Does zlib infringe on any patents? |
| 236 | 233 | ||
| 237 | As far as we know, no. In fact, that was originally the whole point behind | 234 | As far as we know, no. In fact, that was originally the whole point behind |
| 238 | zlib. Look here for some more information: | 235 | zlib. Look here for some more information: |
| 239 | 236 | ||
| 240 | http://www.gzip.org/#faq11 | 237 | http://www.gzip.org/#faq11 |
| 241 | 238 | ||
| 242 | 32. Can zlib work with greater than 4 GB of data? | 239 | 32. Can zlib work with greater than 4 GB of data? |
| 243 | 240 | ||
| 244 | Yes. inflate() and deflate() will process any amount of data correctly. | 241 | Yes. inflate() and deflate() will process any amount of data correctly. |
| 245 | Each call of inflate() or deflate() is limited to input and output chunks | 242 | Each call of inflate() or deflate() is limited to input and output chunks |
| 246 | of the maximum value that can be stored in the compiler's "unsigned int" | 243 | of the maximum value that can be stored in the compiler's "unsigned int" |
| 247 | type, but there is no limit to the number of chunks. Note however that the | 244 | type, but there is no limit to the number of chunks. Note however that the |
| 248 | strm.total_in and strm_total_out counters may be limited to 4 GB. These | 245 | strm.total_in and strm_total_out counters may be limited to 4 GB. These |
| 249 | counters are provided as a convenience and are not used internally by | 246 | counters are provided as a convenience and are not used internally by |
| 250 | inflate() or deflate(). The application can easily set up its own counters | 247 | inflate() or deflate(). The application can easily set up its own counters |
| 251 | updated after each call of inflate() or deflate() to count beyond 4 GB. | 248 | updated after each call of inflate() or deflate() to count beyond 4 GB. |
| 252 | compress() and uncompress() may be limited to 4 GB, since they operate in a | 249 | compress() and uncompress() may be limited to 4 GB, since they operate in a |
| 253 | single call. gzseek() and gztell() may be limited to 4 GB depending on how | 250 | single call. gzseek() and gztell() may be limited to 4 GB depending on how |
| 254 | zlib is compiled. See the zlibCompileFlags() function in zlib.h. | 251 | zlib is compiled. See the zlibCompileFlags() function in zlib.h. |
| 255 | 252 | ||
| 256 | The word "may" appears several times above since there is a 4 GB limit | 253 | The word "may" appears several times above since there is a 4 GB limit only |
| 257 | only if the compiler's "long" type is 32 bits. If the compiler's "long" | 254 | if the compiler's "long" type is 32 bits. If the compiler's "long" type is |
| 258 | type is 64 bits, then the limit is 16 exabytes. | 255 | 64 bits, then the limit is 16 exabytes. |
| 259 | 256 | ||
| 260 | 33. Does zlib have any security vulnerabilities? | 257 | 33. Does zlib have any security vulnerabilities? |
| 261 | 258 | ||
| 262 | The only one that we are aware of is potentially in gzprintf(). If zlib | 259 | The only one that we are aware of is potentially in gzprintf(). If zlib is |
| 263 | is compiled to use sprintf() or vsprintf(), then there is no protection | 260 | compiled to use sprintf() or vsprintf(), then there is no protection |
| 264 | against a buffer overflow of a 4K string space, other than the caller of | 261 | against a buffer overflow of an 8K string space (or other value as set by |
| 265 | gzprintf() assuring that the output will not exceed 4K. On the other | 262 | gzbuffer()), other than the caller of gzprintf() assuring that the output |
| 266 | hand, if zlib is compiled to use snprintf() or vsnprintf(), which should | 263 | will not exceed 8K. On the other hand, if zlib is compiled to use |
| 267 | normally be the case, then there is no vulnerability. The ./configure | 264 | snprintf() or vsnprintf(), which should normally be the case, then there is |
| 268 | script will display warnings if an insecure variation of sprintf() will | 265 | no vulnerability. The ./configure script will display warnings if an |
| 269 | be used by gzprintf(). Also the zlibCompileFlags() function will return | 266 | insecure variation of sprintf() will be used by gzprintf(). Also the |
| 270 | information on what variant of sprintf() is used by gzprintf(). | 267 | zlibCompileFlags() function will return information on what variant of |
| 268 | sprintf() is used by gzprintf(). | ||
| 271 | 269 | ||
| 272 | If you don't have snprintf() or vsnprintf() and would like one, you can | 270 | If you don't have snprintf() or vsnprintf() and would like one, you can |
| 273 | find a portable implementation here: | 271 | find a portable implementation here: |
| 274 | 272 | ||
| 275 | http://www.ijs.si/software/snprintf/ | 273 | http://www.ijs.si/software/snprintf/ |
| 276 | 274 | ||
| 277 | Note that you should be using the most recent version of zlib. Versions | 275 | Note that you should be using the most recent version of zlib. Versions |
| 278 | 1.1.3 and before were subject to a double-free vulnerability, and version | 276 | 1.1.3 and before were subject to a double-free vulnerability, and versions |
| 279 | 1.2.1 was subject to an access exception when decompressing invalid | 277 | 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 were subject to an access exception when decompressing |
| 280 | compressed data. | 278 | invalid compressed data. |
| 281 | 279 | ||
| 282 | 34. Is there a Java version of zlib? | 280 | 34. Is there a Java version of zlib? |
| 283 | 281 | ||
| 284 | Probably what you want is to use zlib in Java. zlib is already included | 282 | Probably what you want is to use zlib in Java. zlib is already included |
| 285 | as part of the Java SDK in the java.util.zip package. If you really want | 283 | as part of the Java SDK in the java.util.zip package. If you really want |
| 286 | a version of zlib written in the Java language, look on the zlib home | 284 | a version of zlib written in the Java language, look on the zlib home |
| 287 | page for links: http://www.zlib.org/ | 285 | page for links: http://zlib.net/ . |
| 288 | 286 | ||
| 289 | 35. I get this or that compiler or source-code scanner warning when I crank it | 287 | 35. I get this or that compiler or source-code scanner warning when I crank it |
| 290 | up to maximally-pedantic. Can't you guys write proper code? | 288 | up to maximally-pedantic. Can't you guys write proper code? |
| 291 | 289 | ||
| 292 | Many years ago, we gave up attempting to avoid warnings on every compiler | 290 | Many years ago, we gave up attempting to avoid warnings on every compiler |
| 293 | in the universe. It just got to be a waste of time, and some compilers | 291 | in the universe. It just got to be a waste of time, and some compilers |
| 294 | were downright silly. So now, we simply make sure that the code always | 292 | were downright silly as well as contradicted each other. So now, we simply |
| 295 | works. | 293 | make sure that the code always works. |
| 296 | 294 | ||
| 297 | 36. Valgrind (or some similar memory access checker) says that deflate is | 295 | 36. Valgrind (or some similar memory access checker) says that deflate is |
| 298 | performing a conditional jump that depends on an uninitialized value. | 296 | performing a conditional jump that depends on an uninitialized value. |
| 299 | Isn't that a bug? | 297 | Isn't that a bug? |
| 300 | 298 | ||
| 301 | No. That is intentional for performance reasons, and the output of | 299 | No. That is intentional for performance reasons, and the output of deflate |
| 302 | deflate is not affected. This only started showing up recently since | 300 | is not affected. This only started showing up recently since zlib 1.2.x |
| 303 | zlib 1.2.x uses malloc() by default for allocations, whereas earlier | 301 | uses malloc() by default for allocations, whereas earlier versions used |
| 304 | versions used calloc(), which zeros out the allocated memory. | 302 | calloc(), which zeros out the allocated memory. Even though the code was |
| 303 | correct, versions 1.2.4 and later was changed to not stimulate these | ||
| 304 | checkers. | ||
| 305 | 305 | ||
| 306 | 37. Will zlib read the (insert any ancient or arcane format here) compressed | 306 | 37. Will zlib read the (insert any ancient or arcane format here) compressed |
| 307 | data format? | 307 | data format? |
| @@ -311,20 +311,21 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 311 | 311 | ||
| 312 | 38. How can I encrypt/decrypt zip files with zlib? | 312 | 38. How can I encrypt/decrypt zip files with zlib? |
| 313 | 313 | ||
| 314 | zlib doesn't support encryption. The original PKZIP encryption is very weak | 314 | zlib doesn't support encryption. The original PKZIP encryption is very |
| 315 | and can be broken with freely available programs. To get strong encryption, | 315 | weak and can be broken with freely available programs. To get strong |
| 316 | use GnuPG, http://www.gnupg.org/ , which already includes zlib compression. | 316 | encryption, use GnuPG, http://www.gnupg.org/ , which already includes zlib |
| 317 | For PKZIP compatible "encryption", look at http://www.info-zip.org/ | 317 | compression. For PKZIP compatible "encryption", look at |
| 318 | http://www.info-zip.org/ | ||
| 318 | 319 | ||
| 319 | 39. What's the difference between the "gzip" and "deflate" HTTP 1.1 encodings? | 320 | 39. What's the difference between the "gzip" and "deflate" HTTP 1.1 encodings? |
| 320 | 321 | ||
| 321 | "gzip" is the gzip format, and "deflate" is the zlib format. They should | 322 | "gzip" is the gzip format, and "deflate" is the zlib format. They should |
| 322 | probably have called the second one "zlib" instead to avoid confusion | 323 | probably have called the second one "zlib" instead to avoid confusion with |
| 323 | with the raw deflate compressed data format. While the HTTP 1.1 RFC 2616 | 324 | the raw deflate compressed data format. While the HTTP 1.1 RFC 2616 |
| 324 | correctly points to the zlib specification in RFC 1950 for the "deflate" | 325 | correctly points to the zlib specification in RFC 1950 for the "deflate" |
| 325 | transfer encoding, there have been reports of servers and browsers that | 326 | transfer encoding, there have been reports of servers and browsers that |
| 326 | incorrectly produce or expect raw deflate data per the deflate | 327 | incorrectly produce or expect raw deflate data per the deflate |
| 327 | specficiation in RFC 1951, most notably Microsoft. So even though the | 328 | specficiation in RFC 1951, most notably Microsoft. So even though the |
| 328 | "deflate" transfer encoding using the zlib format would be the more | 329 | "deflate" transfer encoding using the zlib format would be the more |
| 329 | efficient approach (and in fact exactly what the zlib format was designed | 330 | efficient approach (and in fact exactly what the zlib format was designed |
| 330 | for), using the "gzip" transfer encoding is probably more reliable due to | 331 | for), using the "gzip" transfer encoding is probably more reliable due to |
| @@ -334,28 +335,32 @@ The lastest zlib FAQ is at http://www.gzip.org/zlib/zlib_faq.html | |||
| 334 | 335 | ||
| 335 | 40. Does zlib support the new "Deflate64" format introduced by PKWare? | 336 | 40. Does zlib support the new "Deflate64" format introduced by PKWare? |
| 336 | 337 | ||
| 337 | No. PKWare has apparently decided to keep that format proprietary, since | 338 | No. PKWare has apparently decided to keep that format proprietary, since |
| 338 | they have not documented it as they have previous compression formats. | 339 | they have not documented it as they have previous compression formats. In |
| 339 | In any case, the compression improvements are so modest compared to other | 340 | any case, the compression improvements are so modest compared to other more |
| 340 | more modern approaches, that it's not worth the effort to implement. | 341 | modern approaches, that it's not worth the effort to implement. |
| 341 | 342 | ||
| 342 | 41. I'm having a problem with the zip functions in zlib, can you help? | 343 | 41. I'm having a problem with the zip functions in zlib, can you help? |
| 343 | 344 | ||
| 344 | There are no zip functions in zlib. You are probably using minizip by | 345 | There are no zip functions in zlib. You are probably using minizip by |
| 345 | Giles Vollant, which is found in the contrib directory of zlib. It is not | 346 | Giles Vollant, which is found in the contrib directory of zlib. It is not |
| 346 | part of zlib. In fact none of the stuff in contrib is part of zlib. The | 347 | part of zlib. In fact none of the stuff in contrib is part of zlib. The |
| 347 | files in there are not supported by the zlib authors. You need to contact | 348 | files in there are not supported by the zlib authors. You need to contact |
| 348 | the authors of the contribution for help. | 349 | the authors of the respective contribution for help. |
| 349 | 350 | ||
| 350 | 42. The match.asm code in contrib is under the GNU General Public License. | 351 | 42. The match.asm code in contrib is under the GNU General Public License. |
| 351 | Since it's part of zlib, doesn't that mean that all of zlib falls under the | 352 | Since it's part of zlib, doesn't that mean that all of zlib falls under the |
| 352 | GNU GPL? | 353 | GNU GPL? |
| 353 | 354 | ||
| 354 | No. The files in contrib are not part of zlib. They were contributed by | 355 | No. The files in contrib are not part of zlib. They were contributed by |
| 355 | other authors and are provided as a convenience to the user within the zlib | 356 | other authors and are provided as a convenience to the user within the zlib |
| 356 | distribution. Each of the items in contrib have their own license. | 357 | distribution. Each of the items in contrib have their own license. |
| 358 | |||
| 359 | 43. Is zlib subject to export controls? What is its ECCN? | ||
| 360 | |||
| 361 | zlib is not subject to export controls, and so is classified as EAR99. | ||
| 357 | 362 | ||
| 358 | 43. Can you please sign these lengthy legal documents and fax them back to us | 363 | 44. Can you please sign these lengthy legal documents and fax them back to us |
| 359 | so that we can use your software in our product? | 364 | so that we can use your software in our product? |
| 360 | 365 | ||
| 361 | No. Go away. Shoo. | 366 | No. Go away. Shoo. |
