Asp Forum - [ANN] pr-zlib 1.0.0 - A Pure Ruby zlib library

Daniel Berger

6/13/2009 4:03:00 AM

Hi all,

The Pure Team is pleased to announce the release of pr-zlib 1.0.0.

= What is it?

The pr-zlib library is actually two separate libraries packaged together.
The first, rbzlib.rb, is a pure Ruby port of zlib.h (the C library). It's a
module that you can mixin and use as you see fit. The second, zlib.rb, is a
pure Ruby version of the Ruby interface to the zlib C library that ships as
part of the Ruby standard library.

= How do I get it?

gem install pr-zlib

Or, just go the RubyForge project page at
http://www.rubyforge.org/pro..., download the source and run either
'rake install' or 'rake install_as_zlib' (which will install the library as
'zlib' instead of 'pr/zlib').

= How do I use it?

require 'pr/zlib'
# The rest is the same as the zlib that ships with the Ruby stdlib.

= Why? (Also in the README)

First, building the zlib C library on MS Windows with Visual C++ is very
difficult. However, certain libraries depend on zlib, most notably rubygems.
By providing a pure Ruby version we eliminate any compiler or platform
compatibility issues.

Second, even some Unix distributions, such as Debian, do not ship with the
zlib library by default. By creating a pure Ruby version of the zlib library
we eliminate the need to install a 3rd party C library, and eliminate a
potential weak link in the dependency chain.

Third, by creating pure Ruby versions of the library and the interface we
are more likely to receive patches, feature requests, documentation updates,
etc, from the Ruby community (I hope) since not everyone who knows Ruby also
knows C.

Last, the zlib interface that ships as part of the stdlib is a little on the
clunky side IMO. By providing a pure Ruby version, authors can create their
own interface as they see fit.

= What about Zliby?

Two things. First, Michael has not released the version of the code that
supports Zlib::GzipWriter. Second, Zliby merges the code into a single file.
The pr-zlib splits the code into its two parts - rbzlib.rb and zlib.rb. The
former is a module that can be used separately. As I mentioned earlier, that
means users can create their own interface if they prefer.

= Feeling Generous?

If you think this is a useful library, and would like to see more time spent
on others like it, please consider a contribution:

http://pledgie.com/camp... (Daniel's general drive)

phasis@gmail.com (Heesob on Paypal)

Enjoy!

The Pure Team (Daniel Berger and Park Heesob)

4 Answers

Trans

6/13/2009 8:54:00 AM

On Jun 13, 12:02=A0am, "Daniel Berger" <djber...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> The Pure Team is pleased to announce the release of pr-zlib 1.0.0.
>
> =3D What is it?
>
> The pr-zlib library is actually two separate libraries packaged together.
> The first, rbzlib.rb, is a pure Ruby port of zlib.h (the C library). It's=
a
> module that you can mixin and use as you see fit. The second, zlib.rb, is=
a
> pure Ruby version of the Ruby interface to the zlib C library that ships =
as
> part of the Ruby standard library.
>
> =3D How do I get it?
>
> gem install pr-zlib
>
> Or, just go the RubyForge project page athttp://www.rubyforge.or...
s/pure, download the source and run either
> 'rake install' or 'rake install_as_zlib' (which will install the library =
as
> 'zlib' instead of 'pr/zlib').
>
> =3D How do I use it?
>
> require 'pr/zlib'
> # The rest is the same as the zlib that ships with the Ruby stdlib.

I wonder if this would be more desirable actually in the standard
library for the reasons you give.

> =3D Why? (Also in the README)
>
> First, building the zlib C library on MS Windows with Visual C++ is very
> difficult. However, certain libraries depend on zlib, most notably rubyge=
ms.
> By providing a pure Ruby version we eliminate any compiler or platform
> compatibility issues.
>
> Second, even some Unix distributions, such as Debian, do not ship with th=
e
> zlib library by default. By creating a pure Ruby version of the zlib libr=
ary
> we eliminate the need to install a 3rd party C library, and eliminate a
> potential weak link in the dependency chain.
>
> Third, by creating pure Ruby versions of the library and the interface we
> are more likely to receive patches, feature requests, documentation updat=
es,
> etc, from the Ruby community (I hope) since not everyone who knows Ruby a=
lso
> knows C.
>
> Last, the zlib interface that ships as part of the stdlib is a little on =
the
> clunky side IMO. By providing a pure Ruby version, authors can create the=
ir
> own interface as they see fit.

Good show, gents.

Maybe some benchmarks?

T.

Robert Dober

6/13/2009 2:06:00 PM

On Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 10:54 AM, trans<transfire@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> On Jun 13, 12:02=A0am, "Daniel Berger" <djber...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> =3D How do I use it?
>>
>> require 'pr/zlib'
>> # The rest is the same as the zlib that ships with the Ruby stdlib.
>
> I wonder if this would be more desirable actually in the standard
> library for the reasons you give.
+1 and kudos to the pure team :)
Robert
>

Roger Pack

6/14/2009 3:05:00 AM

> I wonder if this would be more desirable actually in the standard
> library for the reasons you give.

or perhaps included with rubygems as a backup?
=r
--
Posted via http://www.ruby-....

Daniel Berger

6/14/2009 3:41:00 AM

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rogerpack2005@gmail.com [mailto:rogerpack2005@gmail.com]
> Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:05 PM
> To: ruby-talk ML
> Subject: Re: pr-zlib 1.0.0 - A Pure Ruby zlib library
>=20
>=20
> > I wonder if this would be more desirable actually in the standard
> > library for the reasons you give.
>=20
> or perhaps included with rubygems as a backup?

http://rubyforge.org/tracker/index.php?func=3Ddetail&aid=3D22220&...
=3D126&atid=3D578

Originally I was going to use zliby, but I think what we'll do is try to =
load pr/zlib if zlib can't be found. So, you'll have to install one or =
the other first at some point, but at least you'll have a choice.

Regards,

Dan

comp.lang.ruby

[ANN] pr-zlib 1.0.0 - A Pure Ruby zlib library

Daniel Berger

Trans

Robert Dober

Roger Pack

Daniel Berger

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