tzst
The next-generation Python library engineered for modern archive management, leveraging cutting-edge Zstandard compression to deliver superior performance, security, and reliability
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need Zstandard-compressed tar archives in Python 3.12+. The library is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, installs with minimal friction, and offers both CLI and API interfaces. The BSD-3-Clause license is permissive. Start with the convenience functions; use the TzstArchive class only if you need fine-grained control.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.12 or later.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with a single runtime dependency (zstandard).
- Active maintenance with recent releases and a small but growing user base.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute tzst freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-04-11 (125 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 57 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 206,955 downloads/mo, #9,560 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install tzst
from tzst import create_archive, extract_archive
create_archive("archive.tzst", ["file.txt", "dir/"])
extract_archive("archive.tzst", "output/")- Whether streaming mode provides measurable memory savings for archives of specific sizes.
- Performance comparison with standard tar + gzip or other compression libraries in real-world scenarios.
- Compatibility guarantees with archives created by other Zstandard tar tools.
What it is and what it does
tzst is a Python library for creating, extracting, and managing tar archives compressed with Zstandard. It provides both a command-line interface and a programmatic API, supporting atomic file operations, streaming for large archives, and configurable security filters during extraction. The library targets Python 3.12 and later, treating Zstandard compression as a first-class archive format alongside standard tar operations.
The package is built around the zstandard library and offers convenience functions for common tasks (create_archive, extract_archive, list_archive) as well as a lower-level TzstArchive class for fine-grained control. It emphasizes safe defaults—using the 'data' security filter by default during extraction—and provides both .tzst and .tar.zst extension support for compatibility.
Use it for
- Create compressed backups of directories with better compression ratios than gzip while maintaining tar compatibility.
- Extract large archives in streaming mode to minimize memory usage on resource-constrained systems.
- Automate archive operations in Python scripts using the API without spawning external processes.
- Verify archive integrity before extraction to catch corruption early.
- Distribute pre-built binaries or application bundles using Zstandard compression for faster downloads.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need Zstandard-compressed tar archives in Python 3.12+.
The library is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, installs with minimal friction, and offers both CLI and API interfaces. The BSD-3-Clause license is permissive. Start with the convenience functions; use the TzstArchive class only if you need fine-grained control.
Install
tzst on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with a single runtime dependency (zstandard). Active maintenance with recent releases and a small but growing user base.
Requires Python 3.12 or later.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute tzst freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install tzst
from tzst import create_archive, extract_archive
create_archive("archive.tzst", ["file.txt", "dir/"])
extract_archive("archive.tzst", "output/")Verify before relying
- Whether streaming mode provides measurable memory savings for archives of specific sizes.
- Performance comparison with standard tar + gzip or other compression libraries in real-world scenarios.
- Compatibility guarantees with archives created by other Zstandard tar tools.
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.12 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagezstandard |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 125 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 206,955 / month, #9,560 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Archiving :: Compression |
Evidence: tzst-1.3.3-py3-none-any.whl
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See also fastar · rpmfile · zipfile-zstd · backports.zstd · pyzstd · extractcode · patool · py7zr · libarchive-c · securetar