zstd CLI documentation (--help option)

zstdHelp.txt

*** zstd command line interface 64-bits v1.5.2, by Yann Collet ***
Usage :
      zstd [args] [FILE(s)] [-o file]

FILE    : a filename
          with no FILE, or when FILE is - , read standard input
Arguments :
 -#     : # compression level (1-19, default: 3)
 -d     : decompression
 -D DICT: use DICT as Dictionary for compression or decompression
 -o file: result stored into `file` (only 1 output file)
 -f     : disable input and output checks. Allows overwriting existing files,
          input from console, output to stdout, operating on links,
          block devices, etc.
--rm    : remove source file(s) after successful de/compression
 -k     : preserve source file(s) (default)
 -h/-H  : display help/long help and exit

Advanced arguments :
 -V     : display Version number and exit
 -c     : write to standard output (even if it is the console)
 -v     : verbose mode; specify multiple times to increase verbosity
 -q     : suppress warnings; specify twice to suppress errors too
--[no-]progress : forcibly display, or never display the progress counter.
                  note: any (de)compressed output to terminal will mix with progress counter text.
 -r     : operate recursively on directories
--filelist FILE : read list of files to operate upon from FILE
--output-dir-flat DIR : processed files are stored into DIR
--output-dir-mirror DIR : processed files are stored into DIR respecting original directory structure
--[no-]check : during compression, add XXH64 integrity checksum to frame (default: enabled). If specified with -d, decompressor will ignore/validate checksums in compressed frame (default: validate).
--trace FILE : log tracing information to FILE.
--      : All arguments after "--" are treated as files

Advanced compression arguments :
--ultra : enable levels beyond 19, up to 22 (requires more memory)
--long[=#]: enable long distance matching with given window log (default: 27)
--fast[=#]: switch to very fast compression levels (default: 1)
--adapt : dynamically adapt compression level to I/O conditions
--[no-]row-match-finder : force enable/disable usage of fast row-based matchfinder for greedy, lazy, and lazy2 strategies
--patch-from=FILE : specify the file to be used as a reference point for zstd's diff engine.
 -T#    : spawns # compression threads (default: 1, 0==# cores)
 -B#    : select size of each job (default: 0==automatic)
--single-thread : use a single thread for both I/O and compression (result slightly different than -T1)
--auto-threads={physical,logical} (default: physical} : use either physical cores or logical cores as default when specifying -T0

--rsyncable : compress using a rsync-friendly method (-B sets block size)
--exclude-compressed: only compress files that are not already compressed
--stream-size=# : specify size of streaming input from `stdin`
--size-hint=# optimize compression parameters for streaming input of approximately this size
--target-compressed-block-size=# : generate compressed block of approximately targeted size
--no-dictID : don't write dictID into header (dictionary compression only)
--[no-]compress-literals : force (un)compressed literals
--format=zstd : compress files to the .zst format (default)
--format=gzip : compress files to the .gz format

Advanced decompression arguments :
 -l     : print information about zstd compressed files
--test  : test compressed file integrity
 -M#    : Set a memory usage limit for decompression
--[no-]sparse : sparse mode (default: enabled on file, disabled on stdout)

Dictionary builder :
--train ## : create a dictionary from a training set of files
--train-cover[=k=#,d=#,steps=#,split=#,shrink[=#]] : use the cover algorithm with optional args
--train-fastcover[=k=#,d=#,f=#,steps=#,split=#,accel=#,shrink[=#]] : use the fast cover algorithm with optional args
--train-legacy[=s=#] : use the legacy algorithm with selectivity (default: 9)
 -o DICT : DICT is dictionary name (default: dictionary)
--maxdict=# : limit dictionary to specified size (default: 112640)
--dictID=# : force dictionary ID to specified value (default: random)

Benchmark arguments :
 -b#    : benchmark file(s), using # compression level (default: 3)
 -e#    : test all compression levels successively from -b# to -e# (default: 1)
 -i#    : minimum evaluation time in seconds (default: 3s)
 -B#    : cut file into independent blocks of size # (default: no block)
 -S     : output one benchmark result per input file (default: consolidated result)
--priority=rt : set process priority to real-time