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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the .dodaz format?

.dodaz is DodaZIP’s native archive format. It bundles compressed data chunks (using Zstd, LZMA2, or LZ4), a deduplication chunk table, optional XChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, and optional Reed-Solomon ECC parity. The format supports random-access extraction — you can pull a single file without decompressing the whole archive. A .dodaz file is self-contained; no separate metadata files needed.

Can I open existing .zip / .7z / .rar files with DodaZIP?

Yes. DodaZIP can read and list the contents of ZIP, 7z, RAR (including RAR5), tar, tar.gz, tar.bz2, tar.xz, gz, bz2, and xz files. It can extract all of them. For writing, it supports all of the above except RAR (the format is proprietary and no open Rust library exists for writing).

How does deduplication work?

DodaZIP uses FastCDC (Fast Content-Defined Chunking), which splits files into variable-sized chunks at content-defined boundaries. If the same chunk appears in multiple files (e.g., shared libraries, repeated log entries, duplicate blocks in VM images), it’s stored only once. The chunk table maps each file’s logical chunks to their physical locations. This is far more effective than file-level dedup — it catches duplicate data at the sub-file level.

Is deduplication lossless?

Absolutely. Deduplication is a purely lossless process. Every byte is verified by BLAKE3 hash before storage. When you extract, each chunk is validated against its hash — if a chunk is corrupted (and ECC is enabled), DodaZIP can even repair it. The decompressed data is bit-for-bit identical to the original.

What platforms are supported?

DodaZIP runs on Linux (x86_64, aarch64), Windows (x86_64), and macOS (x86_64, Apple Silicon). The CLI works on all three. The Tauri GUI works on all three with native look and feel. Memory requirements depend on compression settings — minimum ~256 MB RAM for basic usage, ~1 GB recommended for maximum compression with dedup on large filesets.

How does DodaZIP compare to BorgBackup or restic?

Borg and restic are backup tools — they manage snapshots, incremental backups, and remote repositories. DodaZIP is a compression archiver — it creates standalone archive files you can store, email, or upload anywhere. Unlike Borg/restic, DodaZIP doesn’t require a repository or database — a .dodaz file is a single portable file. Use Borg/restic for full backup pipelines; use DodaZIP for ad-hoc archiving, sharing, and distribution. They complement each other.

Can I use DodaZIP in scripts / CI/CD pipelines?

Yes. The CLI binary (dodazip compress, dodazip extract, dodazip list) works in any shell, Docker container, or CI environment. It supports stdin/stdout mode, JSON output for machine parsing, and all compression/encryption/ECC options via flags. No X server or desktop environment is needed — the CLI has no GUI dependencies.

Can I mount a .dodaz archive as a filesystem?

Yes — on Linux with FUSE support. Build with the fuse feature flag, then run:

dodazip mount --archive archive.dodaz --mount-point /mnt/archive

You can browse the archive as a normal directory. Press Ctrl+C to unmount. This is an optional feature that requires libfuse3-dev at build time.

What compression levels are available?

The GUI simplifies this to a four-button segmented control:

  • Fastest — LZ4, quick but less compression
  • Normal — Zstd level 10, best all-around balance
  • Maximum — Zstd level 22 + LZMA2, best ratio
  • Store — No compression, for incompressible data

The CLI gives you full control over codec and level independently.

Is it really free?

Yes. DodaZIP is open source under the MIT and Apache 2.0 licenses — no paid tiers, no subscription, no telemetry. You can use it for personal or commercial projects without restriction. Contributions, bug reports, and feature requests are welcome on GitHub.