exomizer ☆

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Description:
File compressor optimized for decompression in 8-bit environments

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 3.1.2@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: compression retrocomputing c64 developer-tools file-utility

Install: brew install exomizer

About:
Exomizer is a high-performance file compressor designed specifically for optimal decompression speed on resource-constrained 8-bit systems like the Commodore 64 and Apple II. It achieves small file sizes while ensuring the decompression routine is extremely fast and low on memory usage. This makes it an essential tool for the modern retrocomputing and demo scene development workflow.

Key Features:

Optimized for 8-bit CPU architectures (6502, 65816, Z80)
Extremely fast decompression speed at the cost of compression ratio
Supports multiple compression levels and output formats
Includes both compression and native decompression routines

Use Cases:

Compressing game assets and executables for retro homebrew development
Optimizing data size for storage on floppy disks or cartridges
Reducing download times for BBS archives and digital distribution

Alternatives:

pucrunch – Another popular 8-bit packer, but Exomizer generally offers faster decompression speeds.
lz4 – Modern algorithm focused on speed, but requires more resources and lacks native 8-bit assembly output.

License: Zlib AND (GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Bison-exception-2.2)

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 13, 2025 2:51pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	3502b6fa