lz4/examples/blockStreaming_doubleBuffer.md

LZ4 Streaming API Example : Double Buffer

by Takayuki Matsuoka

blockStreaming_doubleBuffer.c is LZ4 Straming API example which implements double buffer (de)compression.

Please note :

• Firstly, read "LZ4 Streaming API Basics".
• This is relatively advanced application example.
• Output file is not compatible with lz4frame and platform dependent.

What's the point of this example ?

• Handle huge file in small amount of memory
• Always better compression ratio than Block API
• Uniform block size

How the compression works

First of all, allocate "Double Buffer" for input and LZ4 compressed data buffer for output. Double buffer has two pages, "first" page (Page#1) and "second" page (Page#2).

        Double Buffer

      Page#1    Page#2
    +---------+---------+
    | Block#1 |         |
    +----+----+---------+
         |
         v
      {Out#1}


      Prefix Dependency
         +---------+
         |         |
         v         |
    +---------+----+----+
    | Block#1 | Block#2 |
    +---------+----+----+
                   |
                   v
                {Out#2}


   External Dictionary Mode
         +---------+
         |         |
         |         v
    +----+----+---------+
    | Block#3 | Block#2 |
    +----+----+---------+
         |
         v
      {Out#3}


      Prefix Dependency
         +---------+
         |         |
         v         |
    +---------+----+----+
    | Block#3 | Block#4 |
    +---------+----+----+
                   |
                   v
                {Out#4}

Next, read first block to double buffer's first page. And compress it by LZ4_compress_continue(). For the first time, LZ4 doesn't know any previous dependencies, so it just compress the line without dependencies and generates compressed block {Out#1} to LZ4 compressed data buffer. After that, write {Out#1} to the file.

Next, read second block to double buffer's second page. And compress it. In this time, LZ4 can use dependency to Block#1 to improve compression ratio. This dependency is called "Prefix mode".

Next, read third block to double buffer's first page. And compress it. Also this time, LZ4 can use dependency to Block#2. This dependency is called "External Dictonaly mode".

Continue these procedure to the end of the file.

How the decompression works

Decompression will do reverse order.

• Read first compressed block.
• Decompress it to the first page and write that page to the file.
• Read second compressed block.
• Decompress it to the second page and write that page to the file.
• Read third compressed block.
• Decompress it to the first page and write that page to the file.

Continue these procedure to the end of the compressed file.