GUnzip

GUnzip is a small Java utility by Ming-Yee Iu that decompresses files packed with the gzip format (.gz). It is one of several tiny tools that the author offers on his User00 utilities page, next to HashSum, a Hex Editor and a Line Counter.

The author wrote these tools because simple utilities are often only available as part of large Linux tool collections or as doubtful freeware. GUnzip is therefore distributed in Java Web Start form: the program starts from a JNLP file and runs in the Java security sandbox, so it does not need a normal installation.

The interface is a very small window. You click a button to choose the gzip archive, pick the output folder and start the extraction. There are no configuration settings, and drag and drop is not supported. The tool only extracts files; it cannot create gzip archives.

Because it does not install, GUnzip adds no entries to the Windows registry, and the JNLP file can be kept on a USB flash drive and started on any computer with Java. It uses little CPU and memory and finishes small files quickly. The download page contains only a one-line description and a disclaimer, so there is no separate manual.

The program is free and is provided "as is", without any warranty. It has not been updated for many years, and Java Web Start was removed from Java 11 and later, so launching it today requires Java 8 or an alternative launcher such as OpenWebStart.

GUnzip extracts gzip archives in a few clicks on any computer with Java, without command-line tools or installation.

Features:

It decompresses gzip (.gz) files to a folder of your choice.

It runs on any operating system with Java, without installation.