Skip to content

NanaZip 1.0 (1.0.95.0)
Compare
Choose a tag to compare
@MouriNaruto MouriNaruto released this 08 Dec 15:47
1.0
f59f924

We are really excited to announce that we've released first stable version, NanaZip 1.0, and is now available for download.

Modernized build toolchain

First, we have modernized the build toolchain via migrating makefile and VC6 workspace inherited from the original 7-Zip to the modern MSBuild projects for using MSIX packaging and parallel compilation support.

Also, we know that it's very difficult for users who do not have access to the store to get our dependency packages, and we want to be robust and deployable everywhere, so all needed dependencies are included in the MSIX package of NanaZip.

We use the VC-LTL 5.x toolchain to make the binary size even smaller than the official 7-Zip because we can use ucrtbase.dll directly and the optimizations from modern compile toolchain.

These make the NanaZip have a solid start for the following modernization work, and NanaZip may be the first open source 7-Zip derivative uses MSBuild project to build.

Modernization progress of the user experience

After we modernized the build toolchain, we started to modernize the shell extension, because we all know a modern project should adapt the new context menu in Windows 11. The progress is much easier because we modernize the build toolchain and we can use MSIX packaging elegantly.

Because we make a lot of efforts on the build toolchain and we want to release the first preview to the public before October 5, 2021, the general availability day for Windows 11, we have just changed the icons created from the designer we paid. Also, we have use the icon from Segoe Fluent Icons font in the toolbar in the main window. It won't have better look until rewriting the toolbar with XAML CommandBar and use the font icons instead of bitmaps generated from font icons.

After we released the first public preview, we have received plenty of suggestions from users, including provide 7-Zip execution alias for helping users to migrate, merge the features from 7-Zip NSIS branch and 7-Zip ZStandard branch, etc.

The praise and suggestions from users are the most gratifying thing for every creator, and we will do our best to implement them.

The future plan of the project

We plan to release a major version every year like the .NET Runtime. Here is the plan for NanaZip.

In 1.x Series, we still need to modernize the Self Extracting Executable stubs and i18n implementation, and migrate language files from .txt to .resw. Also, we need to add the UI stack based on XAML Islands which is used in NanaZip 2.x Series.

In 2.x Series, we will modernize the UI and core implementations from inherited implementations, including using XAML Islands with the Windows 11 control style, Mica material, implementing the dark and light mode support, providing the Windows Runtime component which will released to NuGet for interoperability in third-party applications.

Because we have done most of modernization work in 2.x Series. 3.x Series will add features and improvements from users feedback.

In 4.x Series, we hope we can cooperate with the 7-Zip community for adding the features which can help to most, for example, the recovery record support for 7z archives.

We think it's a feasible plan for NanaZip. Also, we hope users can track the Development Roadmap, because it's the full version, and the roadmap may be changed due to the development progress.

Introduce the development team

In the current stage, there are two person in the development team of NanaZip.

  • Kenji Mouri, the creator of NanaZip, for implementing the code.
  • Sakura Neko, the community manager of NanaZip, for coordinating the community.

Here are the thoughts from Kenji Mouri and Sakura Neko.

Kenji Mouri

As the creator of the NanaZip, I found the NanaZip has exceeded my expectations even after the first public preview.

I will try my best to achieve the roadmap, because I want to achieve the goal of being a distinguished developer (D.D.).

I have created the NanaZip project for improving my user experience in Windows 11, because I haven't found the file archiver which supports the new context menu in Windows 11 at that time, it will definitely reduce the productivity if I can't use the file archiver in the new context menu. Also I have to update to Windows 11 because I am a desktop application developer who need to pay attention to the latest Windows platform.

Finally, I hope my submitted Microsoft MVP application can be passed by the committee for helping to most with a better way.

Sakura Neko

Before Mouri shared with me his initial desire to build modern file archiving tools on Windows 11. I had used a number of file archiving tools and had landed on 7-Zip as my final destination. So after my friend Mouri mentioned his idea, I knew we were going to do great things ^_^

After we released the first preview version of NanaZip, the project received a lot of attention from over a thousand developers. Shortly after the preview was released, in November of this year 2021, Microsoft developers tweeted about our project's implementation.

Mouri mentioned earlier that the project was progressing beyond his expectations. I am of the opinion that one can rarely anticipate the final outcome of a project at the beginning. The fate of a project ah, of course, depends on the struggle of the developers, but it is also necessary to take into account the journey of history.

And I certainly hope that we can become more mature creators through this project, Get rid of "too young, too simple".

Changelog

  • Modernize the build toolchain with MSBuild for using MSIX packaging and parallel compilation support. (Thanks to AndromedaMelody, be5invis, 青春永不落幕 and oxygen-dioxide.)
  • Use VC-LTL 5.x toolchain to make the binary size even smaller than the official 7-Zip because we can use ucrtbase.dll directly and the optimizations from modern compile toolchain. (Thanks to mingkuang.)
  • Add the context menu support in Windows 10/11 File Explorer. (Thanks to shiroshan.)
  • New icons. (Designed by Alice (四月天), Chi Lei, Kenji Mouri, Rúben Garrido and Sakura Neko. Thanks to AndromedaMelody and 奕然.)
  • Minor tweaks. (Thanks to adrianghc, Blueberryy, ChuckMichael, Legna, Maicol Battistini, SakuraNeko and Zbynius.)
  • Update 7-Zip from 21.03 to 21.06. (Noticed by Dan, lychichem and sanderdewit. Thanks to Igor Pavlov.)
  • Enable parsing the NSIS script support in the NSIS archives. (Suggested by alanfox2000. Thanks to myfreeer.)
  • Merge features from 7-Zip ZStandard branch. (Suggested by fcharlie. Thanks to Tino Reichardt.)

Usage

Download 40174MouriNaruto.NanaZip_1.0.95.0_gnj4mf6z9tkrc.msixbundle and open it.

Announcement Posts

Kenji Mouri and Sakura Neko

Assets 3
Loading