Subject: bug#79414: closed (Re: bug#79414: the ratio output by "gzip -l" is less than 0)

From: [email-masked] (GNU bug Tracking System)
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:06:04 +0000

Your bug report

#79414: the ratio output by "gzip -l" is less than 0

which was filed against the gzip package, has been closed.

The explanation is attached below, along with your original report.
If you require more details, please reply to [email-masked].

-- 
79414: https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=79414
GNU Bug Tracking System
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Subject: Re: bug#79414: the ratio output by "gzip -l" is less than 0
From: Paul Eggert <[email-masked]>
To: shi xuantong <[email-masked]>
Cc: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2025 11:05:03 -0700
List-Id: <debbugs-submit.debbugs.gnu.org>

A negative compression ratio is correct when gzip's compressed output is 
larger than its input.

Arguably gzip should output "-Inf%" when the input is empty and the 
compressed output is not. But that's a mere nicety.

Subject: the ratio output by "gzip -l" is less than 0
From: shi xuantong <[email-masked]>
To: "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2025 15:02:50 +0000
List-Id: <debbugs-submit.debbugs.gnu.org>

gzip's version: 1.14
OS: openEuler
compiler:gcc-12.3.1

Reproduce steps:
echo "hiasdastysjdoyiojsad7saihdsd08y8768r" | gzip >> a.gz
gzip -l a.gz

result: