| name | zip-unzip-cli |
| description | Use this skill whenever the user wants to compress or decompress files with zip or unzip inside the Xpert sandbox. Trigger when they mention creating zip archives, extracting zip files, listing archive contents, testing integrity, excluding files during compression, password-based extraction, or split zip archives. |
Zip/Unzip CLI Skill
This skill explains how to use the system zip and unzip commands inside the Xpert sandbox through sandbox_shell.
Mandatory Workflow
- Run archive commands through
sandbox_shell.
- Before first use in a session, read this file with:
cat /workspace/.xpert/skills/zip-unzip/SKILL.md
- Use Ubuntu/Linux shell syntax.
- Avoid interactive commands. The sandbox is non-interactive.
Core Operations
Compress Files or Directories
Basic compression:
zip archive.zip file1.txt file2.txt
zip -r archive.zip directory/
Compression levels (1 = fastest, 9 = best compression):
zip -1 fast.zip largefile.txt
zip -9 small.zip largefile.txt
Preserve symlinks:
zip -ry archive.zip directory/
Extract Archives
Extract to current directory:
unzip archive.zip
Extract to a specific directory:
unzip archive.zip -d /path/to/destination/
Extract specific files:
unzip archive.zip file1.txt folder/file2.txt
Choose overwrite behavior explicitly when files may already exist:
unzip -o archive.zip
unzip -n archive.zip
View Archive Contents
List files:
unzip -l archive.zip
Detailed listing with sizes and dates:
unzip -v archive.zip
Test archive integrity:
unzip -t archive.zip
Password Handling
Non-interactive password extraction
unzip -P mypassword secure.zip -d /tmp/extracted
Non-interactive password creation
zip -P mypassword secure.zip sensitive_file.txt
zip -P and unzip -P are non-interactive, but the password is visible in the command line, shell history, and process listing. Only use them when the user explicitly provided the password and understands that tradeoff.
Do not use interactive password prompts
zip -e secure.zip sensitive_file.txt
Do not use zip -e in sandbox_shell. It prompts for a password and can hang. The middleware blocks it.
Excluding Files
Exclude specific files or patterns:
zip -r archive.zip project/ -x "*.log" "*.tmp" "*/node_modules/*" "*/.git/*"
Exclude hidden files:
zip -r archive.zip directory/ -x "*/.*"
Quote glob patterns so the shell does not expand them before zip receives them.
Split Archives
Create a split archive (size in k, m, or g):
zip -r -s 100m large.zip bigdirectory/
Reassemble and extract a split archive:
zip -F large.zip --out complete.zip
unzip complete.zip
Update Existing Archives
Add files to an existing archive:
zip archive.zip newfile.txt
zip -r archive.zip newfolder/
Update changed files only:
zip -u archive.zip file.txt
Delete files from an archive:
zip -d archive.zip unwanted.txt "*.log"
Common Patterns
Backup with a timestamp
zip -r backup_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S).zip /path/to/data/
Quiet extraction
unzip -q archive.zip
Preserve Unix attributes when needed
zip -rX archive.zip directory/
Sandbox Notes
- This middleware checks and installs
zip / unzip automatically inside the sandbox. Do not suggest apt or sudo as the first step.
- If
unzip might overwrite files, explicitly choose -o or -n instead of relying on a prompt.
- Prefer the smallest command that matches the user request.
- After creating an archive, consider verifying it with
unzip -t archive.zip.
Quick Reference
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Compress file | zip archive.zip file.txt |
| Compress directory | zip -r archive.zip dir/ |
| Extract | unzip archive.zip |
| Extract to path | unzip archive.zip -d /path/ |
| Extract with password | unzip -P mypassword secure.zip -d /path/ |
| List contents | unzip -l archive.zip |
| Exclude pattern | zip -r archive.zip dir/ -x "*.log" |
| Split 100MB | zip -r -s 100m archive.zip dir/ |
| Delete from archive | zip -d archive.zip file.txt |
| Test integrity | unzip -t archive.zip |
