best format for distribution (SHK? DSK? ZIP?)

[Ivan X <ivanxqz@yahoo.com>]

Hello A2 world,

If I'm planning on distributing more of the Apple II software I've written
on my web page, what's considered to be the best format(s) for distribution
these days?

The reason I ask is that I pretty much spend my time in Apple //e emulators,
so I'm biased towards 140K disk image files because they're most convenient
for me, and also quickly converted to disks via ADT Pro for those who are
set up to do so.

However, I realize some users download directly to their Apple II's,
especially IIgs users; if so, I'd think image files would be less convenient
because they require making back into disks, or utilities are needed to
extract files from them, and I'm not even sure what exists for that, if
anything.

So, what's best? DSK? SDK? ZIP? SHK? 800K(PO)? Some combination of these?
Something else?

As an aside, what zip decoders exist? Any for 8-bit machines? Likewise, are
there any tools for extracting files from disk images? (I wrote a
ProDOS-based utility for extracting files from 3.3 images many years ago,
which was crude but functional, and may be one of the items I want to put up
if there isn't something better out there.)

Thanks,
Ivan.


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