---
name: "zzat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "zzuf"
version: "0.15-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/zzat"
---

# zzat(1)

concatenate files using different instruction sequences

## NAME

zzat - concatenate files using different instruction sequences

## SYNOPSIS

**zzat** \[**-AbdeEntTv**\] \[**-r** *loops*\] \[**-x** *sequence*\] \[*FILE*\]...\
 **zzat -l** \| **--list**\
 **zzat -h** \| **--help**\
 **zzat -V** \| **--version**

## DESCRIPTION

The **zzat** utility reads files sequentially, writing them to the standard output. The user can decide which sequence of library calls is used to seek and read data.

**zzat** is primarily used as a debugging tool for **zzuf**, because it can emulate different programs' ways to read files.

## OPTIONS

- **-A**, **--show-all**

  Equivalent to **-vET**.

- **-b**, **--number-nonblank**

  Number nonempty output lines.

- **-d**, **--debug**

  Output debugging information.

- **-e**

  Equivalent to **-vET**.

- **-E**, **--show-ends**

  Display $ at end of each line.

- **-n**, **--number**

  Number all output lines.

- **-r**, **--repeat**=*loops*

  Concatenate all files *loops* times.

- **-t**

  Equivalent to **-vT**.

- **-T**, **--show-tabs**

  Display TAB characters as ^I.

- **-v**, **--show-nonprinting**

  Use ^ and M- notation, except for LFD and TAB.

- **-x**, **--execute**=*sequence*

  Read a file or a stream using the instruction sequence specified in *sequence*.

  Instructions are executed sequentially until the end of the program. End-of-file is not an exit condition, except where the **feof** keyword is used:

      **fread(1,10); feof(1); fread(1,10)**

  Loops are permitted using the **repeat** keyword. Again, **feof** can be used to prematurely break out of a loop:

      **repeat(10000, fgetc() feof(1))**

  Instructions can be separated by spaces, commas or semicolons. A list of all available instructions and control keywords can be obtained using this command:

      **zzat -l**

  If no sequence is specified, the following default sequence is used:

      **repeat(-1, fread(1,32768), feof(1))**

- **-l**, **--list**

  Display the list of supported keywords and functions and exit.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display a short help message and exit.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Output version information and exit.

## EXAMPLES

Read the first 1000 bytes of f, then exit:

    **zzat -x 'fread(1,1000)' f**

Read the first four bytes of f, using four different instructions:

    **zzat -x 'getc(),fgetc(),getc\_unlocked(),\_IO\_getc()' f**

Read f entirely, by calling **getc()** repeatedly until end-of-file is reached:

    **zzat -x 'repeat(-1, getc(), feof(1))'** f

Read f entirely, in chunks of 32768 bytes until end-of-file is reached:

    **zzat -x 'repeat(-1, fread(1,32768), feof(1))'** f

## SEE ALSO

**zzuf(3)**, **[libzzuf(3)](/libzzuf/3.md)**

## AUTHOR

Copyright © 2002-2015 Sam Hocevar \<sam@hocevar.net\>.

**zzat** and this manual page are free software. They come without any warranty, to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute them and/or modify them under the terms of the Do What the Fuck You Want to Public License, Version 2, as published by the WTFPL Task Force. See **http://www.wtfpl.net/** for more details.

**zzuf**'s webpage can be found at **http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/zzuf**. An overview of the architecture and inner works is at **http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/zzuf/internals**.