How do I create a container file?

Question

I would like to create a file format for my app like Quake, OO, and MS Office 07 have.

Basically a uncompressed zip folder, or tar file.

I need this to be cross platform (mac and windows).

Can I do something via command prompt and bash?

Answer 1

If you want a single file that is portable to all platforms and which contain structured data, consider using sqlite. You'll get a full featured ACID compliant database that exists on disk as a single file.

There are libraries you can link against to directly access the file, and there is a command line tool you can use as well. No matter what language you are using, most likely there is support for it.

http://www.sqlite.org