ZIP entries are only DEFLATE-compressed if you store them that way. You are not prohibited from opting for no compression. And if you are in control of the wr

ZIP entries are only DEFLATE-compressed if you store them that way. You are not prohibited from opting for no compression. And if you are in control of the writer (which, in this case, you are), then you don't have to depend on locating and reading the central directory near the end of the file before being able to do anything—your writer can frontload whatever metadata will aid the most efficient access pattern for your reader.