Package: wnpp After maintaining the Debian package of tar since 3 December 1995 (nearly a quarter century!), I've decided it's time to let someone else take over. The Debian tar package is generally in very good shape, and does all the routine things quite reliably. However, like many GNU project versions of well-known Unix applications, tar has accreted a massive number of optional features over the years... very few of which I actually use. And these are what many of the open bugs against the package are about. Also, as is the case with some other GNU applications, tar has documentation under the FDL with invariant sections, so as a matter of Debian policy the docs are distributed in non-free. This complicates the packaging process somewhat, though I have a well-documented process for ingesting a new upstream release into the packaging repository and rippling updates into the various required branches. If you want to jump in, I suggest you start by taking a look at the current list of open bugs, find one or two to fix, and then reach out to me for some discussion. As tar is an essential package, taking it on does carry an extra measure of responsibility. Regards, Bdale
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