Bug#174308: star should become standard tar

[bug1@optushome.com.au]

On Thu, 26 Dec 2002 02:03:20 +0100
Eduard Bloch <edi@gmx.de> wrote:

> Not till it begins to emulate GNU tar's default behaviour.
> 

GNU tar should not be seen as the the standard, POSIX should be.

Its wrong for STAR to emulate bugs in GNU tar's behaviour.

If these applications that star breaks can be identified then they can
be fixed prior to a changeover.

> That are all things JS keeps saying and though, 99% of users are
> happy with GNU tar.
> 

I think its wrong to judge it by popularity, consider standards and
technical merit as well.

GNU tar uses its own NON-POSIX method of storing filenames greater than
100 bytes, it doesnt use the 155 byte 'path' section of the header at
all!

GNU tar has been a good program for a long time, its method of storing
long files predates the POSIX tar standard, but we shouldnt be held back
due to nostalga.


Glenn