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That's the beauty! It's just a bunch of files concated and when you throw compression algorithm X over it, it works pretty well. Super neat IMO.
by jjice 4y ago
That's the beauty! It's just a bunch of files concated and when you throw compression algorithm X over it, it works pretty well. Super neat IMO.
- IshKebab 4y agoWell it's neat for a 10 minute hack on an internal project. Not so great that it's become the standard way of distributing files in Linux. Although in this case I'd say it's the fault of symlinks daring to exist and spew their flaws over everyone. Plus maybe slightly C's fault for not coming with a data structure library so everyone uses linked lists for everything. Presumably this wouldn't have happened in any other language (e.g. C++) because they would have used a set or hashmap or whatever. A stone age language dealing with a misguided filesystem feature for a brain-dead archive format. Surprising that it works at all really!
- jjice 4y agoConsidering there are other file formats that are used and occupy the same space as tar balls, the fact that tar balls are common for quite a bit of archiving should represent a win. Other formats (like zip, 7z, rar, etc) have come along and while they're in use and zips specifically are very common, tar balls are still used. Must speak something to them?
- IshKebab 4y agoI believe they're popular in Linux because they come preinstalled. Zip also can't store symlinks but I doubt that is very important in most situations.