this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2024
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[–] [email protected] -3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (9 children)

"The world should conform to my expectations, not long-standing conventions!"

But if you engage your thinking meat, you might just discover the magic of alias untar='tar xvf'.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

"long-standing conventions" is how you end up with Internet Explorer still pre-installed on Windows Server 2025.
And when was the last time you used the tar "tape archiver" to archive things on tape?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Magnetic tapes are still being used as long-term storage, as backups for example. They are inexpensive, compact, have zero moving parts, and are more durable than optical media. All you have to do is keep them in a location that is around room temperature, relatively dry, and away from magnets.

But that's not really what tar does. It simply collects the input files and writes them to a single contiguous data stream -- a file not unlike an actual tape. It's worked like that for, I shit you not, 45 years, and it is very much a single project holding up modern technology situation. I fear to imagine what would happen if it were to change.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What the fuck zero moving parts? Are you high?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

That would be the sticky tape. Also good for long term storage.

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