Karl Berry <k...@freefriends.org> writes:
> I suggest that tar check if a file exists before trying to make a > network connection. This would eliminate the need for --force-local in > (I expect) most cases. As in: > > $ touch foo:bar > $ tar xf foo:bar > tar: Cannot connect to foo: resolve failed > > whereas I'd prefer/expect the usual error: > tar: This does not look like a tar archive > > > Also, since the whole idea of tar making network connections is highly > non-traditional, I also suggest making an environment variable that > turns off the network stuff completely. TAR_NO_NETWORK or some > such. Since --force-local eliminates the possibility of using > traditional no-dash options, an alias does not suffice. It is not > desirable to make wrapper scripts for something as basic as tar. Just > an idea/wish ... --thanks, karl. The whole thing is bizarre and continues to catch people by surprise: https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-tar/2017-05/msg00002.html.
