[Python-Dev] Problem with 2.3b2 tarfile?

[Guido van Rossum]

> > Thanks.  I found this item on the Haskell website:
> > 
> >     http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/hugs-bugs/2002-November/001045.html
> > 
> > Looks like Solaris (<= 8) tar has a pathname limit of 80
> > characters.  Should we try and squeeze the Python directory tree
> > into that limit or simply tell people to use GNU tar if their tar
> > barfs?
> > 
> > Skip
> 
> ... provide a "macless" tarball for problem systems, and enforce an 80
> char limit on it?
> 
> is this a traditional tar or Solaris tar limitation?  It's not clear,
> having RTFA'd.  It sounds like the 80-char limit is Solaris, and the
> 100-char limit is traditional?

The 80 is a misreading of that Haskell message.  There is only a 100
char limit.  (The message just explains that the shortest name
remaining is 80, which is less than 100.)

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)