https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Alose 2026-05-24T06:36:17Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1168:_tar&diff=27102 2013-02-03T17:03:41Z

<p>Alose: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1168<br /> | date = January 31, 2013<br /> | title = tar<br /> | image = tar.png<br /> | titletext = I don't know what's worse--the fact that after 15 years of using tar I still can't keep the flags straight, or that after 15 years of technological advancement I'm still mucking with tar flags that were 15 years old when I started.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Tar (computing)|tar}} (“tape archive”) is a {{w|Unix|Unix}} application that creates (and extracts) archives in the “.tar” format. It is typically used through the text-based terminal, using cryptic single-letter arguments such as “&lt;code&gt;tar cvf archive.tar *&lt;/code&gt;”. The comic alludes to the fact that despite years of use of the command, it's still hard to remember the arguments without searching for them, such as with Google.<br /> <br /> The title text points out that while much of computing changes very quickly, the tar program, which is very old (originating ca. 1975), is still around and heavily used. And yet, [[Randall]] complains he still cannot type out a line of tar command with correct flags (without googling probably).<br /> <br /> The fact that [[Megan]] and [[White Hat]] assume that [[Rob]] can disarm the nuclear bomb because he uses Unix can be referring to a overgeneralization fallacy that a partaker in a practice is an expert of a practice. Not all people who use Unix necessarily know how to use tar commands.<br /> <br /> Alternative explanation: Tar is a very common command that Unix users will come accross regularly. Much like Windows users will come across .zip files. Depending on the flavor of Unix, the order of the flags, or the lack of a '-' could renderer the command incorrect. Most true Unixes (AIX,HPUX, Solaris) not using the GNU utilities would give an error on the above tar example. For such a simple command, it is one one that most people need to look up references to use.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Megan: Rob! You use Unix!<br /> :White Hat: Come quick!<br /> <br /> :[Bomb]: To disarm the bomb, simply enter a valid ''tar'' command on your first try. No googling. You have '''ten''' seconds.<br /> : ~#<br /> :[Beat panel]<br /> <br /> :White Hat: Rob?<br /> :Rob: I'm so sorry.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Computers]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Rob]]</div>

Alose