See http://sources.debian.net/src/libarchive/3.1.2-11/tar/bsdtar.c/#L74 for explanation/reason and where to hack if you want to change the behaviour. (See apple ifdef for reference.)
Feel free to convince upstream about changing the behaviour if you still think it should be done after investigating the above. (// the Debian maintainer of libarchive.) -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to libarchive in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1510972 Title: bsdtar default file name is /dev/st0 Status in libarchive package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: 1. % lsb_release -rd Description: Ubuntu Wily Werewolf (development branch) Release: 15.10 2. % apt-cache policy bsdtar bsdtar: Installed: 3.1.2-11build1 Candidate: 3.1.2-11build1 Version table: *** 3.1.2-11build1 0 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ wily/universe amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status 3. bsdtar -t should read from standard in if a file name is not specified 4. % bsdtar -t bsdtar: Error opening archive: Failed to open '/dev/st0' Note that if you specify -f - (aka stdin) it works as expected. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10 Package: bsdtar 3.1.2-11build1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.0.0-4.6-generic 4.0.7 Uname: Linux 4.0.0-4-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.19.1-0ubuntu4 Architecture: amd64 Date: Wed Oct 28 09:50:36 2015 InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-05-10 (170 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.3) ProcEnviron: TERM=xterm PATH=(custom, no user) XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: libarchive UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libarchive/+bug/1510972/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
