in reply to scripting tar

Due to system requirements I won't be able to use Archive::Tar.
I am always interested to know what these "system requirements" could be.

Archive::Tar is now a core module (first released with perl 5.009003), so it should be available on all modern Perl-installations for all types of OS and can easily be installed on older versions through CPAN as it is a "Perl-only" module, no compiler needed.

CountZero

A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James