akim> TAR = tar > am__tar = $(TAR) --format=ustar -chf - "$$tardir" > am__untar = $(TAR) -xf - > would be fine! stefano> I'd prefer to go with this latter option
As far as I can tell, all that was left to do here is to document the use of the TAR environment variable in Automake to override "tar" for "make dist". I just pushed a change for that. It seems the code has been in place since 1.11.3, judging by the NEWS file. akim> PS/ Actually if AMTAR/TAR could also set the two troublesome envvars, akim> that would be wonderful :) The two troublesome envvars being, I guess, the Mac-specific COPY_EXTENDED_ATTRIBUTES_DISABLE and COPYFILE_DISABLE, per https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2011-03/msg00135.html. But I don't much want to fiddle around with MacOSX envvars that may or may not still work, and might easily be changed or removed at any time. So ... closing. --best, karl.