How to pipe a file as input to tar command

Question

I get the following error when trying to uncompress piped tar file with the following command :

$ git archive --format=tar 0af62b1 | tar -xf -C /the/path/here/
tar: -C: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

The first part git archive --format=tar 0af62b1 outputs a tar file, printed on the screen. This output can be captured in a file by using the parameter --output file_name.

In the second part I'm trying to extract the content of the file into the indicated path. When run separately both work perfectly git archive 0af62b1 --output file_name followed by tar -xf file_name -C /the/path/here/.

Why piping is not possible in this case and how do I know if a certain command accepts piped input?

Answer 1

I would try to pipe your git into tar -xf - -C /the/path/here/ where - is synonymous of the standard input. Or simpler tar -xC /the/path/here (- is the default file).

Answer 2

The Problem is given in your error output:

$ git archive --format=tar 0af62b1 | tar -xf -C /the/path/here/
tar: -C: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

You are telling tar to use a file named -C which does not exist and hence you get failure.

In working case, you are giving a file named file_name which exists and every thing works.

Possible fix : remove "-f -C" in the command.