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sdist format: qualify pax compatibility #2108

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sdist format: qualify pax compatibility #2108

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sdist format: qualify pax compatibility
woodruffw Aug 18, 2026
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woodruffw Aug 19, 2026
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Merge branch 'main' into ww/pax
woodruffw Aug 26, 2026
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Merge branch 'main' into ww/pax
woodruffw Sep 9, 2026
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13 changes: 11 additions & 2 deletions source/specifications/source-distribution-format.rst
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Expand Up @@ -74,10 +74,19 @@ at their respective paths relative to the root directory of the sdist
No other content of a sdist is required or defined. Build systems can store
whatever information they need in the sdist to build the project.

The tarball must use the modern POSIX.1-2001 pax tar format, which specifies
UTF-8 based file names. In particular, source distribution files must be readable
The tarball MUST use the modern POSIX.1-2001 pax tar format, which specifies
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UTF-8 based file names. In particular, source distribution files MUST be readable
using the standard library tarfile module with the open flag 'r:gz'.

Source distributions MUST NOT use non-pax features, even if those features are
structurally compatible with the pax standard. Installers and other consumers SHOULD
reject source distributions that are not strictly pax-conforming.
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Examples of non-pax features include GNU-style or legacy ("V7")-style tar members
and sparse member encodings (e.g. ``GNU.sparse`` extensions or ``S`` typeflag members).

The use of pax-style vendor extensions (such as ``SCHILY.xattr`` or ``LIBARCHIVE.xattr``)
is NOT RECOMMENDED for interoperability reasons.
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.. _sdist-archive-features:

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