Unpack automates the process of extracting source tarballs to a fixed location. By default, it will extract the tarballs to either $HOME/src or /tmp. It first checks that the tarball will create its own subdirectory, and if not, unpack creates a directory based on the tarball filename.

To separate and remove, as things packed; to open and remove the contents of; as, to unpack a trunk.

To relieve of a pack or burden.

To restore a packed files to irs orginal size A .z at the end of the filename confirms that this is a packed tile. If a filename ends with .Z (uppercase) instead it is compressed and you must use the uncompress command.