diff --git a/applets/usage.h b/applets/usage.h
index 51a06b9..bf10e11 100644
--- a/applets/usage.h
+++ b/applets/usage.h
@@ -134,11 +134,11 @@
 #define cpio_full_usage \
 	"Extract or list files from a cpio archive\n" \
 	"Main operation mode:\n" \
-	"\td\t\tmake directories (assumed)\n" \
+	"\td\t\tmake leading directories\n" \
 	"\ti\t\textract\n" \
-	"\tm\t\tpreserve time\n" \
+	"\tm\t\tpreserve mtime\n" \
 	"\tt\t\tlist\n" \
-	"\tu\t\tunconditional (assumed)\t" \
+	"\tu\t\tunconditional overwrite\t" \
 	"\tF\t\tinput from file\t"
 	
 #define cut_trivial_usage \
diff --git a/archival/cpio.c b/archival/cpio.c
index ecd6f53..101d6ec 100644
--- a/archival/cpio.c
+++ b/archival/cpio.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  * Limitations:
  *		Doesn't check CRC's
  *		Only supports new ASCII and CRC formats
- *		Doesnt support hard links
  *
  */
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -45,9 +44,9 @@
 		case 'i': // extract
 			extract_function |= extract_all_to_fs;
 			break;
-		case 'd': // create directories
-			extract_function |= extract_create_dirs;
-			oldmask = umask(077); /* Make create_path act like GNU cpio */
+		case 'd': // create _leading_ directories
+			extract_function |= extract_create_leading_dirs;
+			oldmask = umask(077); /* Make make_directory act like GNU cpio */
 			break;
 		case 'm': // preserve modification time
 			extract_function |= extract_preserve_date;
diff --git a/archival/dpkg_deb.c b/archival/dpkg_deb.c
index b1cbb1b..7f4dcbf 100644
--- a/archival/dpkg_deb.c
+++ b/archival/dpkg_deb.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 	char *output_buffer = NULL;
 	int opt = 0;
 	int arg_type = 0;
-	int deb_extract_funct = extract_create_dirs | extract_unconditional;	
+	int deb_extract_funct = extract_create_leading_dirs | extract_unconditional;	
 	
 	const int arg_type_prefix = 1;
 	const int arg_type_field = 2;
diff --git a/cpio.c b/cpio.c
index ecd6f53..101d6ec 100644
--- a/cpio.c
+++ b/cpio.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  * Limitations:
  *		Doesn't check CRC's
  *		Only supports new ASCII and CRC formats
- *		Doesnt support hard links
  *
  */
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -45,9 +44,9 @@
 		case 'i': // extract
 			extract_function |= extract_all_to_fs;
 			break;
-		case 'd': // create directories
-			extract_function |= extract_create_dirs;
-			oldmask = umask(077); /* Make create_path act like GNU cpio */
+		case 'd': // create _leading_ directories
+			extract_function |= extract_create_leading_dirs;
+			oldmask = umask(077); /* Make make_directory act like GNU cpio */
 			break;
 		case 'm': // preserve modification time
 			extract_function |= extract_preserve_date;
diff --git a/docs/new-applet-HOWTO.txt b/docs/new-applet-HOWTO.txt
index 90e124d..1f5c3eb 100644
--- a/docs/new-applet-HOWTO.txt
+++ b/docs/new-applet-HOWTO.txt
@@ -70,40 +70,35 @@
 directory and make your program compliant.
 
 
-Some Words on utility.c
------------------------
+Some Words on libbb
+-------------------
 
 As you are writing your applet, please be aware of the body of pre-existing
-useful functions in utility.c. Use these instead of reinventing the wheel.
-
-If you use functions from utility.c, you may need to add to the preprocessor
-conditionals in that file, to make sure the routines you need are included.
-So, since your mu implementation used safe_read(), append "|| defined BB_MU" to
-the #if instruction that precedes the safe_read() function in utility.c .
+useful functions in libbb. Use these instead of reinventing the wheel.
 
 Additionally, if you have any useful, general-purpose functions in your
 program that could be useful in another program, consider putting them in
-utility.c.
+libbb.
 
 
 Usage String(s)
 ---------------
 
-Next, add usage information for you applet to usage.c. This should look like
+Next, add usage information for you applet to usage.h. This should look like
 the following:
 
-	#if defined BB_MU
-	const char mu_usage[] =
-		"mu\n"
-	#ifndef BB_FEATURE_TRIVIAL_HELP
-		"\nReturns an indeterminate value.\n"
-	#endif
-		;
+	#define mu_trivial_usage \
+		"-[abcde] FILES"
+	#define mu_full_usage \
+		"Returns an indeterminate value.\n\n" \
+		"Options:\n" \
+		"\t-a\t\tfirst function\n" \
+		"\t-b\t\tsecond function\n" \
 
 If your program supports flags, the flags should be mentioned on the first
-line (mu -[bcRovma]) and a detailed description of each flag should go in the
-BB_FEATURE_TRIVIAL_HELP section, one flag per line. (Numerous examples of this
-currently exist in usage.c.)
+line (-[abcde]) and a detailed description of each flag should go in the
+mu_full_usage section, one flag per line. (Numerous examples of this
+currently exist in usage.h.)
 
 
 Header Files
diff --git a/dpkg_deb.c b/dpkg_deb.c
index b1cbb1b..7f4dcbf 100644
--- a/dpkg_deb.c
+++ b/dpkg_deb.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 	char *output_buffer = NULL;
 	int opt = 0;
 	int arg_type = 0;
-	int deb_extract_funct = extract_create_dirs | extract_unconditional;	
+	int deb_extract_funct = extract_create_leading_dirs | extract_unconditional;	
 	
 	const int arg_type_prefix = 1;
 	const int arg_type_field = 2;
diff --git a/include/libbb.h b/include/libbb.h
index a547953..102596c 100644
--- a/include/libbb.h
+++ b/include/libbb.h
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
 	extract_control_tar_gz = 128,
 	extract_unzip_only = 256,
 	extract_unconditional = 512,
-	extract_create_dirs = 1024
+	extract_create_leading_dirs = 1024
 };
 char *unarchive(FILE *src_stream, void *(*get_header)(FILE *),
 	const int extract_function, const char *prefix, char **extract_names);
diff --git a/include/usage.h b/include/usage.h
index 51a06b9..bf10e11 100644
--- a/include/usage.h
+++ b/include/usage.h
@@ -134,11 +134,11 @@
 #define cpio_full_usage \
 	"Extract or list files from a cpio archive\n" \
 	"Main operation mode:\n" \
-	"\td\t\tmake directories (assumed)\n" \
+	"\td\t\tmake leading directories\n" \
 	"\ti\t\textract\n" \
-	"\tm\t\tpreserve time\n" \
+	"\tm\t\tpreserve mtime\n" \
 	"\tt\t\tlist\n" \
-	"\tu\t\tunconditional (assumed)\t" \
+	"\tu\t\tunconditional overwrite\t" \
 	"\tF\t\tinput from file\t"
 	
 #define cut_trivial_usage \
diff --git a/libbb/libbb.h b/libbb/libbb.h
index a547953..102596c 100644
--- a/libbb/libbb.h
+++ b/libbb/libbb.h
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
 	extract_control_tar_gz = 128,
 	extract_unzip_only = 256,
 	extract_unconditional = 512,
-	extract_create_dirs = 1024
+	extract_create_leading_dirs = 1024
 };
 char *unarchive(FILE *src_stream, void *(*get_header)(FILE *),
 	const int extract_function, const char *prefix, char **extract_names);
diff --git a/libbb/unarchive.c b/libbb/unarchive.c
index 20609de..4847aab 100644
--- a/libbb/unarchive.c
+++ b/libbb/unarchive.c
@@ -129,12 +129,17 @@
 				}
 			} else {
 				error_msg("%s not created: newer or same age file exists", file_entry->name);
-				if (S_ISREG(file_entry->mode)) {
 					seek_sub_file(src_stream, file_entry->size);
-				}
 				return (NULL);
 			}
 		}
+		if (function & extract_create_leading_dirs) { /* Create leading directories with default umask */
+			char *parent = dirname(full_name);
+			if (make_directory (parent, -1, FILEUTILS_RECUR) != 0) {
+				error_msg("couldn't create leading directories");
+			}
+			free (parent);
+		}
 		switch(file_entry->mode & S_IFMT) {
 			case S_IFREG:
 				if (file_entry->link_name) { /* Found a cpio hard link */
@@ -153,9 +158,7 @@
 				}
 				break;
 			case S_IFDIR:
-				if ((function & extract_create_dirs) && (stat_res != 0)) {
-					/* Make sure the prefix component of full_name was create
-					 * in applet before getting here*/
+				if (stat_res != 0) {
 					if (mkdir(full_name, file_entry->mode) < 0) {
 						perror_msg("extract_archive: ");
 					}
@@ -239,9 +242,6 @@
 			}
 			if (!found) {
 				/* seek past the data entry */
-				if (!S_ISLNK(file_entry->mode) && file_entry->link_name && file_entry->size == 0) {
-					error_msg("You should extract %s as other files are hardlinked to it", file_entry->name);
-				}
 				seek_sub_file(src_stream, file_entry->size);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -271,6 +271,7 @@
 	static char *ar_long_names;
 
 	if (fread(ar.raw, 1, 60, src_stream) != 60) {
+		free (ar_long_names);
 		return(NULL);
 	}
 	archive_offset += 60;
@@ -308,7 +309,11 @@
 			archive_offset += typed->size;
 			/* This ar entries data section only contained filenames for other records
 			 * they are stored in the static ar_long_names for future reference */
-			return(NULL);
+			return (get_header_ar(src_stream)); /* Return next header */
+		} else if (ar.formated.name[1] == ' ') {
+			/* This is the index of symbols in the file for compilers */
+			seek_sub_file(src_stream, typed->size);
+			return (get_header_ar(src_stream)); /* Return next header */
 		} else {
 			/* The number after the '/' indicates the offset in the ar data section
 			(saved in variable long_name) that conatains the real filename */
@@ -413,6 +418,7 @@
 					cpio_entry->link_name = (char *) xcalloc(1, cpio_entry->size + 1);
 					fread(cpio_entry->link_name, 1, cpio_entry->size, src_stream);
 					archive_offset += cpio_entry->size;
+					cpio_entry->size = 0; /* Stop possiable seeks in future */
 				}
 				if (nlink > 1 && !S_ISDIR(cpio_entry->mode)) {
 					if (cpio_entry->size == 0) { /* Put file on a linked list for later */
diff --git a/usage.h b/usage.h
index 51a06b9..bf10e11 100644
--- a/usage.h
+++ b/usage.h
@@ -134,11 +134,11 @@
 #define cpio_full_usage \
 	"Extract or list files from a cpio archive\n" \
 	"Main operation mode:\n" \
-	"\td\t\tmake directories (assumed)\n" \
+	"\td\t\tmake leading directories\n" \
 	"\ti\t\textract\n" \
-	"\tm\t\tpreserve time\n" \
+	"\tm\t\tpreserve mtime\n" \
 	"\tt\t\tlist\n" \
-	"\tu\t\tunconditional (assumed)\t" \
+	"\tu\t\tunconditional overwrite\t" \
 	"\tF\t\tinput from file\t"
 	
 #define cut_trivial_usage \