code: def create(self, basedir, outdir, name, prefix=None, dereference=True):
      
  
      basedir = ensure_text(basedir)
      tarpath = os.path.join(outdir, '{}.{}'.format(ensure_text(name), self.extension))
      with open_tar(tarpath, self.mode, dereference=dereference, errorlevel=1) as tar:
        tar.add(basedir, arcname=prefix or '.')
      return tarpath
docs: :API: public