1 files changed, 18 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/lib/rubygems/commands/unpack_command.rb b/lib/rubygems/commands/unpack_command.rb
index 7eefd32a6e..e60e7d90fd 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/commands/unpack_command.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/commands/unpack_command.rb
@@ -34,6 +34,24 @@ class Gem::Commands::UnpackCommand < Gem::Command
     "--version '#{Gem::Requirement.default}'"
   end
 
+  def description
+    <<-EOF
+The unpack command allows you to examine the contents of a gem or modify
+them to help diagnose a bug.
+
+You can add the contents of the unpacked gem to the load path using the
+RUBYLIB environment variable or -I:
+
+  $ gem unpack my_gem
+  Unpacked gem: '.../my_gem-1.0'
+  [edit my_gem-1.0/lib/my_gem.rb]
+  $ ruby -Imy_gem-1.0/lib -S other_program
+
+You can repackage an unpacked gem using the build command.  See the build
+command help for an example.
+    EOF
+  end
+
   def usage # :nodoc:
     "#{program_name} GEMNAME"
   end