RPM packaging for beginners -- by Merlin Whitewolf

Due to a strange problem, Merlin Whitewolf, the author of this tutorial, was unable to post this topic here. So, on behalf of Merlin, I am posting this tutorial.

The tutorial has been designed especially for beginners in the area of software/application packaging using the immensely popular RPM format. Due to the volume of the complete tutorial, it is not being posted here directly. Instead, you'll find two attached files with this post -- the article in PDF format and the article in ODF format (Open Document Format - the OpenOffice.org formatting system).

You'll certainly enjoy reading this. 

Anurag,
Thank you for stepping in for me on this.

I hope that those who are interested in this subject will find the document informative and enjoyable. And for those who find their interest sparked, there are some good documents on the subject available on the web. You may want to start at http://rpm.org and have a look at developer wikis for RPM based systems, too. You should find lots of information to further your study.

Merlin

Thanks Merlin for the tutorial on rpms. That will certainly get me going. I have a question about building a new rpm for an app that is not in the repo. Is there anything unique about the pclinuxos rpm repos that would need to be in a spec file. About using srpms I have requested three times to Texstar to put his srpms in the repo (You know the GPL and all) but he says he is but has only put a few in there complaining about bandwidth but he seem to do whatever else he wants without regard to bandwidth. Anyway if I wanted to work with noatun which doesn't work with PCLinuxOS do I need that srpm with its spec file or can I just make my own since it is one that he has not put in the pclos repo's.

Hey Merlin,

Would like to put this tutorial on my site with due regards to u.

If u don't have any problems can u PM me your Mail ID with your text signature.

Thanks Merlin for the tutorial on rpms. That will certainly get me going. I have a question about building a new rpm for an app that is not in the repo. Is there anything unique about the pclinuxos rpm repos that would need to be in a spec file. About using srpms I have requested three times to Texstar to put his srpms in the repo (You know the GPL and all) but he says he is but has only put a few in there complaining about bandwidth but he seem to do whatever else he wants without regard to bandwidth. Anyway if I wanted to work with noatun which doesn't work with PCLinuxOS do I need that srpm with its spec file or can I just make my own since it is one that he has not put in the pclos repo's.

Try to find a Mandriva SRPM. When you edit its spec file, pay attention to where it will be placed in the file system. The PCLOS file system is not laid out exactly the same. You'll want it to be put in the right place. You may want to edit its references to Mandriva, also.

As the spec file is the roadmap/blueprint of the RPM building process, you will want to read as much as you can find on it. It takes time to learn how to write one.

I believe Tex has an RPM how to at rpm.org. You may need to search the site. Mandriva has an RPM building document on their developers' wiki. Give those a read, if you're wanting to go into packaging from source. I'd advise also looking at Red Hat's RPM how to, as well as any other distro that has one. The more information you have, the better.

Merlin

Try to find a Mandriva SRPM. When you edit its spec file, pay attention to where it will be placed in the file system. The PCLOS file system is not laid out exactly the same. You'll want it to be put in the right place. You may want to edit its references to Mandriva, also.

What are the differences between PCLinuxOS and Granular when it comes to building an rpm from a pclos srpm?

I'm not framiliar with how the pclos guys used to build rpms, but I would think they're pretty close.

One major difference that I can think of would be the use of svn. We don't use svn, or cvs, so if you could build pclos rpms, mandriva, or fedora rpms, then I think you'd feel pretty much at home.

The last difference that I can think of, and this may not apply. In the beginning we used a lot of pclos rpms, but as of late we have moved most of our base rpm to that of Mdv.

Let me know if that helps