On Wed, Feb 11, 2004 at 10:12:48AM -0500, John Imholz wrote:
> >You can always fetch the SRC.RPM package and inspect the spec file. All
> >instructions how the source code should builld and included additional
> >patches are to be found inside this file.
> >
> >Alexander
>
> Thanks.
>
> 1. I guess I must assume that RedHat follows those instructions (and
> defaults)? Seems like there should be some documentation on what they did,
> somewhere.
>
> 2. BTW what do you use to inspect the srpm (rpm?)
While the .spec file is text in nature, it isn't a set of instructions as
you would normally think of one. Instead, it's actually a set of
instructions to RPM on how to build and package the particular piece of
software (configure, make, make check, make install.) So, by looking at
the .spec file for a particular Red Hat supplied package, you can not only
see exactly what steps Red Hat used in order to compile a particular set of
binaries, but you can also make changes to the source code for yourself,
then utilize the Red Hat supplied .spec file in order to build a new
package, with your changes incorporated.
As for what to use to inspect the SRPM, there are a couple of options.
First, you can just install the SRPM package, which will put the source
code and any patches in the /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES directory and the SPEC
file in the /usr/src/redhat/SPECS directory. Then you can use your
favorite text viewer/editor to view the .spec file. Or you can install a
tool such as "mc" which understands RPMs and can pull them apart and
display the internals without having to actually install the package
itself.
- jkt
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Jay Turner, QA Technical Lead jkt@xxxxxxxxxx Red Hat, Inc.
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
- Albert Einstein
