How to make a minor revision to an existing RPM.

Description: You want to make a minor change to an existing e-smith interface RPM? Here's how ...

Instructions:

1. Configure your personal RPM environment (see "how to build an e-smith interface RPM")


2. Create a pristine copy of the existing source code (if you don't already have one).

a) Obtain the original source rpm and install it.


cd /usr/local
wget http://mirror.contribs.org/smeserver/releases/6.0.1/SRPMS/e-smith-pkg-0.3-3.src.rpm
rpm -Uvh e-smith-pkg-0.3-3.src.rpm


b) Build/prep the source into the RPM environment


cd $HOME/rpms
rpm -bp SPECS/e-smith-pkg.spec
mv BUILD/e-smith-pkg-0.3 BUILD/e-smith-pkg-0.3-3

3. Create a copy of the existing source code - this is the one which you will change.


cd $HOME/rpms
rpm -bp SPECS/e-smith-pkg.spec
mv BUILD/e-smith-pkg-0.3 BUILD/e-smith-pkg-0.3-4

4. Edit the RPM spec file, and increment the revision number (do it now, you might forget later): DE>

vi SPECS/e-smith-pkg.spec

  1. Change "#define release 3" to "#define release 4"
5. Make the changes that you need to make to the source code of the package

pushd BUILD/e-smith-pkg-0.3-4
vi root/... root/....... root/...... createlinks
popd
6. Make a patch file containing your changes


pushd BUILD
diff -ruN e-smith-pkg-0.3-{3,4} > \

../SOURCES/e-smith-pkgs.fixes.20000815001

popd

7. Edit the spec file of the package to apply your new patch:


vi SPECS/e-smith-pkg.spec

  1. Add "PatchN: e-smith-pkgs.fixes.20000815001" to the header
  2. Add "%patchN -p1" to the %prep section
  3. (where N is the next small integer)

8. Build new binary and source RPMS:


rpm -ba SPECS/e-smith-pkg.spec

9. Post your RPM(s) to your ftp site, and tell the world


10. Start testing your RPMs before your mailbox fills up :-)


Comments

Note that this development can be done on an e-smith server with no additional software. With a little searching you'll find most of the packages that you want to install in binary RPM form - so there's no need for make, no need for compilers, libraries etc.

copyright 2000 e-smith, inc. all rights reserved.

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