Re: Distribution making

Karel Zak wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Jul 2000, The Hermit Hacker wrote:
> > Is this something that can be 'extended' to do the RPM also? :)

> Into standard *source* tree? I was long time glad of PG's devevelopment,
> that create dateless and OS independent source.

> Well, we will have support for RPM, do you want support for Debian too?
> If yes, do you accept /Debian directory in top source tree?
> Do you accept different directory philosophy for several dists.?

I don't mind one bit to have multiple distribution support in the
tarball.

> ...etc.

> IMHO to *source* tree belong to matter for binary making only. A
> distribution must be out of source.

There are more files in the RPM set, for instance, than just the
binaries -- there is the spec file, which controls the building of the
RPM's; there is a patch file (to patch around some madness in the source
that breaks the RPM package in some way); there are a couple of scripts
(startup and upgrade); there is a man page for the upgrade script; as
well as other things. Now, getting the *source* of the RPM distribution
packaging into the tarball might be OK -- I'm certainly not advocating
packaging binaries in the tarball!

RPM is used on many more systems than just RedHat Linux -- and I am
actively trying to get the *source* RPM to be buildable on as many
RPM-based systems as possible -- including being buildable on a Solaris
system that might have RPM installed, or a Tru64 system with RPM
installed (they DO exist). Unfortunately there are a number of
RedHat-isms in the current RPMset that are having to be worked around --
although, this situation promises to improve in the near future, if I
have anything to do with it.

Therefore, a separate source RPM would not need to be distributed -- a
person can just download the tarball, execute a single command, and have
properly built RPM's for their system ready to install. Can't get much
easier than that!

> PS. is it this equation right: "OS = Linux = RH"? I hope that not.

No, and neither is RPM == "RedHat Linux Only."

--
Lamar Owen
WGCR Internet Radio
1 Peter 4:11