On Tue, 15 Oct 2002 07:34:20 -1000 "Alan L Tyree" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> This sounds like a stupid question even to me, but... > > What good are src.rpm files? They contain the source code for the rpm How can I use them, A typical usage would be to install the src rpm #rpm -Uvh package_name.src.rpm This will install the source code in /usr/src/redhat It will put the source in the SOURCES dir and a package_name.spec file in the SPECS dir. # cd /usr/src/redhat/SPECS #ls and you will see the package_name.spec file.. >From there you could build a new src.rpm with # rpm -bs package_name.spec This will create a new package_name.src.rpm in /usr/src/redhat/SRPMS Then you could also create a new rpm like this.. # rpm -bb package_name.spec This will create a new package_name.rpm in /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386 Then you can install your newly built rpm and why would I want > to? If you wanted to modify the program in any way, perhaps to fix a bug or check for security issues. I will be making a few changes to the PHP rpm as the default php.ini file has short tags Off, I wish this to be On, so I will change it in the .src.rpm and make a new one. Also, the file instdso.sh is missing from the apache-devel rpm, I will replace this file and create a new apache rpm so I can compile against it. I don't understand their purpose when they are accompanied by > binary rpms with the same program. .src.rpm's are the essence of open source software. There are no secrets or tricks you can get upto without the world knowing. Some software companies have little bits of code they put in their programs to report back to them via the internet, this would be impossible to conceal with open source as you have access to the code. I have just installed RH8 and I > wonder what I can do with the other three CDs. You could install the Documentation CD and and if you have no desire to poke about in the source code itself, there are a miriad of ideas for CDs.. eg, frisbee's, a coaster for your coffee, and groovy pair of ear-rings etc etc... Kind regards K -- Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments. See http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html Kevin Waterson Byron Bay, Australia -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug
