RPMREBUILD features

resume

rpmrebuild is a tool to build an RPM file from a package that has already been installed

(On debian, the equivalent product is dpkg-repack)

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use

• since release 0.5, it should work on any linux distribution using rpm.
• basic rpmrebuild use do not require any rpm building knowledge

rebuild a lost rpm

It was my first goal : I wanted to a batch rebuild of rpm file from the rpm database, in case of lost files. Command : rpmrebuild package_name

build a modified rpm

You have an installed package, you have customised (configuration ...) and want to distribute this one : just use rpmrebuild to build a new rpm ( no need to know anything about rpm building) ! Command : rpmrebuild package_name

advices

• rpmrebuild do not need explicitly to be run on root superuser, but you you have to be root if some files are root-protected (600)
• the specfile is deleted after use. If you want to keep it, use -s option
• the rpm files are build on "natural" location (for example, on Redhat, on /usr/src/redhat/RPMS, by default).
  but you may change this with -d option or with ~/.rpmmacros file (add "%_topdir your_dir")
• rpmrebuild has numerous options, check them with man rpmrebuild or rpmrebuild --help

any other way

I know there is an "repackage" option in recent rpm releases, but it is not convenient, as you have to uninstall the package ...
(not always possible, because of dependencies)

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Eric Gerbier

page changed on 2007-06-11