How to build *-devel-rpms?

[Der Hanseat]

Hello,

here is a question which applies to more than just Fedora Linux: How do I build a <program>-devel RPM file from the sources? I know how to compile a program by using the triple jump of

• ./configure
• make
• make install or checkinstall, respectively.

However, in some cases installing such an RPM file won't work due to failing dependencies. Existing program packages will complain through RPM that <program>-devel is missing although all files would be present.

I understand that this is because of the internal logic of the RPM database system. So my question is: How can I build the required "...-devel-...rpm" so that the dependencies are all served?

An example:
I tried to install brand new glib-2.6.0 (as self-made glib2-2.6.0-1.i386.rpm for Fedora Core 2). No errors during configuration, preparation and complilation. When I tested rpm install, the reply was that existing glib2-devel-2.4.8-1.fc2 needed glib2-2.4.8-1. So I tried to remove glib2-devel-2.4.8-1.fc2.i386. However, a long list of various "-devel-" packages which all depended on glib2-2.4.8-1 followed.

So I gave up for now. Any ideas?

Thanks a lot in advace! Cheers, der Hanseat

[mccabemt]

devel packages are specified in the rpm's spec file. They generally include header files and other things that would only be used for programming.

[Jman]

Perhaps you are better off working with the Fedora source rpms.

Seems like you are trying to start from scratch with the source files. Source rpms have this source but with a spec file to enable it to build on Fedora and fit in with the version system.

Try downloading the source rpm and reading up on the rpmbuild command.

[Der Hanseat]

Thanks for your answers, Jman and maccabemt.

@ Jman,
I guess you're perfectly right. However, if I'd follow your suggestion, I could as well install the proper RPMs without worry. This is my usual way to update my FC2.

I wanted to now how to proceed if a FC-custom-built RPM, source or binaries, does not yet exist. I will have a close look to rpmbuild.

BTW: I was looking in several HowTos from The Linux Documentation Project and started some Google serches before I asked you here.

@ maccabemt,
Thanks for the elucidation. I am certainly not a programmer but whenever I want to compile a program on my own, the system asks for those <name>-devel-<version>.rpm files. When I configure and build my own RPMs, they contain almost always the contents of the devel RPM, too. However, the rpm program does not seem to realise this so it prints error messages on the screen.

Thanks again and merry Christmas to all of you from Der Hanseat

[Jman]

There also is the option of asking a Fedora packager to create the spec file and rpm for you. Third party repositories and perhaps Fedora Extras might be a good place for this.

[Finalzone]

You can also to a program called fedora-rpmdevtools available at Fedora Extras. It allows you to build the rpm from your home directory eliminating the need to use root.