I have started on a topic for the anaconda-docs: ============================================================= Rebuilding source RPMS mini how-to (Taylor, you will recognize most of your work is from you in here!) When attempting to make changes to the anaconda source (and other source packages) there are two ways to do this: patching or untar/tar. 1. Patching source rpms First, install the src.rpm and build it with any patches already included: rpm -ivh anaconda-9.0-4.src.rpm cd /usr/src/redhat/SPEC rpmbuild -bp anaconda.spec Now, go to the BUILD directory and make an original copy of the source directory. cd /usr/src/redhat/BUILD cp -a anaconda-9.0 anaconda-9.0.orig Then go to the anaconda-9.0 directory and make any changes that you deem necessary. Once you are finished, make a patch of the differences between the two (make sure you are in the BUILD directory): diff -urN anaconda-9.0.orig anaconda-9.0 > ../SOURCES/my-changes.patch Now edit the spec file and rebuild: cd /usr/src/redhat/SPECS gedit anaconda-9.0 under Source: anaconda-%{PACKAGE_VERSION}.tar.bz2, add this line: Patch1: my-changes.patch under %setup -q, add this line: %patch1 -p1 under %changelog, add a few lines stating what changes you made. The first line should be date/name/email, the following lines should be about the changes that you made. Save the file, and run: rpmbuild -ba anaconda.spec (make sure you are in /usr/src/redhat/SPECS) which will create a new src.rpm (in /usr/src/redhat/SRPMS), as well as the binary i386.rpm files (in /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386). 2. The untar/tar way The second method involves untarring the source, retarring it and rebuilding the rpm: cd /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES tar xjvf anaconda-9.0.tar.bz2 <edit changes in anaconda-9.0/> tar cjvf anaconda-9.0.tar.bz2 anaconda-9.0 cd /usr/src/redhat/SPEC rpmbuild -ba anaconda.spec This method is probably simpler for the newbie, but it lacks the portability of the patch method. The advantage of the patching method is that this means that it is easier to send out a patch to others than it is to send out the src.rpm file. It is also easier when the next version of anaconda comes out to port patches over to the new release (if it hasn't been fixed in the newer version). Most people start out using the tar method, and found that it was much easier to use patches. Often you have to make changes to a newer version, and forgotten exactly what had been done in the source. Now, you can just look at the patches, and copy them over to the newer version. ================================================================== What do you guys think? AR Alexander Rau, Dipl.-Betriebswirt, A+, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CISSP -----Original Message----- From: fedora-docs-list-admin@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:fedora-docs-list-admin@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alexander Rau (work) Sent: 21 November 2003 06:28 To: fedora-docs-list@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: anaconda documentation topics Well, I had a quick glance through my notes and I think I will try to start on: 3. What is needed to re-build anaconda (disk space, packages) (requirements) 7. Set up your build environment (tree structures needed and so on) and 9. Step by step walkthrough the whole buildinstall process (since I just went through the whole thing!) But I will wait till we are approved at sourceforge and until Taylor had a chance to improve the TOC. I will also try to contact Brian to see if we could mention his kickstart-tools that were so valuable for making my distro. AR -- fedora-docs-list@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-docs-list