Different between src.rpm and rpm

Peter_APIIT · 04-15-2007, 04:34 AM

Hello, all Linux expert. I fairly new to Linux. I have uses Linux OS shorter that half year.

I have a question which is what is the difference between src.rpm and rpm ?

Thanks for oyur help.

Your help is greatly aprpeciated by me and others.

b0uncer · 04-15-2007, 04:55 AM

If I'm not completely mistaken, .src.rpm is an rpm (RedHat Package Manager = RPM) package which has the source code of a program inside, whereas plain .rpm is an rpm package which has the binary files of a program inside. Shortly said, if you want to install a program (to use it), you download and install .rpm package, and if you wish to get the source code (to do something with it before installing), you download and install .src.rpm which installs the source, not the pre-compiled binary.

x_terminat_or_3 · 04-15-2007, 05:04 AM

Hi there.

When you tell your system to install an RPM, it will extract the contents of the RPM (which is a CPIO archive), and put it in the directories mandated by the package. It will also execute the bits of script code that are embedded in the RPM to make sure your new package is configured properly.

Now when you install a src.rpm, it doesn't tell you where it installed it, although 9 times out of 10, it puts it in /usr/src/REDHAT or so.

You can use gnome's archive manager file-roller to view the files inside the rpm

Peter_APIIT · 04-17-2007, 07:17 AM

Thanks for all your explanation.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thanks.