The rpmbuild command builds RPMs. Most of the options are duplicated. The options that begin with –b build from a spec file, and the options that begin with –t build from a compressed tar archive, commonly called a tarball.
Table A-8 lists the rpmbuild options for building RPMs from a spec file.
Table A-8 Options for building RPMs from a spec file
Option | Usage |
-ba | Build all, both a binary and source RPM |
-bb | Build a binary RPM |
-bc | Build (compile) the program but do not make the full RPM, by executing the build commands through the %build section and stopping |
-bp | Prepare for building a binary RPM, by executing the build commands through the %prep section and stopping |
-bi | Execute the build commands through the %install section and stop |
-bl | Check the listing of files for the RPM |
-bs | Build a source RPM only |
Each of these options requires the name of a spec file at the end of the command line.
Table A-9 lists the rpmbuild options for working with a compressed tar archive.
Table A-9 Options for building RPMs from a compressed tar archive
Option | Usage |
-ta | Build all, both a binary and source RPM |
-tb | Build a binary RPM |
-tc | Build (compile) the program but do not make the full RPM, by executing the build commands through the %build section and stopping |
-tp | Prepare for building a binary RPM, by executing the build commands through the %prep section and stopping |
-ti | Execute the build commands through the %install section and stop |
-tl | Check the listing of files for the RPM |
-ts | Build a source RPM only |
Each of these options requires the name of a compressed tar archive at the end of the command line. The tar archive must contain a valid spec file inside the archive.
You can use the rpmbuild command to rebuild an RPM from a source RPM with the options listed in Table A-10.
Table A-10 Options for rebuilding RPMs from source RPMs
Option | Usage |
--rebuild | Rebuild binary RPM from source RPM |
--recompile | Recompile binary RPM from source RPM |
Each of these options requires the name of a source RPM file on the end of the command line.
You can customize the rpmbuild command with the options listed in Table A-11.
Table A-11 Extra build options for the rpmbuild command
Option | Usage |
-?, --help | Print the popt help information for all the command-line options |
--buildroot directory | Override the default root directory for building with directory. |
--clean | Remove the build tree after building |
-D, --define 'macro value' | Define the given macro to hold the given value |
--dbpath path_to_rpm_db | Use the given directory for the RPM database instead of the default |
-E, --eval expression | Print the evaluation of the given expression |
--macros file:file:file | Read the given colon-separated files as the macro files to define RPM macros; only the first file must exist |
--nobuild | Don't really build anything, which really tests the spec file |
--pipe command | Pipe the output of the rpm command to the given command |
--quiet | Provide less output, normally show only errors |
--rcfile file:file:file | Read the given colon-separated files as the rc files to define RPM settings; only the first file must exist |
--rmsource | Remove the sources after the build |
--rmspec | Remove the spec file after the build |
--root directory | Use directory as the top-level directory instead of / |
--short-circuit | With the -bc or -bi options, jumps directly to the given stage and just executes that stage |
--showrc | Print the rpmrc and macro configuration and exit |
--sign | Sign the package with a GPG signature |
--target platform | Build for the given platform. May not work if you don't have the other platform build commands, such as cross compilers, set up. Can work for Intel platforms with i386, i686, and so on. |
-v, --verbose | Provide more verbose output |
-vv | Provide even more verbose output, including debugging information |
--version | Print the RPM version and exit |