How to unpack and rebuild RPM packages on Fedora?

Question

How would I unpack and rebuild an RPM package on Fedora?

Answer 1

You probably want to ask this on serverfault, but to answer it quickly:

1. Download the source rpm (.SRPM), not the normal rpm.

2. Create an .rpmmacros file in your home directory and put this in it:

   _topdir /home/${USER}/rpmbuild
   %_signature gpg
   %packager Your Name <<[email protected]>>
   %_gpg_name Your Name <<[email protected]>>
   %_tmppath /tmp
   

3. Create an rpmbuild directory structure in your home directory:

   mkdir -p ~/rpmbuild/{SPECS,SOURCES,RPMS,SRPMS,BUILD}
   

4. Install the source rpm.

5. Edit the specfile in ~/rpmbuid/SPECS.

6. Run rpmbuild -bb ${your_specfile} to build a binary rpm from the contents of the source rpm.