slackrpm For Linux

slackrpm is a program which creates Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) packages from Slackware packages.

slackrpm requires the Python interpreter in order to run. The RPM packaging tool is not necessary to just create .spec files, but the -i, -b and -C options require that it be installed.

A Python RPM package is available so installation on a Red Hat system is trivial (in fact, you might have already installed it without knowing).

On a Slackware system you could ftp the Python binary and library and install them yourself, but you will probably find it easier to install RPM instead; Python can then be the first package you let RPM install for you.

The following instructions are for Linux for i386 architecture, and must be performed while logged in as root. See also the RPM+Slackware mini-HOWTO, at http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/mini/RPM+Slackware.html

1. Install Python or upgrade it to at least version 1.3. slackrpm doesn't require the Red Hat build of Python, but it's the most convenient to install.

2. Install slackrpm.

3. Install a new version of RPM (at least ver. 2.4.4).

1. Install RPM version 2.4.4 or later. e.g. cd / ; gunzip < /tmp/rpm-2.4.12-1.i386.tar.gz | tar -xf -

2. Initialize the RPM database. You may have to create the directory /var/lib/rpm yourself first. e.g. /bin/rpm --initdb

3. Make sure RPM works. Try installing the Python package, for instance (see above).

4. Continue with steps 1 and 2 under the "Installing on a Red Hat system" section above.