How to Build and Distribute Your Script as an RPM Package on CentOS/RedHat

Packaging software into RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) format is an essential skill for developers and system administrators working with Red Hat-based Linux distributions such as CentOS and RedHat. RPMs allow for easy installation, upgrade, and removal of software, ensuring that applications can be distributed and managed efficiently. This guide will walk you through the process of packaging your script into an RPM, step by step.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• A CentOS or RedHat system for packaging and testing.
• Your script that you wish to package.
• rpm-build and rpmdevtools packages installed. You can install them by running:

  sudo dnf install rpm-build rpmdevtools
  

Step 1: Setting Up Your Environment

First, prepare your environment by setting up the RPM build directory structure in your home directory.

rpmdev-setuptree

This command creates a rpmbuild directory with several subdirectories (BUILD, RPMS, SOURCES, SPECS, and SRPMS) in your home directory.

Step 2: Preparing Your Script

Place your script into the SOURCES directory. If your script has external dependencies, ensure they are documented or included.

Step 3: Writing the Spec File

The spec file is a blueprint for building your RPM. It includes metadata about your package and instructions on how to build and install it. Create a new spec file in the SPECS directory. For example:

vi ~/rpmbuild/SPECS/myscript.spec

Here’s a basic template for a spec file:

Name:           myscript
Version:        1.0
Release:        1%{?dist}
Summary:        A brief description of your script.

License:        GPL
URL:            http://yourwebsite.com
Source0:        %{name}-%{version}.tar.gz

BuildArch:      noarch

%description
A longer description of your script.

%prep
%setup -q

%build
# Your build commands here (if any).

%install
mkdir -p %{buildroot}/usr/local/bin
install -m 755 %{name} %{buildroot}/usr/local/bin/%{name}

%files
/usr/local/bin/%{name}

%changelog
* Date Your Name <your.email@example.com> - 1.0-1
- Initial package

Replace myscript with the name of your script, and adjust the version, release, summary, license, and URL as needed. Fill in the description with a detailed description of your script. The %files section lists the files to be included in the package.

Step 4: Building the RPM

Before building the RPM, you need to create a source tarball of your script and place it in the SOURCES directory. Assuming your script is in the root of the rpmbuild/SOURCES directory:

tar czf myscript-1.0.tar.gz myscript

Now, build the RPM package:

rpmbuild -ba ~/rpmbuild/SPECS/myscript.spec

Step 5: Testing Your RPM

After building the RPM, you’ll find it in the RPMS subdirectory of your rpmbuild directory. Install it using the yum or dnf command to test:

sudo dnf localinstall ~/rpmbuild/RPMS/noarch/myscript-1.0-1.el7.noarch.rpm

Replace the path and filename as necessary according to your package’s name and version.

Conclusion

Packaging your script into an RPM can streamline the deployment process, making it easier to distribute, install, and manage your software on CentOS or RedHat systems. By following this guide, you’ve learned the basics of RPM packaging, from setting up your environment and preparing your script to writing a spec file and building your package. With these skills, you can ensure your software is accessible and maintainable across Red Hat-based distributions.