Maximum Rpm

By Edward C. Bailey

Book Overview

RPM (Red Hat Power Manager) was created to add power to Red Hat Linux. This is a reference for the RPM software package and designed for both novice and advanced users. It covers an overview of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0672311054
• ISBN13: 9780672311055
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Sams
• Length: 450 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

A must-have for any RPM developer

As the other reviewers mentioned, since this book was written in 1997, it is becoming outdated. The book talks about RPM version 2.0, but the current version is 4.0.This book is primarily for developers. It does have a section on using RPM, but that is included only as an introduction. If you're not planning on making your own RPMs, then there's little reason to get this book. The online documentation is enough for most people. If, however, you're going to be making RPMs, then you need to get it.This book covers the most difficult part of creating RPMs: understanding the basics. The online documentation (man pages, HOWTOs, whatever) for RPM is woefully inadequate. If you program for a living, this book will pay for itself the first day you use it. That's why this book is still useful even though it is outdated. The differences between RPM 2.0 and RPM 4.0 can be learned using online resources once you understand the basics.I do think, however, that Red Hat really needs to update this book. It's been four years, and that's an eternity in the Linux world.

Most Excellent

The maximum rpm book is full of detailed information on how to make the spec file work for you, demistifying what many people see as a difficult thing to create.Not only is the spec file well detailed, but the book explains how to write a good spec file- not just any spec file- taking into consideration the fact that people will want to build your source rpm on other platforms and other linux distributions.Now, if only the people out there wriying rpm spec files would follow the guidelines so clearly outlined in the book.... (sigh)

Maximum RPM is a fine book.

The other reviews puzzle me---I was able to get any and all information out of this book I needed. I read it yesterday and today am creating relatively complicated RPMs with subpackages. I find the book to be well laid out and the index to be comprehensive and helpful. If you want to learn all about RPM, this is an excellent book. Despite being a couple of years old, this book didn't appear to have any out of date information; I don't think RPM has changed enough in the past few years to make this book obsolete.This book accomplishes what it set out to do, explain how to use RPM and build packages, and it does a fine job.

An Excellent book - model of clarity

The book is well structured to take account of the needs of the different users of RPM (developers, end users). It is very clear and well sequenced, with lots of good examples and well-paced explanations. It contains comprehensive reference material as well as the tutorial material.A model of good software documentation.

An excellent description of RPM usage and internals.

Maximum RPM discusses all aspects of RPM. No Linux user should be without RPM and no RPM user should be without this book.