Re: configure in %prep or %build?

[James Olin Oden <joden malachi lee k12 nc us>]

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003, Jeff Johnson wrote:

> Kenneth Porter wrote:
> 
> >Most of the RPM's I've encountered put configure in the %build section, but
> >the spec file for MIMEDefang puts it in the %prep section. Which is "correct",
> >and why? If there's a compelling reason to put it in %build, I'll submit a
> >patch to the MIMEDefang people.
> >  
> >
> 
> Ther is no right or wrong.
> 
> Usually, configure is done in %build so that "rpmbuild -bp ..." gives
> a patched tree without side effects; running configure in %prep
> changes the tree more than one ususally wants.
>
This of course makes it easier for someone to patch your software using
the SRPM.  If you put the configure in %prep, then of course they have
to untar the the tarball by hand.  If the SRPM already contained patches
then these need to be applied by hand.  In an rpm like RedHat's kernel
rpm putting "configure" in %prep would be a real pain.  In others 
its just an annoyance.
 
Cheers...james