"Rpmdepend checks installed RPM packages and reports on their dependency fulfillment status." (17 words)
I recently tried out the rpmdepend application, which is designed to check all installed rpm packages and report on whether their dependencies are satisfied. As a user of the Redhat Package Manager (RPM), I found this tool to be very useful, especially since RPM is a common form of distribution for both x86 and PowerPC systems.
One issue that many users encounter with RPMs is that their dependencies are often represented by files instead of packages, and some dependencies are not strictly required. Unlike debian packages with the apt-get tool, RPMs usually don't offer a "suggests" style dependency structure. This often leads to users having to forcefully install packages using the --nodeps option, either because they don't know where to get the required files or because they know they aren't strictly necessary.
One of the biggest problems is that the installer often installs all selected packages by default, even if certain packages have missing dependencies. This requires users to check every installed package for its dependencies, see if they are satisfied, and then find out how to satisfy them. However, with rpmdepend, you can easily find out what is required by all installed packages, check if these requirements are satisfied, and even try to find out how to satisfy these requirements when they are not.
The application presents the results to the user in a readable and speedy manner, making it easy to understand which packages have satisfied or unsatisfied dependencies. To use it, simply make the rpmdepend.pl executable and run it at the prompt. You can also redirect its output to a file to make it easier to read and analyze.
When you open the file generated by rpmdepend, you will see a package name, what libraries it provides, and what it requires. This information will be preceded by a '-' if the requirement is satisfied, a '!' if it's not satisfied, a '?' if it's possibly satisfied (but requires a specific version) and a '#parse!#' if the requirement doesn't parse to a file, library, or package name.
Overall, I found rpmdepend to be a useful tool that can help users save time and avoid frustration when dealing with rpm packages and dependencies. By presenting clear and concise information about dependencies, the software enables users to make informed decisions about installations and better manage their systems.
One issue that many users encounter with RPMs is that their dependencies are often represented by files instead of packages, and some dependencies are not strictly required. Unlike debian packages with the apt-get tool, RPMs usually don't offer a "suggests" style dependency structure. This often leads to users having to forcefully install packages using the --nodeps option, either because they don't know where to get the required files or because they know they aren't strictly necessary.
One of the biggest problems is that the installer often installs all selected packages by default, even if certain packages have missing dependencies. This requires users to check every installed package for its dependencies, see if they are satisfied, and then find out how to satisfy them. However, with rpmdepend, you can easily find out what is required by all installed packages, check if these requirements are satisfied, and even try to find out how to satisfy these requirements when they are not.
The application presents the results to the user in a readable and speedy manner, making it easy to understand which packages have satisfied or unsatisfied dependencies. To use it, simply make the rpmdepend.pl executable and run it at the prompt. You can also redirect its output to a file to make it easier to read and analyze.
When you open the file generated by rpmdepend, you will see a package name, what libraries it provides, and what it requires. This information will be preceded by a '-' if the requirement is satisfied, a '!' if it's not satisfied, a '?' if it's possibly satisfied (but requires a specific version) and a '#parse!#' if the requirement doesn't parse to a file, library, or package name.
Overall, I found rpmdepend to be a useful tool that can help users save time and avoid frustration when dealing with rpm packages and dependencies. By presenting clear and concise information about dependencies, the software enables users to make informed decisions about installations and better manage their systems.
What's New
Version 0.0.1: N/A