Multiple packages from a tarball: single spec or multiple spec files?

[Takashi Iwai]

Hi,

currently alsa-tools-gui.rpm contains various programs using different
toolkits, gtk2, gtk3, and fltk. I'm thinking of splitting this big
one into individual packages for each program. The question is
whether they should be built from a single spec file as of now, or
they should be built from the own spec files.

A merit of the latter would be that each spec can reduce the
dependency; one spec file has only one BuildRequires for a toolkit.
OTOH, it means that there will need multiple build instances, of
course.

Are such multiple spec files good or bad for build service in general?
FWIW, it'll be split to 7 packages.


thanks,

Takashi

[Jan Engelhardt]

Post by Takashi Iwai
currently alsa-tools-gui.rpm contains various programs using different
toolkits, gtk2, gtk3, and fltk. I'm thinking of splitting this big
one into individual packages for each program. The question is
whether they should be built from a single spec file as of now, or
they should be built from the own spec files.

It's up to you. The only guideline there is that one specfile should
ideally not build software from multiple tarballs, or more precisely,
multiple independently-compilable upstream projects (cf. Xorg).

Post by Takashi Iwai
A merit of the latter would be that each spec can reduce the
dependency; one spec file has only one BuildRequires for a toolkit.
OTOH, it means that there will need multiple build instances, of
course.

But multiple build instances can also be a benefit if a behemoth
software is being built - not sure that applies to alsa-tools ;)