[SOLVED] One SPEC file to support multiple architectures

Issue

I'm modifying a RPM SPEC file to build for a x86_64 architecture. The existing SPEC includes a package applicable to 32-bit only, i.e. Requires: package-x-y-z. How do I remove the package-x-y-z requirement just for the x86_64 architecture, while still requiring the other OS to use it?

I tried using %ifnarch x86_64 before the Requires: package x-y-z line but was unsuccessful.

I could make separate SPEC files, but ideally this one SPEC file would support both architectures for better maintainability.

Solution

Do you happen to be using BuildArch as well in your spec-file?

I have just tested this on a x86_64 build machine with a spec file where

BuildArch: noarch

and indeed

%ifnarch x86_64
Requires: package-x-y-z
%endif

produced a package that did require package-x-y-z...

Since my spec file produces a noarch package, I tried changing the logic; and

%ifnarch noarch
Requires: package-x-y-z
%endif

produced a package that did not depend on package-x-y-z.

Conclusion

If you use BuildArch, then the macros ifarch and ifnarch will match wrt that architecture and not your real build-machine architecture.

Answered By - Chris Maes