Chapter 25. Software Installation

25.1. Introduction

Applications shall either be packaged in the RPM packaging format as defined in this specification, or supply an installer which is LSB conforming (for example, calls LSB commands and utilities).

Note: Supplying an RPM format package is encouraged because it makes systems easier to manage. This specification does not require the implementation to use RPM as the package manager; it only specifies the format of the package file and requires that implementations must have some method of installing conforming packages.

Applications are also encouraged to uninstall cleanly.

A package in the RPM format may include a dependency on the LSB Core and other LSB specifications, as described in Section 25.6. Packages that are not in the RPM format may test for the presence of a conforming implementation by means of the lsb_release utility.

Implementations shall provide a mechanism for installing applications in the RPM packaging format with some restrictions listed below.

Note: The implementation itself may use a different packaging format for its own packages, and may use any available mechanism for installing conforming packages, including translation into a different format.