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a60fb26
(Get the code!)
Description of problem:
Assume you have no idea how to find out which package /bin/ls belongs to. You only know that rpm can tell you that. You run:
# rpm --help
Usage: rpm [OPTION...]
--quiet
Bingo. It lies right from the start (because the command
you are looking for is "rpm -qf FILE1 FILE2...", and it
obviously doesn't match "rpm [OPTION...]" description -
FILE1 FILE2 part is not an OPTION)...
Query/Verify package selection options:
-a, --all query/verify all packages
-f, --file query/verify package(s) owning file
...
Query options (with -q or --query):
-c, --configfiles list all configuration files
-d, --docfiles list all documentation files
...
Verify options (with -V or --verify):
--nofiledigest don't verify digest of files
--nomd5 don't verify digest of files
...
Read the above again. What is "Query/Verify" options?
It becomes understandable only when you read *next two sections*
and understand that there are -q and -V opts and "Query/Verify options"
must be options which can be applied to both.
Had the first section in the above text been put below next two,
it would be more clear. Had --help text explain main modes of rpm
(like -q, -V, ...) before going into their options,
it would be even better.
The rest of the help text is equally semi-cryptic.
I created this bug because I tried to use --requires, looked at help and:
...
Options implemented via popt alias/exec:
[what is popt alias/exec and why should I know this here?]
--requires list capabilities required by package(s)
...
Aha! Lets try to use it... how?.... maybe this? :
# rpm --requires kexec-tools-
RPM version 4.7.2
Copyright (C) 1998-2002 - Red Hat, Inc.
This program may be freely redistributed under the terms of the GNU GPL
Usage: rpm [-aKfgpWHqVcdil
Nope.
As you see, rpm --help does not actually help me... neither does "man rpm". Of course I will google for it now, but I'd like to see help text improved...