On Jun 1, 2009, at 3:28 PM, Anshuman Kanetkar wrote:

> Hi,
>   Can the 'Obsoletes' and 'Requires' relations be combined together,
> directed towards the same target from an RPM?
> e.g.
>
> a.rpm -- Obsoletes --> b.rpm
> a.rpm -- Requires --> b.rpm
>
>
> What I want to express is that package 'a' needs 'b' as a prerequisite
> ('a'  cannot be installed unless 'b' is installed first), but the
> installation of 'a' should then obsolete 'b'.
>
> Does RPM allow such semantics?

Requires: is an assertion statement and ordering hint, Obsoletes: is a  
generalization
of package erasing, which are quite different things.

And so the combination is "allowed".

But its unlikely that specifying a Requires: and Obsoletes: does what  
you desire.

Let's back up a bit ...

What are you trying to accomplish in packaging?

At a general level, not with specific questions about what Requires:  
and Obsoletes:
can or will do.

There's likely a solution even if not specifically what you are asking  
re Requires: and Obsoletes:.

73 de Jeff