When building an RPM package, which rpmbuild option is used to unpack sources and apply patches before proceeding with the next steps?

Question

Options

• A-ba
• B-bb
• C-be
• D-bs
• E-bp

• A
  5% (1)
• B
  18% (4)
• D
  5% (1)
• E
  73% (16)

Explanation

Option E (-bp) is correct because the -bp flag tells rpmbuild to execute only through the %prep section of the spec file - which is precisely where sources are unpacked (via %setup) and patches are applied (via %patch). This makes it ideal for inspecting the source tree before compilation begins.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• -ba builds everything: both the binary RPM and source RPM (all stages).
• -bb builds only the binary RPM, running all stages through %install.
• -be executes through the %check section, running tests after compilation.
• -bs builds only the source RPM without ever compiling anything.

Memory tip: Think of the letter as mapping to the spec file stage it stops at - p for %prep, c for %compile, i for %install, a for all. If you need to "peek at the patched source," use -bp.

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