Using %{buildroot} in a SPEC file

Question

I'm creating a simple RPM installer, I just have to copy files to a directory structure I create in the %install process.

The %install process is fine, I create the following folder /opt/company/application/ with the command mkdir -p %{buildroot}/opt/company/%{name} and then I proceed to copy the files and subdirectories from my package. I've tried to install it and it works.

The doubt I have comes when uninstalling. I want to remove the folder /opt/company/application/ and I thought you're supposed to use %{buildroot} anywhere when referencing the install location. Because my understanding is the user might have a different structure and you can't assume that rmdir /opt/company/%{name}/ will work. Using that command in the %postun section deletes succesfully the directories whereas using rmdir ${buildroot}/opt/company/%{name} doesn't delete the folders.

My question is, shouldn't you be using ${buildroot} in the %postun in order to get the proper install location? If that's not the case, why?

Answer 1

Don't worry about it. If you claim the directory as your own in the %files section, RPM will handle it for you.

FYI, %{buildroot} probably won't exist on the target machine.