Moblin/Changes File

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RPM files contain a %changes section that is used to document changes that are made to the spec file/package over time.

openSUSE packages build on this by using an external package-name.changes file. During the build process, the contents of the .changes file get merged into the %changes section of the spec file.

Whenever you make a change to a package, you are expected to document your changes in the .changes file. It follows a specific format where new entries are added to the top of the file using this template:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tue Jun 30 17:07:40 EDT 2009 - abockover@novell.com

- Removed some unnecessary BuildRequires
- Applied patch to fix foo, bnc#12345

The date tag is just the output of the date command line tool as run with no arguments.

vc script

There is a script called vc that inserts a new entry template to the top of a .changes file. Use of this script is recommended. Place the script in $HOME/bin and make it executable.

The vc command is run in the same directory containing the spec file for the project on which you are working:

$ vc

Alternatively, you can specify a package/spec file name in the case where there may be multiple spec files in a package checkout:

$ vc hal

You should also create a $HOME/.vcrc file with the following line:

VC_EMAIL_ADDRESS=abockover@novell.com