open source app to help create RPMs?

[dsollen]

Hello everyone.

My company needs to create an RPM file which will install a java app on a redhat machine. I’ve found some good sites that document how to do this process, it looks complicated but I'm pretty sure I could figure it out. However, they would prefer to have a program to support the RPM creation process for now and in the future.

They are looking at the install4J program. I have no doubt that it could do what they want but it seems pretty expensive and comes with more functionality then they need. Can anyone suggest an open source or free application that would provide support for creating and/or managing RPMs? I had been cretin that something like that must exist, but so far I haven’t been able to find anything.

Also as a side note what can an RPM do? We would prefer to be able to create a new user, modify permissions and sudo access for the user, and add some programs to bootup at login. As far as I can tell this is usually done by calling a script file within the RPM. Does an RPM provide any more support then basic scripting functionality for doing configuration like that?

Thanks

[reed9]

RPMs aren't my thing, but the closest thing I'm aware of for what you're looking for in the OpenSuse Build Service.