| apache | Apache is a powerful, full-featured, efficient and freely-available Web server. Apache is also the most popular Web server on the Internet. Install the apache package if you need a Web server. |
| apache-devel | The apache-devel package contains the source code for the Apache Web server and the APXS binary you'll need to build Dynamic Shared Objects (DSOs) for Apache. If you are installing the Apache Web server, and you want to be able to compile or develop additional modules for Apache, you'll need to install this package. |
| autoconf | GNU's Autoconf is a tool for configuring source code and Makefiles. Using Autoconf, programmers can create portable and configurable packages, since the person building the package is allowed to specify various configuration options. You should install Autoconf if you are developing software and you'd like to use it to create shell scripts which will configure your source code packages. If you are installing Autoconf, you will also need to install the GNU m4 package. Note that the Autoconf package is not required for the end user who may be configuring software with an Autoconf-generated script; Autoconf is only required for the generation of the scripts, not their use. |
| automake | Automake is an experimental Makefile generator. Automake was inspired by the 4.4BSD make and include files, but aims to be portable and to conform to the GNU standards for Makefile variables and targets. You should install Automake if you are developing software and would like to use its capabilities of automatically generating GNU standard Makefiles. if you install Automake, you will also need to install GNU's Autoconf package. |
| basesystem | Basesystem defines the components of a basic Red Hat Linux system (for example, the package installation order to use during bootstrapping). Basesystem should be the first package installed on a system, and it should never be removed. |
| bash | Bash is a GNU project sh-compatible shell or command language interpreter. Bash (Bourne Again shell) incorporates useful features from the Korn shell (ksh) and the C shell (csh). Most sh scripts can be run by bash without modification. Bash offers several improvements over sh, including command line editing, unlimited size command history, job control, shell functions and aliases, indexed arrays of unlimited size and integer arithmetic in any base from two to 64. Bash is ultimately intended to conform to the IEEE POSIX P1003.2/ISO 9945.2 Shell and Tools standard. Bash is the default shell for Red Hat Linux. You should install bash because of its popularity and power. You'll probably end up using it. |
| bash2 | Bash is a GNU project sh-compatible shell or command language interpreter. Bash (Bourne Again shell) incorporates useful features from the Korn shell (ksh) and the C shell (csh). Most sh scripts can be run by bash without modification. Bash offers several improvements over sh, including command line editing, unlimited size command history, job control, shell functions and aliases, indexed arrays of unlimited size and integer arithmetic in any base from two to 64. Bash is ultimately intended to conform to the IEEE POSIX P1003.2/ISO 9945.2 Shell and Tools standard. |
| bash2-doc | This is a separate documentation package for the GNU Bourne Again shell. |
| bdflush | The bdflush process starts the kernel daemon which flushes dirty buffers back to disk (i.e., writes all unwritten data to disk). This helps to prevent the buffers from growing too stale. Bdflush is a basic system process that must run for your system to operate properly. |
| binutils | Binutils is a collection of binary utilities, including ar (for creating, modifying and extracting from archives), nm (for listing symbols from object files), objcopy (for copying and translating object files), objdump (for displaying information from object files), ranlib (for generating an index for the contents of an archive), size (for listing the section sizes of an object or archive file), strings (for listing printable strings from files), strip (for discarding symbols), c++filt (a filter for demangling encoded C++ symbols), addr2line (for converting addresses to file and line), and nlmconv (for converting object code into an NLM). Install binutils if you need to perform any of these types of actions on binary files. Most programmers will want to install binutils. |
| bison | Bison is a general purpose parser generator which converts a grammar description for an LALR context-free grammar into a C program to parse that grammar. Bison can be used to develop a wide range of language parsers, from ones used in simple desk calculators to complex programming languages. Bison is upwardly compatible with Yacc, so any correctly written Yacc grammar should work with Bison without any changes. If you know Yacc, you shouldn't have any trouble using Bison (but you do need to be very proficient in C programming to be able to use Bison). Many programs use Bison as part of their build process. Bison is only needed on systems that are used for development. If your system will be used for C development, you should install Bison since it is used to build many C programs. |
| byacc | Byacc (Berkeley Yacc) is a public domain LALR parser generator which is used by many programs during their build process. If you are going to do development on your system, you will want to install this package. |
| bzip2 | Bzip2 is a freely available, patent-free, high quality data compressor. Bzip2 compresses files to within 10 to 15 percent of the capabilities of the best techniques available. However, bzip2 has the added benefit of being approximately two times faster at compression and six times faster at decompression than those techniques. Bzip2 is not the fastest compression utility, but it does strike a balance between speed and compression capability. Install bzip2 if you need a high quality compression utility. |
| chkconfig | Chkconfig is a basic system utility. It updates and queries runlevel information for system services. Chkconfig manipulates the numerous symbolic links in /etc/rc.d, so system administrators don't have to manually edit the symbolic links as often. |
| chkfontpath | This is a simple terminal mode program for configuring the directories in the X font server's path. It is mostly intended to be used `internally' by RPM when packages with fonts are added or removed, but it may be useful as a stand-alone utility in some instances. |
| cracklib | CrackLib tests passwords to determine whether they match certain security-oriented characteristics. You can use CrackLib to stop users from choosing passwords which would be easy to guess. CrackLib performs certain tests: * It tries to generate words from a username and gecos entry and checks those words against the password; * It checks for simplistic patterns in passwords; * It checks for the password in a dictionary. CrackLib is actually a library containing a particular C function which is used to check the password, as well as other C functions. CrackLib is not a replacement for a passwd program; it must be used in conjunction with an existing passwd program. Install the cracklib package if you need a program to check users' passwords to see if they are at least minimally secure. If you install CrackLib, you'll also want to install the cracklib-dicts package. |
| cracklib-dicts | The cracklib-dicts package includes the CrackLib dictionaries. CrackLib will need to use the dictionary appropriate to your system, which is normally put in /usr/dict/words. Cracklib-dicts also contains the utilities necessary for the creation of new dictionaries. If you are installing CrackLib, you should also install cracklib-dicts. |
| cvs | CVS means Concurrent Version System; it is a version control system which can record the history of your files (usually, but not always, source code). CVS only stores the differences between versions, instead of every version of every file you've ever created. CVS also keeps a log of who, when and why changes occurred, among other aspects. CVS is very helpful for managing releases and controlling the concurrent editing of source files among multiple authors. Instead of providing version control for a collection of files in a single directory, CVS provides version control for a hierarchical collection of directories consisting of revision controlled files. These directories and files can then be combined together to form a software release. Install the cvs package if you need to use a version control system. |
| diffutils | Diffutils includes four utilities: diff, cmp, diff3 and sdiff. Diff compares two files and shows the differences, line by line. The cmp command shows the offset and line numbers where two files differ, or cmp can show the characters that differ between the two files. The diff3 command shows the differences between three files. Diff3 can be used when two people have made independent changes to a common original; diff3 can produce a merged file that contains both persons' changes and warnings about conflicts. The sdiff command can be used to merge two files interactively. Install diffutils if you need to compare text files. |
| e2fsprogs | The e2fsprogs package contains a number of utilities for creating, checking, modifying and correcting any inconsistencies in second extended (ext2) filesystems. E2fsprogs contains e2fsck (used to repair filesystem inconsistencies after an unclean shutdown), mke2fs (used to initialize a partition to contain an empty ext2 filesystem), debugfs (used to examine the internal structure of a filesystem, to manually repair a corrupted filesystem or to create test cases for e2fsck), tune2fs (used to modify filesystem parameters) and most of the other core ext2fs filesystem utilities. You should install the e2fsprogs package if you need to manage the performance of an ext2 filesystem. |
| e2fsprogs-devel | E2fsprogs-devel contains the libraries and header files needed to develop second extended (ext2) filesystem-specific programs. You should install e2fsprogs-devel if you want to develop ext2 filesystem-specific programs. If you install e2fsprogs-devel, you'll also want to install e2fsprogs. |
| ed | Ed is a line-oriented text editor, used to create, display, and modify text files (both interactively and via shell scripts). For most purposes, ed has been replaced in normal usage by full-screen editors (emacs and vi, for example). Ed was the original UNIX editor, and may be used by some programs. In general, however, you probably don't need to install it and you probably won't use it much. |
| expect | Expect is a tcl extension for automating interactive applications such as telnet, ftp, passwd, fsck, rlogin, tip, etc. Expect is also useful for testing the named applications. Expect makes it easy for a script to control another program and interact with it. Install the expect package if you'd like to develop scripts which interact with interactive applications. You'll also need to install the tcl package. |
| file | The file command is used to identify a particular file according to the type of data contained by the file. File can identify many different file types, including ELF binaries, system libraries, RPM packages, and different graphics formats. You should install the file package, since the file command is such a useful utility. |
| filesystem | The filesystem package is one of the basic packages that is installed on a Red Hat Linux system. Filesystem contains the basic directory layout for a Linux operating system, including the correct permissions for the directories. |
| fileutils | The fileutils package includes a number of GNU versions of common and popular file management utilities. Fileutils includes the following tools: chgrp (changes a file's group ownership), chown (changes a file's ownership), chmod (changes a file's permissions), cp (copies files), dd (copies and converts files), df (shows a filesystem's disk usage), dir (gives a brief directory listing), dircolors (the setup program for the color version of the ls command), du (shows disk usage), install (copies files and sets permissions), ln (creates file links), ls (lists directory contents in color), mkdir (creates directories), mkfifo (creates FIFOs, which are named pipes), mknod (creates special files), mv (renames files), rm (removes/deletes files), rmdir (removes empty directories), sync (synchronizes memory and disk), touch (changes file timestamps), and vdir (provides long directory listings). You should install the fileutils package, because it includes many file management utilities that you'll use frequently. |
| findutils | The findutils package contains programs which will help you locate files on your system. The find utility searches through a hierarchy of directories looking for files which match a certain set of criteria (such as a filename pattern). The locate utility searches a database (create by updatedb) to quickly find a file matching a given pattern. The xargs utility builds and executes command lines from standard input arguments (usually lists of file names generated by the find command). You should install findutils because it includes tools that are very useful for finding things on your system. |
| flex | The flex program generates scanners. Scanners are programs which can recognize lexical patterns in text. Flex takes pairs of regular expressions and C code as input and generates a C source file as output. The output file is compiled and linked with a library to produce an executable. The executable searches through its input for occurrences of the regular expressions. When a match is found, it executes the corresponding C code. Flex was designed to work with both Yacc and Bison, and is used by many programs as part of their build process. You should install flex if you are going to use your system for application development. |
| ftp | The ftp package provides the standard UNIX command-line FTP client. FTP is the file transfer protocol, which is a widely used Internet protocol for transferring files and for archiving files. If your system is on a network, you should install ftp in order to do file transfers. |
| gawk | The gawk packages contains the GNU version of awk, a text processing utility. Awk interprets a special-purpose programming language to do quick and easy text pattern matching and reformatting jobs. Gawk should be upwardly compatible with the Bell Labs research version of awk and is almost completely compliant with the 1993 POSIX 1003.2 standard for awk. Install the gawk package if you need a text processing utility. Gawk is considered to be a standard Linux tool for processing text. |
| gcc | The gcc package contains the GNU Compiler Collection: cc and gcc. You'll need this package in order to compile C/C++ code. |
| gcc-c++ | This package adds C++ support to the GNU C compiler. It includes support for most of the current C++ specification, including templates and exception handling. It does include the static standard C++ library and C++ header files; the library for dynamically linking programs is available separately. |
| gdbm | Gdbm is a GNU database indexing library, including routines which use extensible hashing. Gdbm works in a similar way to standard UNIX dbm routines. Gdbm is useful for developers who write C applications and need access to a simple and efficient database or who are building C applications which will use such a database. If you're a C developer and your programs need access to simple database routines, you should install gdbm. You'll also need to install gdbm-devel. |
| gdbm-devel | Gdbm-devel contains the development libraries and header files for gdbm, the GNU database system. These libraries and header files are necessary if you plan to do development using the gdbm database. Install gdbm-devel if you are developing C programs which will use the gdbm database library. You'll also need to install the gdbm package. |
| gettext | The GNU gettext package provides a set of tools and documentation for producing multi-lingual messages in programs. Tools include a set of conventions about how programs should be written to support message catalogs, a directory and file naming organization for the message catalogs, a runtime library which supports the retrieval of translated messages, and stand-alone programs for handling the translatable and the already translated strings. Gettext provides an easy to use library and tools for creating, using, and modifying natural language catalogs and is a powerful and simple method for internationalizing programs. If you would like to internationalize or incorporate multi-lingual messages into programs that you're developing, you should install gettext. |
| getty_ps | The getty_ps package contains the getty and uugetty programs, basic programs for accomplishing the login process on a Red Hat Linux system. Getty and uugetty are used to accept logins on the console or a terminal. Getty is invoked by the init process to open tty lines and set their modes, to print the login prompt and get the user's name, and to initiate a login process for the user. Uugetty works just like getty, except that uugetty creates and uses lock files to prevent two or more processes from conflicting in their use of a tty line. Getty and uugetty can also handle answer a modem for dialup connections, but mgetty is recommended for that purpose. |
| ghostscript | Ghostscript is a set of software that provides a PostScript(TM) interpreter, a set of C procedures (the Ghostscript library, which implements the graphics capabilities in the PostScript language) and an interpreter for Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Ghostscript translates PostScript code into many common, bitmapped formats, like those understood by your printer or screen. Ghostscript is normally used to display PostScript files and to print PostScript files to non-PostScript printers. If you need to display PostScript files or print them to non-PostScript printers, you should install ghostscript. If you install ghostscript, you also need to install the ghostscript-fonts package. |
| ghostscript-fonts | These fonts can be used by the GhostScript interpreter during text rendering. They are in addition to the shared fonts between GhostScript and X11. |
| glib | GLib is a handy library of utility functions. This C library is designed to solve some portability problems and provide other useful functionality which most programs require. GLib is used by GDK, GTK+ and many applications. You should install th glib package because many of your applications will depend on this library. |
| glib-devel | The glib-devel package includes the static libraries and header files for the support library for the GIMP's X libraries (GTK+ and GDK), which are available as public libraries. Install glib-devel if you want to develop programs which will use GLib. |
| glibc | The glibc package contains standard libraries which are used by multiple programs on the system. In order to save disk space and memory, as well as to make upgrading easier, common system code is kept in one place and shared between programs. This particular package contains the most important sets of shared libraries: the standard C library and the standard math library. Without these two libraries, a Linux system will not function. The glibc package also contains national language (locale) support and timezone databases. |
| glibc-devel | The glibc-devel package contains the header and object files necessary for developing programs which use the standard C libraries (which are used by nearly all programs). If you are developing programs which will use the standard C libraries, your system needs to have these standard header and object files available in order to create the executables. Install glibc-devel if you are going to develop programs which will use the standard C libraries. |
| glibc-profile | The glibc-profile package includes the GNU libc libraries and support for profiling using the gprof program. Profiling is analyzing a program's functions to see how much CPU time they use and determining which functions are calling other functions during execution. To use gprof to profile a program, your program needs to use the GNU libc libraries included in glibc-profile (instead of the standard GNU libc libraries included in the glibc package). If you are going to use the gprof program to profile a program, you'll need to install the glibc-profile program. |
| gmp | The gmp package contains GNU MP, a library for arbitrary precision arithmetic, signed integers operations, rational numbers and floating point numbers. GNU MP is designed for speed, for both small and very large operands. GNU MP is fast for several reasons: It uses fullwords as the basic arithmetic type, it uses fast algorithms, it carefully optimizes assembly code for many CPUs' most common inner loops and it generally emphasizes speed over simplicity/elegance in its operations. Install the gmp package if you need a fast arbitrary precision library. |
| gmp-devel | The static libraries, header files and documentation for using the GNU MP arbitrary precision library in applications. If you want to develop applications which will use the GNU MP library, you'll need to install the gmp-devel package. You'll also need to install the gmp package. |
| gperf | Gperf is a perfect hash function generator written in C++. Simply stated, a perfect hash function is a hash function and a data structure that allows recognition of a key word in a set of words using exactly one probe into the data structure. Install gperf if you need a program that generates perfect hash functions. |
| grep | The GNU versions of commonly used grep utilities. Grep searches one or more input files for lines which contain a match to a specified pattern and then prints the matching lines. GNU's grep utilities include grep, egrep and fgrep. You should install grep on your system, because it is a very useful utility for searching through text files, for system administration tasks, etc. |
| groff | Groff is a document formatting system. Groff takes standard text and formatting commands as input and produces formatted output. The created documents can be shown on a display or printed on a printer. Groff's formatting commands allow you to specify font type and size, bold type, italic type, the number and size of columns on a page, and more. You should install groff if you want to use it as a document formatting system. Groff can also be used to format man pages. If you are going to use groff with the X Window System, you'll also need to install the groff-gxditview package. |
| gzip | The gzip package contains the popular GNU gzip data compression program. Gzipped files have a .gz extension. Gzip should be installed on your Red Hat Linux system, because it is a very commonly used data compression program. |
| indent | Indent is a GNU program for beautifying C code, so that it is easier to read. Indent can also convert from one C writing style to a different one. Indent understands correct C syntax and tries to handle incorrect C syntax. Install the indent package if you are developing applications in C and you'd like to format your code automatically. |
| info | The GNU project uses the texinfo file format for much of its documentation. The info package provides a standalone TTY-based browser program for viewing texinfo files. You should install info, because GNU's texinfo documentation is a valuable source of information about the software on your system. |
| initscripts | The initscripts package contains the basic system scripts used to boot your Red Hat system, change run levels, and shut the system down cleanly. Initscripts also contains the scripts that activate and deactivate most network interfaces. |
| itcl | [incr Tcl] is an object-oriented extension of the Tcl language. It was created to support more structured programming in Tcl. Tcl scripts that grow beyond a few thousand lines become extremely difficult to maintain. This is because the building blocks of vanilla Tcl are procedures and global variables, and all of these building blocks must reside in a single global namespace. There is no support for protection or encapsulation. [incr Tcl] introduces the notion of objects. Each object is a bag of data with a set of procedures or "methods" that are used to manipulate it. Objects are organized into "classes" with identical characteristics, and classes can inherit functionality from one another. This object-oriented paradigm adds another level of organization on top of the basic variable/procedure elements, and the resulting code is easier to understand and maintain. |
| ldconfig | Ldconfig is a basic system program which determines run-time link bindings between ld.so and shared libraries. Ldconfig scans a running system and sets up the symbolic links that are used to load shared libraries properly. It also creates a cache (/etc/ld.so.cache) which speeds the loading of programs which use shared libraries. |
| less | The less utility is a text file browser that resembles more, but has more capabilities. Less allows you to move backwards in the file as well as forwards. Since less doesn't have to read the entire input file before it starts, less starts up more quickly than text editors (for example, vi). You should install less because it is a basic utility for viewing text files, and you'll use it frequently. |
| libjpeg | The libjpeg package contains a library of functions for manipulating JPEG images, as well as simple client programs for accessing the libjpeg functions. Libjpeg client programs include cjpeg, djpeg, jpegtran, rdjpgcom and wrjpgcom. Cjpeg compresses an image file into JPEG format. Djpeg decompresses a JPEG file into a regular image file. Jpegtran can perform various useful transformations on JPEG files. Rdjpgcom displays any text comments included in a JPEG file. Wrjpgcom inserts text comments into a JPEG file. |
| libjpeg-devel | The libjpeg-devel package includes the header files and static libraries necessary for developing programs which will manipulate JPEG files using the libjpeg library. If you are going to develop programs which will manipulate JPEG images, you should install libjpeg-devel. You'll also need to have the libjpeg package installed. |
| libjpeg6a | This package is a library of functions that manipulate jpeg images, along with simple clients for manipulating jpeg images. This version of the package includes only a library that is needed for preserving the backwards compatibility with previous releases of Red Hat Linux. |
| libpng | The libpng package contains a library of functions for creating and manipulating PNG (Portable Network Graphics) image format files. PNG is a bit-mapped graphics format similar to the GIF format. PNG was created to replace the GIF format, since GIF uses a patented data compression algorithm. Libpng should be installed if you need to manipulate PNG format image files. |
| libpng-devel | The libpng-devel package contains the header files and static libraries necessary for developing programs using the PNG (Portable Network Graphics) library. If you want to develop programs which will manipulate PNG image format files, you should install libpng-devel. You'll also need to install the libpng package. |
| libtermcap | The libtermcap package contains a basic system library needed to access the termcap database. The termcap library supports easy access to the termcap database, so that programs can output character-based displays in a terminal-independent manner. |
| libtermcap-devel | This package includes the libraries and header files necessary for developing programs which will access the termcap database. If you need to develop programs which will access the termcap database, you'll need to install this package. You'll also need to install the libtermcap package. |
| libtiff | The libtiff package contains a library of functions for manipulating TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) image format files. TIFF is a widely used file format for bitmapped images. TIFF files usually end in the .tif extension and they are often quite large. The libtiff package should be installed if you need to manipulate TIFF format image files. |
| libtool | The libtool package contains the GNU libtool, a set of shell scripts which automatically configure UNIX and UNIX-like architectures to generically build shared libraries. Libtool provides a consistent, portable interface which simplifies the process of using shared libraries. If you are developing programs which will use shared libraries, you should install libtool. |
| logrotate | The logrotate utility is designed to simplify the administration of log files on a system which generates a lot of log files. Logrotate allows for the automatic rotation compression, removal and mailing of log files. Logrotate can be set to handle a log file daily, weekly, monthly or when the log file gets to a certain size. Normally, logrotate runs as a daily cron job. Install the logrotate package if you need a utility to deal with the log files on your system. |
| losetup | Linux supports a special block device called the loop device, which maps a normal file onto a virtual block device. This allows for the file to be used as a "virtual file system" inside another file. Losetup is used to associate loop devices with regular files or block devices, to detach loop devices and to query the status of a loop device. |
| m4 | A GNU implementation of the traditional UNIX macro processor. M4 is useful for writing text files which can be logically parsed, and is used by many programs as part of their build process. M4 has built-in functions for including files, running shell commands, doing arithmetic, etc. The autoconf program needs m4 for generating configure scripts, but not for running configure scripts. Install m4 if you need a macro processor. |
| make | A GNU tool for controlling the generation of executables and other non-source files of a program from the program's source files. Make allows users to build and install packages without any significant knowledge about the details of the build process. The details about how the program should be built are provided for make in the program's makefile. The GNU make tool should be installed on your system because it is commonly used to simplify the process of installing programs. |
| man | The man package includes three tools for finding information and/or documentation about your Linux system: man, apropos and whatis. The man system formats and displays on-line manual pages about commands or functions on your system. Apropos searches the whatis database (containing short descriptions of system commands) for a string. Whatis searches its own database for a complete word. The man package should be installed on your system because it is the primary way to find documentation on a Linux system. |
| mingetty | The mingetty program is a lightweight, minimalist getty program for use only on virtual consoles. Mingetty is not suitable for serial lines (you should use the mgetty program instead for that purpose). |
| mktemp | The mktemp utility takes a given file name template and overwrites a portion of it to create a unique file name. This allows shell scripts and other programs to safely create and use /tmp files. Install the mktemp package if you need to use shell scripts or other programs which will create and use unique /tmp files. |
| modutils | The modutils packages includes the kerneld program for automatic loading of modules under 2.0 kernels and unloading of modules under 2.0 and 2.2 kernels, as well as other module management programs. Loaded and unloaded modules are device drivers and filesystems, as well as other things. |
| mount | The mount package contains the mount, umount, swapon and swapoff programs. Accessible files on your system are arranged in one big tree or hierarchy. These files can be spread out over several devices. The mount command attaches a filesystem on some device to your system's file tree. The umount command detaches a filesystem from the tree. Swapon and swapoff, respectively, specify and disable devices and files for paging and swapping. |
| ncurses | The curses library routines are a terminal-independent method of updating character screens with reasonable optimization. The ncurses (new curses) library is a freely distributable replacement for the discontinued 4.4BSD classic curses library. |
| ncurses-devel | The header files and libraries for developing applications that use the ncurses CRT screen handling and optimization package. Install the ncurses-devel package if you want to develop applications which will use ncurses. |
| net-tools | The net-tools package contains the basic tools needed for setting up networking: arp, rarp, ifconfig, netstat, ethers and route. |
| netkit-base | The netkit-base package contains the basic networking tools ping and inetd. The ping command sends a series of ICMP protocol ECHO_REQUEST packets to a specified network host and can tell you if that machine is alive and receiving network traffic. Inetd listens on certain Internet sockets for connection requests, decides what program should receive each request, and starts up that program. The netkit-base package should be installed on any machine that is on a network. |
| newt | Newt is a programming library for color text mode, widget based user interfaces. Newt can be used to add stacked windows, entry widgets, checkboxes, radio buttons, labels, plain text fields, scrollbars, etc., to text mode user interfaces. This package also contains the shared library needed by programs built with newt, as well as a /usr/bin/dialog replacement called whiptail. Newt is based on the slang library. |
| newt-devel | The newt-devel package contains the header files and libraries necessary for developing applications which use newt. Newt is a development library for text mode user interfaces. Newt is based on the slang library. Install newt-devel if you want to develop applications which will use newt. |
| nscd | Nscd caches name service lookups and can dramatically improve performance with NIS+, and may help with DNS as well. Note that you can't use nscd with 2.0 kernels because of bugs in the kernel-side thread support. Unfortunately, nscd happens to hit these bugs particularly hard. Install nscd if you need a name service lookup caching daemon, and you're not using a version 2.0 kernel. |
| ntsysv | ntsysv updates and queries runlevel information for system services. ntsysv relieves system administrators of having to directly manipulate the numerous symbolic links in /etc/rc.d. |
| pam | PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) is a system security tool which allows system administrators to set authentication policy without having to recompile programs which do authentication. |
| passwd | The passwd package contains a system utility (passwd) which sets and/or changes passwords, using PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules). To use passwd, you should have PAM installed on your system. |
| patch | The patch program applies diff files to originals. The diff command is used to compare an original to a changed file. Diff lists the changes made to the file. A person who has the original file can then use the patch command with the diff file to add the changes to their original file (patching the file). Patch should be installed because it is a common way of upgrading applications. |
| pdksh | The pdksh package contains PD-ksh, a clone of the Korn shell (ksh). The ksh shell is a command interpreter intended for both interactive and shell script use. Ksh's command language is a superset of the sh shell language. Install the pdksh package if you want to use a version of the ksh shell. |
| perl | Perl is a high-level programming language with roots in C, sed, awk and shell scripting. Perl is good at handling processes and files, and is especially good at handling text. Perl's hallmarks are practicality and efficiency. While it is used to do a lot of different things, Perl's most common applications (and what it excels at) are probably system administration utilities and web programming. A large proportion of the CGI scripts on the web are written in Perl. You need the perl package installed on your system so that your system can handle Perl scripts. |
| popt | Popt is a C library for parsing command line parameters. Popt was heavily influenced by the getopt() and getopt_long() functions, but it improves on them by allowing more powerful argument expansion. Popt can parse arbitrary argv[] style arrays and automatically set variables based on command line arguments. Popt allows command line arguments to be aliased via configuration files and includes utility functions for parsing arbitrary strings into argv[] arrays using shell-like rules. Install popt if you're a C programmer and you'd like to use its capabilities. |
| portmap | The portmapper program is a security tool which prevents theft of NIS (YP), NFS and other sensitive information via the portmapper. A portmapper manages RPC connections, which are used by protocols like NFS and NIS. The portmap package should be installed on any machine which acts as a server for protocols using RPC. |
| procps | The procps package contains a set of system utilities which provide system information. Procps includes ps, free, skill, snice, tload, top, uptime, vmstat, w, and watch. The ps command displays a snapshot of running processes. The top command provides a repetitive update of the statuses of running processes. The free command displays the amounts of free and used memory on your system. The skill command sends a terminate command (or another specified signal) to a specified set of processes. The snice command is used to change the scheduling priority of specified processes. The tload command prints a graph of the current system load average to a specified tty. The uptime command displays the current time, how long the system has been running, how many users are logged on and system load averages for the past one, five and fifteen minutes. The w command displays a list of the users who are currently logged on and what they're running. The watch program watches a running program. The vmstat command displays virtual memory statistics about processes, memory, paging, block I/O, traps and CPU activity. |
| procps-X11 | The procps-X11 package contains the XConsole shell script, a backwards compatibility wrapper for the xconsole program. |
| psmisc | The psmisc package contains utilities for managing processes on your system: pstree, killall and fuser. The pstree command displays a tree structure of all of the running processes on your system. The killall command sends a specified signal (SIGTERM if nothing is specified) to processes identified by name. The fuser command identifies the PIDs of processes that are using specified files or filesystems. |
| pwdb | The pwdb package contains libpwdb, the password database library. Libpwdb is a library which implements a generic user information database. Libpwdb was specifically designed to work with Linux's PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules). Libpwdb allows configurable access to and management of security tools like /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow and network authentication systems including NIS and Radius. |
| python | Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language often compared to Tcl, Perl, Scheme or Java. Python includes modules, classes, exceptions, very high level dynamic data types and dynamic typing. Python supports interfaces to many system calls and libraries, as well as to various windowing systems (X11, Motif, Tk, Mac and MFC). Programmers can write new built-in modules for Python in C or C++. Python can be used as an extension language for applications that need a programmable interface. This package contains most of the standard Python modules, as well as modules for interfacing to the Tix widget set for Tk and RPM. Note that documentation for Python is provided in the python-docs package. |
| python-devel | The Python programming language's interpreter can be extended with dynamically loaded extensions and can be embedded in other programs. This package contains the header files and libraries needed to do these types of tasks. Install python-devel if you want to develop Python extensions. The python package will also need to be installed. You'll probably also want to install the python-docs package, which contains Python documentation. |
| python-docs | The python-docs package contains documentation on the Python programming language and interpreter. The documentation is provided in ASCII text files and in LaTeX source files. Install the python-docs package if you'd like to use the documentation for the Python language. |
| python-tools | The Python package includes several development tools that are used to build python programs. This package contains a selection of those tools, including the IDLE Python IDE. Install python-tools if you want to use these tools to develop Python programs. You will also need to install the python and tkinter packages. |
| pythonlib | The pythonlib package contains Python code used by a variety of Red Hat Linux programs. Pythonlib includes code needed for multifield listboxes and entry widgets with non-standard keybindings, among other things. |
| readline | The readline library reads a line from the terminal and returns it, allowing the user to edit the line with standard emacs editing keys. The readline library allows programmers to provide an easy to use and more intuitive interface for users. If you want to develop programs that will use the readline library, you'll also need to install the readline-devel package. |
| readline-devel | The readline library will read a line from the terminal and return it. Use of the readline library allows programmers to provide an easy to use and more intuitive interface for users. If you want to develop programs which will use the readline library, you'll need to have the readline-devel package installed. You'll also need to have the readline package installed. |
| routed | The routed routing daemon handles incoming RIP traffic and broadcasts outgoing RIP traffic about network traffic routes, in order to maintain current routing tables. These routing tables are essential for a networked computer, so that it knows where packets need to be sent. The routed package should be installed on any networked machine. |
| rpm | The Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) is a powerful command line driven package management system capable of installing, uninstalling, verifying, querying, and updating software packages. Each software package consists of an archive of files along with information about the package like its version, a description, etc. |
| rpm-devel | This package contains the RPM C library and header files. These development files will simplify the process of writing programs which manipulate RPM packages and databases. These file are intended to simplify the process of creating graphical package managers or any other tools that need an intimate knowledge of RPM packages in order to function. This package should be installed if you want to develop programs that will manipulate RPM packages and databases. |
| rsh | The rsh package contains a set of programs which allow users to run commmands on remote machines, login to other machines and copy files between machines (rsh, rlogin and rcp). All three of these commands use rhosts style authentication. This package contains the clients and servers needed for all of these services. It also contains a server for rexec, an alternate method of executing remote commands. All of these servers are run by inetd and configured using /etc/inetd.conf and PAM. The rexecd server is disabled by default, but the other servers are enabled. The rsh package should be installed to enable remote access to other machines. |
| sed | The sed (Stream EDitor) editor is a stream or batch (non-interactive) editor. Sed takes text as input, performs an operation or set of operations on the text and outputs the modified text. The operations that sed performs (substitutions, deletions, insertions, etc.) can be specified in a script file or from the command line. |
| setup | The setup package contains a set of very important system configuration and setup files, such as passwd, group, profile and more. You should install the setup package because you will find yourself using its many features for system administration. |
| sh-utils | The GNU shell utilities are a set of useful system utilities which are often used in shell scripts. The sh-utils package includes basename (to remove the path prefix from a specified pathname), chroot (to change the root directory), date (to print/set the system time and date), dirname (to remove the last level or the filename from a given path), echo (to print a line of text), env (to display/modify the environment), expr (to evaluate expressions), factor (to print prime factors), false (to return an unsuccessful exit status), groups (to print the groups a specified user is a member of), id (to print the real/effective uid/gid), logname (to print the current login name), nice (to modify a scheduling priority), nohup (to allow a command to continue running after logging out), pathchk (to check a file name's portability), printenv (to print environment variables), printf (to format and print data), pwd (to print the current directory), seq (to print numeric sequences), sleep (to suspend execution for a specified time), stty (to print/change terminal settings), su (to become another user or the superuser), tee (to send output to multiple files), test (to evaluate an expression), true (to return a successful exit status), tty (to print the terminal name), uname (to print system information), users (to print current users' names), who (to print a list of the users who are currently logged in), whoami (to print the effective user id), and yes (to print a string indefinitely). |
| shadow-utils | The shadow-utils package includes the necessary programs for converting UNIX password files to the shadow password format, plus programs for managing user and group accounts. The pwconv command converts passwords to the shadow password format. The pwunconv command unconverts shadow passwords and generates an npasswd file (a standard UNIX password file). The pwck command checks the integrity of password and shadow files. The lastlog command prints out the last login times for all users. The useradd, userdel and usermod commands are used for managing user accounts. The groupadd, groupdel and groupmod commands are used for managing group accounts. |
| sharutils | The sharutils package contains the GNU shar utilities, a set of tools for encoding and decoding packages of files (in binary or text format) in a special plain text format called shell archives (shar). This format can be sent through email (which can be problematic for regular binary files). The shar utility supports a wide range of capabilities (compressing, uuencoding, splitting long files for multi-part mailings, providing checksums), which make it very flexible at creating shar files. After the files have been sent, the unshar tool scans mail messages looking for shar files. Unshar automatically strips off mail headers and introductory text and then unpacks the shar files. Install sharutils if you send binary files through email very often. |
| slang | S-Lang is an interpreted language and a programming library. The S-Lang language was designed so that it can be easily embedded into a program to provide the program with a powerful extension language. The S-Lang library, provided in this package, provides the S-Lang extension language. S-Lang's syntax resembles C, which makes it easy to recode S-Lang procedures in C if you need to. |
| slang-devel | This package contains the S-Lang extension language static libraries and header files which you'll need if you want to develop S-Lang based applications. Documentation which may help you write S-Lang based applications is also included. Install the slang-devel package if you want to develop applications based on the S-Lang extension language. |
| sysklogd | The sysklogd package contains two system utilities (syslogd and klogd) which provide support for system logging. Syslogd and klogd run as daemons (background processes) and log system messages to different places, like sendmail logs, security logs, error logs, etc. |
| SysVinit | The SysVinit package contains a group of processes that control the very basic functions of your system. SysVinit is the first program started by the Linux kernel when the system boots, controlling the startup, running and shutdown of all other programs. |
| tar | The GNU tar program saves many files together into one archive and can restore individual files (or all of the files) from the archive. Tar can also be used to add supplemental files to an archive and to update or list files in the archive. Tar includes multivolume support, automatic archive compression/ decompression, the ability to perform remote archives and the ability to perform incremental and full backups. If you want to use Tar for remote backups, you'll also need to install the rmt package. You should install the tar package, because you'll find its compression and decompression utilities essential for working with files. |
| tcl | Tcl is a simple scripting language designed to be embedded into other applications. Tcl is designed to be used with Tk, a widget set, which is provided in the tk package. This package also includes tclsh, a simple example of a Tcl application. If you're installing the tcl package and you want to use Tcl for development, you should also install the tk and tclx packages. |
| tclx | TclX is a set of extensions which make it easier to use the Tcl scripting language for common UNIX/Linux programming tasks. TclX enhances Tcl support for files, network access, debugging, math, lists, and message catalogs. TclX can be used with both Tcl and Tcl/Tk applications. Install TclX if you are developing applications with Tcl/Tk. You'll also need to install the tcl and tk packages. |
| tcp_wrappers | The tcp_wrappers package provides small daemon programs which can monitor and filter incoming requests for systat, finger, ftp, telnet, rlogin, rsh, exec, tftp, talk and other network services. Install the tcp_wrappers program if you need a security tool for filtering incoming network services requests. |
| tcsh | Tcsh is an enhanced but completely compatible version of csh, the C shell. Tcsh is a command language interpreter which can be used both as an interactive login shell and as a shell script command processor. Tcsh includes a command line editor, programmable word completion, spelling correction, a history mechanism, job control and a C language like syntax. |
| telnet | Telnet is a popular protocol for logging into remote systems over the Internet. The telnet package provides a command line telnet client as well as a telnet daemon, which will support remote logins into the host machine. The telnet daemon is enabled by default. You may disable the telnet daemon by editing /etc/inetd.conf. Install the telnet package if you want to telnet to remote machines and/or support remote logins to your own machine. |
| termcap | The termcap package provides the /etc/termcap file. /etc/termcap is a database which defines the capabilities of various terminals and terminal emulators. Certain programs use the /etc/termcap file to access various features of terminals (the bell, colors, and graphics, etc.). |
| texinfo | Texinfo is a documentation system that can produce both online information and printed output from a single source file. Normally, you'd have to write two separate documents: one for online help or other online information and the other for a typeset manual or other printed work. Using Texinfo, you only need to write one source document. Then when the work needs revision, you only have to revise one source document. The GNU Project uses the Texinfo file format for most of its documentation. Install texinfo if you want a documentation system for producing both online and print documentation from the same source file and/or if you are going to write documentation for the GNU Project. |
| textutils | A set of GNU utilities for modifying the contents of files, including programs for splitting, joining, comparing and modifying files. |
| tftp | The Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) is normally used only for booting diskless workstations. The tftp package provides the user interface for TFTP, which allows users to transfer files to and from a remote machine. This program, and TFTP, provide very little security, and should not be enabled unless it is expressly needed. The TFTP server is run from /etc/inetd.conf, and is disabled by default on Red Hat Linux systems. |
| time | The GNU time utility runs another program, collects information about the resources used by that program while it is running and displays the results. Time can help developers optimize their programs. |
| tix | Tix (Tk Interface Extension), an add-on for the Tk widget set, is an extensive set of over 40 widgets. In general, Tix widgets are more complex and more capable than the widgets provided in Tk. Tix widgets include a ComboBox, a Motif-style FileSelectBox, an MS Windows-style FileSelectBox, a PanedWindow, a NoteBook, a hierarchical list, a directory tree and a file manager. Install the tix package if you want to try out more complicated widgets for Tk. You'll also need to have the tcl and tk packages installed. |
| tk | Tk is a X Windows widget set designed to work closely with the tcl scripting language. It allows you to write simple programs with full featured GUI's in only a little more time then it takes to write a text based interface. Tcl/Tk applications can also be run on Windows and Macintosh platforms. |
| tkinter | The Tkinter (Tk interface) program is an graphical user interface for the Python scripting language. You should install the tkinter package if you'd like to use a graphical user interface for Python programming. |
| unzip | The unzip utility is used to list, test, or extract files from a zip archive. Zip archives are commonly found on MS-DOS systems. The zip utility, included in the zip package, creates zip archives. Zip and unzip are both compatible with archives created by PKWARE(R)'s PKZIP for MS-DOS, but the programs' options and default behaviors do differ in some respects. Install the unzip package if you need to list, test or extract files from a zip archive. |
| utempter | Utempter is a utility which allows some non-privileged programs to have required root access without compromising system security. Utempter accomplishes this feat by acting as a buffer between root and the programs. |
| util-linux | The util-linux package contains a large variety of low-level system utilities that are necessary for a Linux system to function. Among many features, Util-linux contains the fdisk configuration tool and login program. You should install util-linux for its essential system tools. |
| vim-common | VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. The vim-common package contains files which every VIM binary will need in order to run. If you are installing any version of the VIM editor, you'll also need to the vim-common package installed. |
| vim-enhanced | VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. The vim-enhanced package contains a version of VIM with extra, recently introduced features like Python and Perl interpreters. Install the vim-enhanced package if you'd like to use a version of the VIM editor which includes recently added enhancements like interpreters for the Python and Perl scripting languages. You'll also need to install the vim-common package. |
| vim-minimal | VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. The vim-minimal package includes a minimal version of VIM, which is installed into /bin/vi for use when only the root partition is present. |
| vim-X11 | VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. VIM-X11 is a version of the VIM editor which will run within the X Window System. If you install this package, you can run VIM as an X application with a full GUI interface and mouse support. Install the vim-X11 package if you'd like to try out a version of vi with graphics and mouse capabilities. You'll also need to install the vim-common package. |
| vixie-cron | The vixie-cron package contains the Vixie version of cron. Cron is a standard UNIX daemon that runs specified programs at scheduled times. Vixie cron adds better security and more powerful configuration options to the standard version of cron. |
| which | The which command shows the full pathname of a specified program, if the specified program is in your PATH. |
| wu-ftpd | The wu-ftpd package contains the wu-ftpd FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server daemon. The FTP protocol is a method of transferring files between machines on a network and/or over the Internet. Wu-ftpd's features include logging of transfers, logging of commands, on the fly compression and archiving, classification of users' type and location, per class limits, per directory upload permissions, restricted guest accounts, system wide and per directory messages, directory alias, cdpath, filename filter and virtual host support. Install the wu-ftpd package if you need to provide FTP service to remote users. |
| X11R6-contrib | If you want to use the X Window System, you should install X11R6-contrib. This package holds many useful programs from the X Window System, version 11, release 6 contrib tape. The programs, contributed by various users, include listres, xbiff, xedit, xeyes, xcalc, xload and xman, among others. You will also need to install the XFree86 package, the XFree86 package which corresponds to your video card, one or more of the XFree86 fonts packages, the Xconfigurator package and the XFree86-libs package. Finally, if you are going to develop applications that run as X clients, you will also need to install XFree86-devel. |
| Xaw3d | Xaw3d is an enhanced version of the MIT Athena Widget set for the X Window System. Xaw3d adds a three-dimensional look to applications with minimal or no source code changes. You should install Xaw3d if you are using applications which incorporate the MIT Athena widget set and you'd like to incorporate a 3D look into those applications. |
| Xaw3d-devel | Xaw3d is an enhanced version of the MIT Athena widget set for the X Window System. Xaw3d adds a three-dimensional look to those applications with minimal or no source code changes. Xaw3d-devel includes the header files and static libraries for developing programs that take full advantage of Xaw3d's features. You should install Xaw3d-devel if you are going to develop applications using the Xaw3d widget set. You'll also need to install the Xaw3d package. |
| xemacs | XEmacs (and regular GNU Emacs, too) is a self-documenting, customizable, extensible, real-time display editor. XEmacs is self-documenting because at any time you can type in control-h to find out what your options are or to find out what a command does. XEmacs is customizable because you can change the definitions of XEmacs commands to anything you want. XEmacs is extensible because you can write entirely new commands--programs in the Lisp language to be run by Emacs' own Lisp interpreter. XEmacs includes a real-time display, which means that the text being edited is visible on the screen and is updated very frequently (usually after every character or pair of characters) as you type. This XEmacs distribution consists of four rpms: xemacs-21.0.67 (the main portion, including the standard XEmacs binary which most people use), xemacs-el-21.0.67 (elisp sources, which you only need if you're going to program with Lisp in XEmacs), xemacs-info-21.0.67 (optional information about XEmacs), and xemacs-extras-21.0.67 (files in common with Emacs, which you must install if you're installing XEmacs and you do not have Emacs installed). To use XEmacs, you'll need to install the XEmacs binary. The xemacs package includes the standard XEmacs binary that most people will use. The XEmacs binary is dynamically linked, with both X11 and TTY (ncurses) support, but without mule (MUlti-Lingual Emacs, the Asian character set) support. You might be able to tailor XEmacs to your use by using one of the following packages instead of xemacs: xemacs-static (static link with X11, ncurses, NO mule), xemacs-X11 (dynamic link with X11, NO ncurses, NO mule), xemacs-mule (dynamic link with X11, NO ncurses, mule) or xemacs-nox (dynamic link with NO X11, ncurses, NO mule). In order to use XEmacs, you will have to install either xemacs OR one of the four choices listed above (xemacs-static, xemacs-X11, xemacs-mule, xemacs-nox). Check each of the individual package descriptions if you want more information. You will also need to install xemacs-extras, if you do not have GNU Emacs already installed. |
| xemacs-el | Xemacs-el is not necessary to run XEmacs. You'll only need to install it if you're planning on incorporating some Lisp programming into your XEmacs experience. |
| xemacs-extras | Xemacs-extras includes files which are used by both GNU Emacs and XEmacs. If you don't have GNU Emacs installed, be sure to also install this package when you install the XEmacs text editor. |
| xemacs-info | Install this package if you want the information files that are distributed with the XEmacs text editor. |
| xemacs-X11 | Xemacs-X11 includes an XEmacs binary you'll want to use instead of the binary included in the xemacs package, if you don't ever run XEmacs on the standard console (the ncurses interface). The advantage is that if you don't have the TTY support compiled in, you'll save some memory. |
| XFree86 | The X Window System provides the base technology for developing graphical user interfaces. Simply stated, X draws the elements of the GUI on the user's screen and builds methods for sending user interactions back to the application. X also supports remote application deployment--running an application on another computer while viewing the input/output on your machine. X is a powerful environment which supports many different applications, such as games, programming tools, graphics programs, text editors, etc. XFree86 is the version of X which runs on Linux, as well as on other platforms. This package contains the basic fonts, programs and documentation for an X workstation. However, this package doesn't provide the program which you will need to drive your video hardware. To control your video card, you'll need the particular X server package which corresponds to your computer's video card. If you want to install the X Window System on your machine, you'll need to install the XFree86 package. In addition, you will need to install the XFree86 package which corresponds to your video card, the X11R6-contrib package, the Xconfigurator package and the XFree86-libs package. You may also need to install one of the XFree86 fonts packages. And finally, if you are going to develop applications that run as X clients, you will also need to install XFree86-devel. |
| XFree86-100dpi-fonts | The XFree86-100dpi-fonts package contains a set of 100 dpi font used on most Linux systems. If you're going to use the X Window System and you have a high resolution monitor capable of 100 dpi, you should install XFree86-100dpi-fonts. If you are installing the X Window System, you will also need to install the XFree86 package, the XFree86 package corresponding to your video card, the X11R6-contrib package, the Xconfigurator package and the XFree86-libs package. If you need to display certain fonts, you may also need to install other XFree86 fonts packages. And finally, if you are going to develop applications that run as X clients, you will also need to install the XFree86-devel package. |
| XFree86-75dpi-fonts | XFree86-75dpi-fonts contains the 75 dpi fonts used on most X Window Systems. If you're going to use the X Window System, you should install this package, unless you have a monitor which can support 100 dpi resolution. In that case, you may prefer the 100dpi fonts available in the XFree86-100dpi-fonts package. To install the X Window System, you will need to install the XFree86 package, the XFree86 package corresponding to your video card, the X11R6-contrib package, the Xconfigurator package and the XFree86-libs package. Finally, if you are going to develop applications that run as X clients, you will also need to install the XFree86-devel package. |
| XFree86-cyrillic-fonts | The XFree86-cyrillic-fonts package includes the Cyrillic fonts included with XFree86 3.3.2 and higher. If you use a language that requires the Cyrillic character set, you should install XFree86-cyrillic-fonts. |
| XFree86-devel | XFree86-devel includes the libraries, header files and documentation you'll need to develop programs which run as X clients. XFree86-devel includes the base Xlib library as well as the Xt and Xaw widget sets. Install XFree86-devel if you are going to develop programs which will run as X clients. |
| XFree86-doc | XFree86-doc provides a great deal of documentation, in PostScript format, on the various X APIs, libraries, and other interfaces. If you need low level X documentation, you will find it here. Topics include the X protocol, the ICCCM window manager standard, ICE session management, the font server API, etc. |
| XFree86-libs | XFree86-libs contains the shared libraries that most X programs need to run properly. These shared libraries are in a separate package in order to reduce the disk space needed to run X applications on a machine without an X server (i.e., over a network). If you are installing the X Window System on your machine, you will need to install XFree86-libs. You will also need to install XFree86, one or more of the XFree86 fonts packages, Xconfigurator and X11R6-contrib. If you are going to develop applications that run as X clients, you will also need to install XFree86-devel. |
| XFree86-xfs | XFree86-xfs contains a font server for XFree86. Xfs can serve fonts to remote X servers. The remote system will be able to use all fonts installed on the font server, even if they are not installed on the remote computer. |
| XFree86-Xnest | Xnest is an X Window System server which runs in an X window. Xnest is actually a client of the real X server, which manages windows and graphics requests for Xnest, while Xnest manages the windows and graphics requests for its own clients. You will need to install Xnest if you require an X server which will run as a client of your real X server (perhaps for testing purposes). |
| XFree86-Xvfb | Xvfb (X Virtual Frame Buffer) is an X server that is able to run on machines with no display hardware and no physical input devices. Xvfb emulates a dumb framebuffer using virtual memory. Xvfb doesn't open any devices, but behaves otherwise as an X display. Xvfb is normally used for testing servers. Using Xvfb, the mfb or cfb code for any depth can be exercised without using real hardware that supports the desired depths. Xvfb has also been used to test X clients against unusual depths and screen configurations, to do batch processing with Xvfb as a background rendering engine, to do load testing, to help with porting an X server to a new platform, and to provide an unobtrusive way of running applications which really don't need an X server but insist on having one. If you need to test your X server or your X clients, you may want to install Xvfb for that purpose. |
| xloadimage | The xloadimage utility displays images in an X Window System window, loads images into the root window, or writes images into a file. Xloadimage supports many images types (GIF, TIFF, JPEG, XPM, XBM, etc.). Install the xloadimage package if you need a utility for displaying images or loading images into the root window. |
| xpaint | XPaint is an X Window System color image editing program which supports most standard paint program options. XPaint also supports advanced features like image processing algorithms. XPaint allows you to edit multiple images simultaneously and supports a variety of image formats, including PPM, XBM, TIFF, JPEG, etc. Install the xpaint package if you need a paint program for X. |
| xpm | The xpm package contains the XPM pixmap library for the X Window System. The XPM library allows applications to display color, pixmapped images, and is used by many popular X programs. |
| xpm-devel | The xpm-devel package contains the development libraries and header files necessary for developing applications which will use the XPM library. The XPM library is used by many programs for displaying pixmaps in the X Window System. Install the xpm-devel package if you want to develop applications using the XPM pixmap library. You'll also need to install the xpm package. |
| zlib | The zlib compression library provides in-memory compression and decompression functions, including integrity checks of the uncompressed data. This version of the library supports only one compression method (deflation), but other algorithms may be added later, which will have the same stream interface. The zlib library is used by many different system programs. |
| zlib-devel | The zlib-devel package contains the header files and libraries needed to develop programs that use the zlib compression and decompression library. Install the zlib-devel package if you want to develop applications that will use the zlib library. |
| zsh | The zsh shell is a command interpreter usable as an interactive login shell and as a shell script command processor. Zsh resembles the ksh shell (the Korn shell), but includes many enhancements. Zsh supports command line editing, built-in spelling correction, programmable command completion, shell functions (with autoloading), a history mechanism and more. Install the zsh package if you'd like to try out a different shell. |