Interesting less trivial than expected problem (solved): sorting package version numbers:
import re
import rpm
def get_package_version(name):
"""Return version string of installed package."""
# note: ts can take an argument that is the root of the installation
# typically with a var/lib/rpm directory underneath it.
transaction_set = rpm.ts()
versions = [header['provideversion'][0]
for header in transaction_set.dbMatch('name', name)]
versions.sort(cmp_versions)
return versions
def version2sortable(version):
parts = re.split(r'(d+)', version)
fields = []
for part in parts:
try:
part = int(part)
except ValueError:
pass
fields.append(part)
return tuple(fields)
def cmp_versions(a, b):
return cmp(version2sortable(a), version2sortable(b))
if __name__ == '__main__':
print get_package_version('kernel')
Output:
['2.6.23.8-63.fc8', '2.6.23.9-85.fc8', '2.6.23.14-107.fc8', '2.6.23.14-115.fc8', '2.6.23.15-137.fc8']
Note: Wordpress is screwing up the markup on the code blocks above. If you have any tips on how to fix this please drop me a line.
Update: Using pre/blockquote hack for now and will try out a code highlighter plug-in when I get the chance. Thanks Tim and Lindsay! 
