In the main RPM source directory, you will see two very important files: README and INSTALL. Read them both. (You would be surprised at how many times people need to be told this.)

Of the two, the INSTALL file has much more detailed information on installing RPM on a new system. The INSTALL file describes the libraries required by RPM, provides tips on compiling RPM, and describes some of the set up work necessary after compiling the RPM system.

Some of the hardest parts of the RPM system to port, though, may be in the database, compression, and encryption calls, used as libraries by the RPM system.