use --binary option to create md5sum/shaXsum for releases
md5sum/shaXsum defaults to text mode on Linux, but as the release files are binaries the option "--binary" should be explicitly used. This avoids problems on other platforms, e.g. Windows, with different EOL settings (text mode).
Also see http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/md5sum-invocation.html#md5sum-invocation
Binary checksums are marked with a star in checksum files.
Example:
GNU md5sum taken from http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/coreutils.htm
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
E:\MD5_Test>dir
Volume in drive E is DATA2
Volume Serial Number is 005D-C607
Directory of E:\MD5_Test
01.11.2009 00:27 <DIR> .
01.11.2009 00:27 <DIR> ..
01.11.2009 00:12 18.030.130 vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe
01.11.2009 00:14 54 vlc-1.0.3-win32.md5
01.11.2009 00:13 54 vlc-1.0.3-win32.ok.md5
3 File(s) 18.030.238 bytes
2 Dir(s) 129.764.675.584 bytes free
E:\MD5_Test>type vlc-1.0.3-win32.md5
5c707790262c303361d05a144c8089f4 vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe
E:\MD5_Test>md5sum --check vlc-1.0.3-win32.md5
vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe: FAILED
md5sum: WARNING: 1 of 1 computed checksum did NOT match
E:\MD5_Test>type vlc-1.0.3-win32.ok.md5
5c707790262c303361d05a144c8089f4 *vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe
E:\MD5_Test>md5sum --check vlc-1.0.3-win32.ok.md5
vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe: OK