Linux: Tar.Gz opening/ Compiling Woes.. a call for help.
 

ok this is soo embarassing.. but can someone explain to me how to (genrally) open / compile a program for linux? Namely Mandrake 9.1
I downloaded the newer versions of gaim and mozilla for linux, and figured out how to open the tar.gz files, but im at a general loss on how to compile the files to get a working program. I fucked around with my install and dont have the CD's again so i cant easily redownload and reinstall anytime soon.. but When i typed ./compile into the appropriate folder for gaim.. it said i didnt have a C compiler installed.


At first i was miffed, but im determined to stick with linux this time until i figure it out and I am able to be just as productive on it as i was with windows. I have no interest in switching distros.. i just need info.

Thanks in advance!


Peetster was trying to help me a little this morning, but he was preoccupied ;)

First, make sure you've un-tarred the .tar file after you unzip it. Do this by using tar -xf and the name of the file. Once you do that, a new folder should be created with all the tarred files inside it. You should be able to go in there and do ./configure now, or whatever instructions you are given for the specific program.

It could be that gcc simply isn't in your path. What I mean is that when you execute a program from the command-line the computer (through the use of config files for your shell) knows what command programs live where.

Could also be a permissions issue. Try running the command and the root user and see if that yeilds different results. I find that this resolves *most* compile errors.

Example:

su root
<type root password>
./configure

I think that GAIM uses standard Make for its installation. Doublecheck the README for details. All else fails, just install the RPM for GAIM. You should be able to find it all over the place.

Good place for information?
http://gaim.sourceforge.net/faq.php#q1

Hope this helps. Let us know.

BTW- If you choose to go the RPM route Mandrake has a really good RPM installer called RPMDrake (found in Mandrake Control Center).

Download the RPM
Open Mandrake Control Center
Double-click RPMDrake
Point RPMDrake to RPM file
Install

Whala! Presto chango, you now have GAIM!

do you actually have gcc installed ? it doesnt install by default on most distros, though lord knows why since everyone knows all linux users recompile their kernels daily ;)

look for a gcc in one of the bin folders or in whatever software package manager you use.

otherwise download and install it

Get gcc here: http://gcc.gnu.org
The Mandrake version is here: http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2003-06/msg00271.html

Good step-by-step instructions.

let's see if we can get you going...

cd into the source directory

./configure

then

./make

then

./make install

Try that and see if it works. Good luck! As one of the previous posters mentioned, the executable should be in your path. With Mandrake I think it is, but I'm not sure.

FWIW, this is my first post to TFProject, and it seems like a great community!

just got home.. tired.. will work on this weekend.

Acutally, make shouldn't be in the current directory.
ie.
$ which make
/usr/bin/make

So, in my experience, the procedure should be something along the lines of:

tar zxvf &lt;pkg&gt;.tar.gz
cd &lt;pkg&gt;
./configure
make
su -c "make install"

Ofcourse you should replace &lt;pkg&gt; where appropriate. Also, that should be done from some form of console (ie. xterm or a virtual terminal). Finally, as pointed out above, make sure that gcc is installed ("gcc -v" should give you an idea as to whether it's installed or not).