I am trying to install bash-2.05a and already have a problem. I am following the book at this point word for word and when I try and install bash i get this error during the make stage of it.

/usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lcurses
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make: *** [bash] Error 1

I know I have both libncurses and libcurses and ran the link command that is mentioned in the book.

I will search the forum and mailing list archives to see what I can find, I just thought that I would post here too.

Thanks,

Cyris

What's the mother hen distro?

Also, if you don't link to curses, it isn't going to matter much as you're going to recompile bash and everything else anyway after you compile glibc.

Cheers,

Finegan

I am using Mandrake 8.2 as the host.

So what you are saying is to just go on and continue with the build of (Shibby Linux) of my distro and worry about it when I finish with glibc.

Also, you said something about linking to curses. I ran the following command before tried to install bash

cd /usr/lib &&
ln -s linncurses.a libcurses.a

****************************************

Also, what is the difference in libcurses.so and libcurses.a. I was just checking in the /usr/lib directory and noticed that I have libcurses.so and libncurses.so instead the .a versions.

Also, (last one) I am rather new to this linux thing altogether and just want to verify what I am seeing. Does the following mean that the two are linked together.

libcurses.so -> libncurses.so.5.2*

that is what I see pertaining to libcurses/libncurses when I do a ls -l | more in the /usr/lib dir.

Thanks for everyones help. This is going to be so awesome when I get it finished.

cyris

Sorry about taking so long to get back about your question, I had to get some sleep.

The *.so files are different than the *.a files. *.so are dynamic libraries (also known as shared libraries) whereas the *.a files are static libraries and you can't exchange one for another.

If you don't have the *.a files that bash needs (libcurses.a and libncurses.a) then you first need to install the proper package using your distribution's package manager to install the files. The package is usually called ncurses-dev or something like that.

Thanks for all the replies. This has got to be the first linux related forum that I have posted in and gotten a reply.

I went to freshmeat.net and download the latest ncurses file and I am installing it as we speak.

Wish me luck and I am sure that I will be posting here again, soon.

We try to remember that we once were new to things like this too, like you are at the moment. Back in those days I appreciated quick and accurate help, so we try to give that back to people who need it now.

Once again I have a simple question. I am sure that I will have figured it out by the time someone has posted, but just thought I would throw this out here for someone else who might have the same question.

I am fixing to install the gcc package and I noticed that it comes with a patch. How/what do I do with this patch ( how do I apply it and do I need to.)

In case you haven't figured it out yet: the patch will be applied when you install GCC. One of the installation commands is applying that patch.

So, just unpack it in $LFS/usr/src (that's where it'll be assumed to be stored according to chapter 2 of the book).

A note: you will see other patches with packages, but they are not always applied. It depends on what the patch fixes. For example after you install gcc in chapter 5, you will get to the gzip package (first there's grep, then gzip). Depending on the Glibc version that your distribution comes with, you may need to apply that patch. But when you reinstall Gzip in chapter 6 you won't see any mention of any patch, because you won't need it there anymore. But the gcc patch is applied in chapter 6 as well.

So, read the installation instructions and the text surrounding it. Any fix, patch, etc. is explained.

Nevermind, I see where the patch is applied.

Well, since I am having all kinds of problems trying to get GCC to compile and instlall I am going to start from scratch tonight with the 3.3 version.

Is Mandrake 8.2 a good host OS to start my own Distro. What do you all recommend.

Thanks

I'm not too sure about Mandrake 8.2 right now. I have heard a lot of problems with this release to compile LFS systems with. I don't know if it's just a matter of not having enough packages installed, or something else.

I'll be downloading Mandrake 8.2 myself later on this week if I get a chance, and test build LFS from it.

I personally tested an LFS installation using Mandrake 8.1 which worked just fine (as well as the latest Slackware and Redhat's).

easy enough. I will install Mandrake 8.1 or Slackware 8.0 tonight and go from there.

Thanks again everybody for your replies.