I am trying to understand linux instead of just installing random Development tools and not knowing what they do. I did not install anything under the "Development" tab when I installed RedHat 9.0 because I wanted to make sure if a friend/or I later had a problem I could know what was missing and how to fix it. So I started basically from scratch with no Development tools and therefore I have errors installing things. I tried installing checkinstall (knowing there would be errors) it said I needed GCC. I downloaded GCC but I am stumped at this one. Below are the following error messages of my GCC installation. I want to know what I need to install GCC successfully. Also any websites that I should keep bookmarked in case i ever see an error saying I am missing a lib/compiler or anything else.

[understandlinux@localhost gcc-3.3.2]$ ./configure
Configuring for a i686-pc-linux-gnu host.
Created "Makefile" in /home/understandlinux/Source/gcc-3.3.2 using "mt-frag"
./configure: line 8: cc: command not found
*** The command 'cc -o conftest -g conftest.c' failed.
*** You must set the environment variable CC to a working compiler.

To get around the current error you could do a find -name gcc from the "/" directory and then set an environment var to match the path returned, however I suspect this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg and instead you should go to your menu and the software installer application and install all the development tools, this will eliminate the "trickle of errors" that is most likely coming if you elect to install each component one by one (why via download and not cd?), to me, the only rationale for that would be extremely limited disk space.

For your long range goals, find a users group and join. Read. Read. Read. There are how-tos and docs and readmes hiddin in your installation. Get familiar with man and info. If your circumstances allow it, a Unix course at a local city college is a good idea. Smart friends are good but can never know everything.

If you need a c compiler (e.g. gcc) then downloading the source code for gcc will not help. What will you compile it with! This is your problem. You need the compiler in binary form before you can do anything. Get this from your install cds if you can.

if i downloaded the rpm, not the srpm, would that work? and do you mean i need a binary compiler to compile gcc? after i compile a binary gcc with a binary compiler could i then compile a gcc rpm from the gcc binary code?

i also heard that some programs work with only certain versions of gcc (lets say, im not sure on the versions) work with 1.0 but not 2.0 and some work with 2.0 but not 1.0, what should i compile then?

evolution of linux users ->
lol =)

Please, save yourself a lot of time, use redhat's software installer to install the *entire* development package, the rpm's are on the cd's.

To answer the question (rpm vs srpm)
the rpm should install a binary which does not need to be compiled. FYI: you don't need to compile gcc for redhat, they've already done it for you, it's on the cd's, you just need to install the development packages.

the gcc version incompatibility thing you're referring to could be talking about kernel modules compiled with a different version of gcc than the kernel was compiled (by redhat) with, as for normal "user" type applications, I would think apps compiled with older versions of gcc would work w/newer ones, but not vice versa.

Binary means compiled code, that the computer can execute. If you downloaded a compiler as source, you'd need to compile it before you could use it, but without a compiler in binary you couldn't do that. You will find that and everything else you should need on the install discs, as the other poster said.

And to continue on what Misophist sayd,
Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
Ask the right questions. (I still remmember the first time I installed linux '97-'98 RH5.something, I installed it 3 times just because I didn't know how to launch X , thinking I had made a mistake or something )

Ginux

yeah i installed linux 9.0 at least 5times because i wanted to learn and try out things.. but i still dont get it... if i want to install a gcc compiler what do i download to make that work?

One sure way is to reinstall... yep
But this time choose upgrade and add the pakages that you need... I learned this trick once, when I needed some packages and I had a hell of time finding it's dependences.
add the development section and any other section that you may need....

OR {drum roll}

From the RedHat *start* menu --> System Settings --> Add/Remove Applications would do nicely as well

Ginux

P.s. Sorry for calling it *start* menu, but I wanted to be clear to what I was trying to explain -=sorry=-

Reading your question again, I may have understood it wrong the first time..
If you what to upgrade &/or learn about gcc and other stuff try this link
http://gcc.gnu.org/

Hope this helps

i may have updated 2 soon.. 1min

you did misread it the first time Ginux, thanks for the link that is it =) yay

I finally get to install

thanks again