compilers and "make" command
 

I'm new here, so first off: Hi, everyone!

I'm using Mandrake 8.2, and I've run into 2 problems so far:

1. I don't seem to have installed either gcc or TeX. Can anyone tell me how/where to find them on the installation disks? I'm told they should be there somewhere...

2. Is there such a thing as a "make" command to make executable files? The manual for a program that I installed tells me that I need to apply this command to a few files. Is there a version of Linux in which a c-compiler is invoked by "make"?

Re: compilers and "make" command
 

Hello!

Quote:

1. I don't seem to have installed either gcc or TeX. Can anyone tell me how/where to find them on the installation disks? I'm told they should be there somewhere...

They are included. Gcc is in gcc* packages, TeX in tetex* ones. 1st installation cd, I guess (I'm not 100% sure). You can install them using Package Manager or from console (when your cdrom is mounted as /mnt/cdrom):
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Mandrake/RPMS/gcc<press tab here>
When you press <tab> a list of possible files will be printed. When filename is completed, press enter to run the command.
You can do this in the same way with tetex.
NOTE: Those packages should be installed in an order. So don't worry when you get an error, just install the one it asked you to install and come back to the package later.
It's easier with Package Manager, if you have it installed (default). Just run it, and choose a package you'd like to install.

Quote:

2. Is there such a thing as a "make" command to make executable files? The manual for a program that I installed tells me that I need to apply this command to a few files. Is there a version of Linux in which a c-compiler is invoked by "make"?

Yes, there's also "make" package. You can install it int the same way as gcc and tetex above. Make runs a script. The script compiles a program (using gcc). Search this site for more info about make (and example Makefiles).

Thanks for the quick response! I used the package manager, and it did work; however, first I tried to install them from the console.
Two problems occurred:
1. I couldn't mount the CD (I finally just clicked on the icon on the desktop);
2. when I typed rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Mandrake/RPMS/gcc and pressed <tab>, it did indeed give me a list of files; however, when I then pressed enter, it claimed not to be able to find the directory/file.

What went wrong? Are the two problems related?

2 - did you actually CHOOSE one of those files?

d'oh!

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. When you have a list, press next letter in the filename you'd like to install, press tab again. If there's only one file beggining with such characters, the name will be completed. if not, press next letter and so on...