I am trying to get my head around the difference between installing programmes with RPM and Make.

I would like to know which is the best to use and why. Up until now I have been trying to stick to RPM as I can easily install and check if a RPM is installed.

Can you check what programmes you have installed using Make? Or do you just keep a note of them.

Also is there a correct procedure for installing make files i.e. correct directory to install them into etc. A set way of doing things? And the same for uninstall.

I have had a look around for some info but at this time of the day it is not quite making sense to me.

RPM installs a pre-compiled binary (generally) on to your system.

Downloading sources and running a "make" compiles the files freshly on your system.

I prefer to compile everything, but RPM's make things much easier.

There really isn't such a thing as a "make" file... They are just program sources that utilize the make utility to compile. They have no other similarities between them.