I've been working at this for long I just can't figure it out. The documentation sucks, it tells me to type ./configure prefix=PREFIX [...] which is false, because I did some research and it's really prefix-/usr/home/apache2 and [...] is some whole other string.

so I try that, but now I get an error that I don't have a compiler installed.... What can I do? Is there a specific compiler that it needs? And chances are I'll need a compiler to do the ./configure for the compiler so how can I even install one?

Also, why do they make the user compile it anyway, it would take them 2 seconds to compile it themselves and keep even program an installer. Would be SO much easier for everyone.

If you are using RedHat 8 then you can use an rpm to install a compiler:
rpm -ivh ftp://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/redhat/8...3.2-7.i386.rpm

There is a good LAMP tutorial at:
http://lamps.efactory.de/e-index.shtml

The reason that many programs are available uncompiled is that they can then be compiled for a specific OS and can be configured as the user wishes. If you prefer having mindless installs and don't mind slightly outdated versions then stick to rpms.

How can I get an rpm of apache, php and mysql? I used apt-get but it only installs the same version that comes with red hat, but thsoe versions don't work for what I need because it's filled with bugs. (mod rewrite does not work, $_POST does not work etc...)

Wow I just looked at that tutorial and it's bloody complicated, is there some kind of package I can download that installs it all at once?

Oh and the rpm thing did not work, even if I download the file manually. Some stupid dependances crap. I'm not going to bother goign through that hell, since those dependances will require other dependances etc etc.... been there done that.

ok

Is there such that as that though? A 3 in one package that will do it all, that comes in rpm form and does not require dependancies? If not I might just go back to the default installation that comes with RH, it's just that it's so buggy and lot of important features are missing, even mod_rewrite which is crucial for any well designed site.

Just upgrade to Fedora, it has apache 2.0.48

I heard fedora is buggy though, is this true? I'm reinstalling RH right now but this time I checked the development tools so hopefully it will have the right compiler in there. I don't get why it always wines about depedancies when I install it afterwards (not durring setup) because durring setup it just does what it has to do and installs whatever is needed. What I really want though is apache 1.3, so I think I'll get that. At least I know the mod_rewrite works on that one because that's what my hosting company uses.

Not that I know of. Why not just compile it? If you had started that way you would probably have finished by now.

That's what I'm trying to do, but it's so hard. I have apache going now, but now I'm trying to get mysql going, and I still have php left....