list the steps for installing a program from source code

The answer is RTFM.

You open up the tarball containing the source code and you read the instructions inside. Generally, these have obvious names such as README and INSTALL. It's also a convention that the files containing these instructions are named with all-caps.

If the source code uses Automake (which is pretty common), then the steps are:

Please be aware that most distributions have tools for building source tarballs into packages.

2 members found this post helpful.

That's a really nice member introduction to LQ. If I was less awesome, I'd say that the OP is being lazy and rude.


Welcome to LQ - a friendly community focused entirely on helping people who suffer from googlephobia.

His posting history (as a whole) is making me wonder if he's taking an exceptionally low-quality course.

I did not mean to be rude . Yes I am a little lazy aren't we all. This course is being taken at ITT Tech.

The usual ..

Possible commands and scripts to be run to start building Linux software :
'perl Makefile.PL', 'perl Build.PL', 'python setup.py build', #'python setup.py install',
'cmake ..' , qmake , 'make' , 'scons', './waf configure', 'jam' ,
'./install', './autogen.sh', autoreconf -f, './configure' (or 'sh configure'),
'libtoolize && aclocal && autoheader && automake --add-missing && autoconf',
.. .. etc.

..

No..some of us actually contribute and look things up for ourselves, thanks.

What you're asking is sort of like asking "how high is up?", or "where do programs get installed in Windows?". The answer is, "it depends". Each program is different, will install differently, and in different locations. Some have scripts that do everything for you..some don't. Some have config files..some don't.

dugan hit it on the head...RTFM. Each program comes with a set of documentation (again, some more detailed than others). Read it, and follow it. Not much more can be said past that.

Are the questions you're asking the same ones you're supposed to answer and be graded on?

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-Newbie and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

I believe that if this was a question based on installation of certain program or app you may have gotten an answer, everyone is actually here to assist you if you have difficulties with your machine, but not do homework for you.
I've also seen a few help with scripts, but op has part of it.
Maybe you should rephrase your question & be more specific.

The steps are simple.

• Download the sources: this will be different depending on the concrete program. It can be a tarball or a zip file, or it can be from an RCS repository of any kind (via CVS, SVN, Bazaar, Git...).
• Uncompress it (if needed).
• Use cd and ls or your favourite file manager to see the files you obtained, look for something ressembling documentation.
• Check the documentation (no, I am not kidding and I am not intending to be sarcastic either). This is needed not only to learn how to compile the programs, but also to learn what dependencies will it need to compile. If you don't do this, you will probably be hitting your own head against a wall even if you are an experienced user, unless you are compiling a truly simple package. Again, each program is different, but the general trend is to put this kind of info into a plain text file called INSTALL or README. Just looking at the files you downloaded should give you some hint. If not, check their home page. If not, then the whole thing is above your skills.
• Procceed to compile and install.

If this is not the answer they expect from you then the course you are following is not worth the time nor the money (either that, or you asked the question wrongly).

2 members found this post helpful.

@sycamore that second paragraph of your post could be the best on Linux questions !!

Nice one !! Lol

This threat just gives me a chuckle. Why even go to damn school if you don't want to actually learn and just want people to do it for you?

2 members found this post helpful.