hi there,
sure there's always a easy path -- rpm, or click install.exe. and the dark force is always the easier choice
are theres books or reference (u know, like o'reily, and stuff) i can read, in order to really dig into the ./configure, make, make install deals?
alot doc out there (the README, INSTALL) that comes with the software has poor writing. pretty much tells you to do the same old 1-2-3 steps (./configure, make, make install)
as a newbie, when follow the old 1-2-3 steps, and u see alot yes, no, error, and after that you don't know what to do.
sure enough when one gain a bit more experience, he will realized maybe certain files and libraries were missing. but consider the case when u go after that library or file, but that file needs something else, and else, and then later, you realized you can't install the root of the whatever file unless you have to hacked it yourself because that file was basically written and tested "only" on certain platform...etc
other then reading the doc that come with the software, would there be any books or other easy-understand material for newbie to begin learn how to compile softwares?
or at least, would you guys be kindly share your experience, how you started download files and having trouble installs. how your learning curve goes, and how did you overcome that problem and become one of the expert here that can share idea and give insight?
i think your 2 cents on how you learned, how your experience goes, and how overcome all those diffculities would be a great inspire to newbie users who are planning to go back to their own OS because they've been annoyed by not able to install programs. and wanna go back to the dark force (click install.exe, and let the wizard take care the rest)
thank you
-sirpelidor