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Old 10-29-2003, 03:22 AM   #1
sirpelidor
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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Madison
Distribution: mdk 8.2, 9.0, 9.2, slack 9.1
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Post book/ reference to learn how to compile, install softwares?


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
 
Old 10-29-2003, 05:23 AM   #2
dalek
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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Mississippi USA
Distribution: Gentoo
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What I usually run into when installing something is dependancies. That can be a nightmare. Can't install x without y, but you can't install y untill you have x. This is like the chicken and the egg.

I'm still trying to remember when I got something to install and didn't have dependancy errors.

It may be cryptic but the best info comes with the package. Untar the file and read it, then hope it works. Sometimes it does if the package is well written and your OS is fairly recent.

Hang in there, it gets better. I've got more software with Mandrake than I could ever get from M$.

Later

 
Old 10-29-2003, 06:29 AM   #3
SharpyWarpy
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Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Florida
Distribution: Fedora 18
Posts: 862

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If you got your software via a search at rpmfind you can look
at the requirements listed on the download page. Try to
install your software, if it says a certain package is
necessary, click on the appropriate link listed in
requirements. As far as certain packages needed by each
other, just install them at the same time, like
"rpm blah-123.rpm yada-321.rpm" on the same command line.
Most of the time rpmfind will return a bunch of packages for
a search, so look for the one(s) matching your version of
linux and your architecture. Hang in there, the more you
learn the more fun it becomes, and I have a feeling since
you've come this far you'll stick with it and reap the
rewards.
 
  


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