Where is the right place to install packages I build: in /usr or /usr/local. what is the purpose of /ust/local?

A couple examples of packages I want to build are:
A driver for a modem.
A program I want to use to send faxes from:
http://www.tpc.int/

When I install the package with destdir variable should I run this as
root or a normal user:
I'm thinking or permissions and ownership of files, and also if destdir
doesn't work properly the program might get partially installed (or is
this not a concern)?


Thanks

Packages are installed to /usr, never /usr/local (even though many makefiles default to /usr/local).

It sounds like you are trying to do this manually, which is more effort than is necessary. If you are going to be building Slackware packages, you should look into SlackBuilds. Even if the SB repository doesn't have a build script for the programs you want, you can use their templates and documentation to write your own build script which will put out the perfect package every time.

The Slackware way is to install to /usr. You may have a reason to install it to a different destdir, and that is just fine also. Its your system, so do what is best for you.

All installs are done as root, unless this is something you are installing in your /home/yourname directory. If you choose a different destdir, you need to make sure that users are in the path of the executable, or add the path to the users that need access.

There are times when I don't exactly follow the Slackware convention. I use /opt for some software, especially some games and things I may get tired of. I can get rid of them easier this way.

That said, I just respectfully disagree with MS3FGX. But I do agree with using SlackBuilds, even if I do modify them beyond recognition sometimes.

I meant using the DESTDIR variable to install into a temporary directory
so I could make a Slackware package before installing.
eg. make DESTDIR=/tmp/slackpack/example-0.1-beta install

I read somewhere if a person uses this as root and DESTDIR doesn't work
properly some of the files from the program could be installed in /.
I like to build as a user then install as root.

When I run makepkg should I change ownership and permissions of
all directories to root:root and 0755

Thanks for help

Actually, I just did this with k9copy. I created a directory in /home/michael named slackpkg. I used this as the install directory for k9copy. It created the directory tree inside of slackpkg and then I ran makepkg from inside of /slackpkg.

I did the compile as a normal user, which is why the -c y is in there.

compiling as a normal user.

I comfigured FaxMail:
then then make install
There was no DESTDIR so I used prefix

checking wish interpreter...
checking mailer exists...
checking temp directory...
mkdir -p /usr/lib/FaxMail
mkdir: cannot create directory `/usr/lib/FaxMail': Permission denied
make: *** [install] Error 1

why is this not making a directory in faxmail-package?
Is it trying to make this directory in the root directory?
I want to install this into a temporary directory first then
make a package with makepkg.

Thanks