Hello.

I want to know a few things about compiling.. What is it? And how do I do it? Are there any additional programms needed, or is it like programming?

I would like to install some software (Java, Tuxguitar, Transmission, ...) but as far as I know, most of the stuff has to be compiled.

Can anyone help me by giving links to those three programs?

Thanks in advance.

www.slackbuilds.com has a lot of installation scripts for slackware. It has also got instructions on building them. You can also install sbopkg (sbopkg.org) which is a slackbuilds browser which will compile/install stuff for you.
To install sbopkg, you need to download the package and as root issue: installpkg name_of_the_sbopkg_package. Obviously you need to be in the same directory.
Both Transmission and Tuxguitar are available on slackbuilds.org. Java (I'm assuming you refer to JDK) is available on slackware mirrors in /extra.

Thanks, I just downloaded the virtualbox .tar.bz2-file from this site and extracted it. And now? When I want to cd to this directory;


bash-4.1$ ls
AutoConfig.kmk gw099.jpg
Desktop index.html
Foto am 15-12-2010 um 20.46.jpg index.html~
NVIDIA-Linux-x86-260.19.29.run libflashplayer.so
Neytiri_wallpaper_by_Jerner.jpg sauerbraten
Nighfury-KlavierMitHTTYDMit Text.jpg sauerbraten_2010_07_28_justice_edition_linux.tar.bz2
Unbenannt.png skype_static-2.1.0.81
Unbenannt2.png skype_static-2.1.0.81.tar.bz2
VirtualBox-3.2.10-OSE.tar.bz2 snapshot1.png
VirtualBox-3.2.10_OSE snapshot2.png
asd snapshot3.png
avatar-neytiri-2-wallpapers_1920x1200.jpg transmission-2.10-i486-1mfb.txz
configure.log transmission-2.12-i486-1sl.txz
bash-4.1$ cd VirtualBox-3.2.10
bash: cd: VirtualBox-3.2.10: No such file or directory
bash-4.1$

Please help.

Again, Virtualbox is on slackbuilds.org. Please do make yourself familiar with the site (and install sbopkg)

Personally, I always install virtualbox binary package
32bit:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...-Linux_x86.run
64bit:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...inux_amd64.run

Instead use
If you use 'tab-completion' you will easily find the correct directory name.
Explained here: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Tab_completIon

As said above, I'd use those binary packages to install VirualBox. Runs sweet here.

Cheers.

When it comes to installing from Slackbuilds, please read the following:
http://slackbuilds.org/howto/

Please note that it's MUCH easier to install sbopkg which will browse and install it for you.

Additionally there's also src2pkg which will convert most source tarballs into Slackware packages .tgz which can be installed with: installpkg blablabla.tgz
http://www.src2pkg.net/

I will install sbopkg now.

And I know of the tab-key, yeah, I used it there. But somehow, the directory is not available. But using Doplhin of KDE, it works.

It is, but using the tab key you hit two ambiguous filenames:
The secret is in the details ;-)

Wiki says, a compiler "transforms source code written in a programming language (the source language) into another computer language (the target language, often having a binary form known as object code). The most common reason for wanting to transform source code is to create an executable program."

A full install of Slackware 13.1 gives you the tools needed to compile most of the popular software out there. A well-written piece of software won't require you to program (like, write new code in C++), only issue a few commands to build the executable, and optionally to install it. A lot of time you just need to get the source, unpack it, go there and type something like "configure", "make", and sometimes "make install".

Of the programs you mentioned, I know for a fact that transmission builds easily. It only needs libevent, which has to be compiled first.
http://www.transmissionbt.com/download/
http://www.monkey.org/~provos/libevent/
Let me know if you need help with this one.

And before you get into building from source, consider precompiled Slackware packages, like the ones found here:
http://connie.slackware.com/~alien/slackbuilds/
I usually build from source, but when it came to libreOffice, I went with the Alien's package and it was remarkably painless.

I see. But when I move the file to another directory, I get the same result.

Anyway, Virtualbox runs now. I used the link sycamorex posted. Thank you.

EDIT: Slackbuild, I can't find any installable packages in there. =/