How do you install programs, say Firefox, from source on 9.3?

You need to have the compiler and dependencies installed. It can be easy or difficult, depending of your skills and program that you want to compile. Firefox can be tough... start with something like aterm . Here is a link that tells you how to install from source:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=45094

Usually, few steps are required:

1 - Uncompress the file
2 - run "./configure"
3 - run "make && make install"

This, however, is not always true. Some applications simply create an executable by running make, others, as mplayer, needs extra parameters to compile with gui support, etc. Read the docs/README file of every applications you are willing to compile FIRST. If you can find a package for your distro, don't botter compiling either, unless, of course, you want to learn how to do it.

I've noticed also that a few applications (again, mplayer) gives a better performance when compiled from source then the binaries. Most of the others applications, however, are not as noticeable.

Regards!

Ok, say I want to install this: http://www.f-prot.com/download/home_...d_fplinux.html

I save the files to the tar.gz file to the home directory, extract it, then open terminal from the extracted folder. Then I type "./configure" and then afterwards "make". Then I type in "su", type in the root password, and type in "make install". Is that right?

Yup, that's the "default" way . However, you should read this first:

http://www.f-prot.com/support/helpfi.../inst_pro.html

"F-Prot Antivirus tarballs now come with an installation script called install-f-prot.pl. It can be found in the directory created when extracting the tarballs. If you choose to use this script, you can skip the next step titled "Installing manually." To run the script, change to the f-prot/ directory and execute it:

tar xvfz /path/to/fp-linux-ws-VERSION.tar.gz
cd f-prot/
./install-f-prot.pl

Follow the instructions printed to the screen."

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what it's asking me to do with the commands in bold. Could you clarify for me?


Also, can I use the default way to install most other program from source?

Sure

First you will download the file you want. Let's say it's called "fp-linux-ws-VERSION.tar.gz". Then, go to the folder where you've downloaded that file using a terminal.

When you are at the same folder, type:

tar xvzf fp-linux-ws-VERSION.tar.gz

That will uncompress your file into a folder called "f-prot/". Go inside that folder, then type:

./install-f-prot.pl

That should run the installer for it. I've two advices though:

1 - Since you are using SuSE, a rpm based distro, it's just easier to use the .rpm instead.

2 - It's Linux, you not really need an anti-virus, ever. Just never be fooling around as root user .

That really, really depends. Usually, the "default" way works, but there are cases where it does not. This anti-virus is an example of the ones that doesn't. It will always be described on the Readme file how to compile, however. If there's no readme file, then the program is not worth installing. Any good programmer out there should make a Readme first thing

Thanks so much for your input. I'll just use an RPM to install Firefox 1.0.4. for SuSE 9.3 instead of doing all that complicated stuff, but at least I know how it's done

Oh, should I uninstall the previous version from YaST and then install the 1.0.4. version?

You're most welcome!. I would recommend uninstalling it first. If it was a heavly dependent library, I always upgrade. Packages as Firefox, I simply install a new one . Oh, I've one more advice: there's a way to configure YaST so every package will be downloaded from the net, ratter then switching CD's/DVD. If well configured, it'll be your Ultimate friend . Read this:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...89#post1087289

A few peoples have added the pakman resource for SuSE. It has great packages on it as mplayer. Worth a look

Ok, this is the server nearest me:

ftp://ftp-linux.cc.gatech.edu/pub/suse/suse/

How would I configure that into YaST?

Server Name:ftp-linux.cc.gatech.edu
Directory on Server:pub/suse/suse/i386/9.3/

Doing that will automatically update all programs so I won't need to use the CDs anymore right?

Yup, and if you find some good repositories, you can easily add them in order to use packages not provided by SuSE, as mplayer, for example. You can always google for repositories. Packman is a great one. I'm not sure if this is the link:

http://packman.links2linux.org/

Good luck!

Thanks again for all your help!

You're welcome