Please Move Along if you've come to flame.

This is just my rant to get my emotions out. Maybe even find a few answers to these whole hearted efforts I've put forth. I did do my homework, by reading INSTALL files and README files, but what irritates me the most is when I cannot find what dependencies are needed! Ah, XFree86, you may have seen my post in the Slackware forum. I haven't found ONE suitable peice of documentation from XFree86 developers that states you need libpng installed to build from source! Ridiculous thing is, XFree86 is one of the most needed programs of a desktop user. And they can't include that simple line, or a easy to read least of what needs to be met? After I got that installed I wanted to test out the shiny new Openbox 3. What the docs say is Xlib (which comes with XFree86, but I seen nothing about building XFree86 Xlib files in the documentation) is needed, GCC, Fontconfig, and Optionally lib-startup. So, I download what is stated, run ./configure And gues what? Missing xft. But, xft wasnt stated anywhere in the docs. So I ran back to the freedesktop.org site, figured out i needed to install xft seperate since now, only CVS contains xft and xrender. And was on my way to running Openbox. WRONG. After installing both xft and xrender via the INSTALL (with --prefix=/blah and all the other garbage), the ./configure of Openbox failed again claiming xft wasnt found. So I added to PKG_CONFIG_PATH /usr/X11R6 since that is where xft WAS installed. and Still, failed for the same reason. Now how is one to get a system running when the devs neglect to give you solid information? Very frustrating.. Maybe it's me not wanting to take the blame of the problems taht have been haunting me for the last 3-5 days but I sure know that I am getting VERY frustrated. What can a guy do to solve this? Switch distros? Well, I tried RH8 MDK 9.0/9.1 Debian Stable/Testing/Unstable Gentoo and now on Slackware, which to my knowledge is "great" and yes, I agree, it has its perks, mainly the Base Install (IMO), but I dont want to download ANOTHER OS! Enoughs Enough, time for more endless dependency and problem searching...

I really dont want to find my Win2k3 Server CD and whip out the ol' Disk Doctor on it.. It's happily scratched, but I think its getting kind of lonely..

KiPP

./configure --help would usually give some clues on flags to try.

Too bad I don't use Openbox, but I might give it a try and if successful I'll create a slackpack just for you... Chill man, no need to get all stressed out over such a small thing.

It's just computer issues

Hmm, I just noticed that there is already a slackpack for Openbox 3.0... on their homepage no less...

http://www.icculus.org/openbox/download.php

I can't test it out personally because I'm at work (on Windows)... But I don't know any developer who actually outs untested binary releases.

Heh, that damned slackpack also gave me errors of libiconv, although I never understood the difference (yet) libiconv and iconv have. Your right tho, I shouldn't be getting worked up about silly computer issues, must be my slight touch of over obssevive control freak schitzophrenia kicking in.

Now is the time to start trying things out. If something doesn't work, we have to find out why.

A silly example. Kaddressbook, I automatically assumed that .csv export would be my route to backing up this address book. No way, every time it fails, then I tried after many attempts vcard export! Perfect. I deleted the address book and imported from vcard. Done what I wanted to do.

Silly example, from a newbie, but the message is the same. It is not what knowledge you bring from other O/S especially windows, but a natural curiosity to find out the way to do what you want. This is what makes Linux. Tools everywhere. Great philosophy. Shame as you say that the "help" is sometimes hard to find, but isn't that always the same with computer people?

Click here and check out the link at the end of the page... There's your libiconv.

I don't link directly to other people's files because it's rude

Azmeen. I must say, you hit the nail right on the head. Thanks alot for the heads up. Doubt I'd of ever stumbled upon the libiconv slack pack if it weren't for you.

Lessons Learned: Don't get over angry at the PC, its just a PC.
Ask for help, people do exist with answers.
Finally, never give up.


Thanks Again, Greatly Appreciated!

KiPP

I'll agree installing from source is a pain at times. I've got used to apt. When I decided to install the development version of fluxbox I went looking for a repository/debfile of fluxbox 0.9.6. When I couldn't find one, I downloaded the source.

One thing then another was required. One really annoying thing is when they say "X Window System......no" Obviously I have it running. It'd be nicer if it stated "development files" in there somewhere. But in the end I got it working.

It was worth the effort.

Also, I reckon you should get angry with your PC. It may just be a PC, but at least you'll blow steam off so you don't go punching the wrong bloke in the face.

No prob kipp,

Glad I could be of assistance