Im a little new to linux and my question is this:
I have downloaded pcmcia-cs, some other drivers and patches, libcap airsnort etc..
I unzipped them into /usr/src and ran the configure/make all and make install to install all of them. Now they are all installed and working properly----can I delete that original directory where I did the "make install" or are the drivers dependant on those files??
I finally have everything working so I do NOT want to mess anything up again. Please only answer yes if you are positive it will not mess anything up.
the reason I ask is Im limited with space and would like to get rid of non used directories and files.
Adam

They are unused so you can generally get rid of them. It is sometimes worth keeping sources incase you need to recompiel with different options but they are not needed for an installed appliction

YOUR POSITIVE?

Yeah. You may also need them for a 'make uninstall' depending. But as long as you really installed them (as opposed to compiling them and running them from the directory) you can delete them if you have to.

well i did compile them, the pcmcia-cs-3.2.7.tar.gx had to be compiled into the kernel, s does that mean that I shouldnt delete that directory in /usr/src/pcmcia-cs-3.2.7 thats where the install test said to unpack it.

But I guess the libcap source could be deleted after being installed, ill probably just leave everything because im scared to mess something up. Ive already had to reinstall linux 4 times in 2 weeks. I like to play and install stuff as well as tinker around with the innards of the os--gotta learn somehow (what not to do)
thanks
adam

I generally keep mine sitting in /usr/local/src and go through a clean up every couple of months. The clean-up usually consists of thinking If I ever used the app after I installed it, if not, generally, I do a 'make uninstall' and delete the folder. Keep the original tarballs somewhere (I use a folder in /opt) or back them up to a cd. But if low on space, delete them by all means.

But if youreally want to learn and tinker, may I suggest you at least download the lfs documentation, just reading that will give you a lot of knowledge.

The compiling's not the problem - I just meant that you can run some things out of the directory. If you deleted those, obviously you couldn't run them any more. But the issue's installing them. As long as you did a 'make install' with a destination like /usr/local or wherever, then all that's needed has been copied to your system and the source dir is safe to delete. And since that's definitely the usual practice and what you say you did, it's fine.

The best reason to keep the source is if you want to do a make uninstall at some point (before an upgrade perhaps?). If you are worried about deleting you could try renaming the directory first to check if it still works and only then deleting the renamed version.

say if you unzip the sources... ./configure;make;make install and it installs everything... the program works fine... and the source directory is zipped up and burned on to a CD... and when ever its needed to unintall the programs installed from souce... if the zipped file on the CD is unzipped and the command 'make uninstall' is given will it uninstall the program fully?