command line frustration

manas_shukla · 01-20-2005, 04:59 AM

its been a day since i installed fedora core 3 on the partition and got it running, but since im completely new to this i dont know how to do anything. i need somebody to help me step by step in using the command line.
i haven't been able to install a single program, im use to the easy setup managers of windows, which have made me digitally retarded. I need someone to teach me how to install programs ( using yum and rpm-i ).
i also need to know how to run programs, and other basic operations from the command line.
and finally i need to know the purpose of all the directories ( in windows i had a folder called program files where i put all my programs, in linux, where do my installed programs go - which folder ?)

i tried to install xmms...
i downoad a tar.gz file for xmms and extracted it to a new folder i made (temp) i tried yum but i got the following error:

Code:

[root@localhost ~]# yum install xmms

You have enabled checking of packages via GPG keys. This is a good thing.
However, you do not have any GPG public keys installed. You need to download
the keys for packages you wish to install and install them.
You can do that by running the command:
    rpm --import public.gpg.key
For more information contact your distribution or package provider.
[root@localhost ~]# rpm --import public.gpg.key
error: public.gpg.key: import read failed.
[root@localhost ~]#

i then tried the instructions that came in the readme file with xmms , i had some amount of success with this, but i failed in the end...

Code:

[root@localhost ~]# cd temo
bash: cd: temo: No such file or directory
[root@localhost ~]# cd temp
[root@localhost temp]# cd xmms-1.2.10
[root@localhost xmms-1.2.10]# ./configure
checking build system type... i686-pc-linux-gnu
checking host system type... i686-pc-linux-gnu
checking for a BSD-compatible install... /usr/bin/install -c
checking whether build environment is sane... yes
checking for gawk... gawk
checking whether make sets $(MAKE)... yes
checking for prefix by checking for xmms... no
checking for gcc... no
checking for cc... no
checking for cc... no
checking for cl... no
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log' for more details.
[root@localhost xmms-1.2.10]#

Ygarl · 01-20-2005, 05:16 AM

Hello fellow newbie in Fedora Core 3!

Here's what is going wrong when you compile:
When it says you don't have a C compiler, it's because you don't have a C compiler!

Here's what you need to do:
Go to Add/Remove programs (I think it's in the System Tools or System Preferences on Gnome/KDE...)
When it finishes whirring and thinking, go to the section dealing with Development.
Select EVERYTHING in that section - Gnome, KDE, Legacy, etc etc - make sure ALL programs in each section in Development are selected.

Then prepare for some CD swapping. You DO have your original 4 CDs you installed from , yes?

Install them all.

Basically when you installed FC3 you didn't probably think you'd be writing any programs etc, bit like me really!
Aren't you glad this forum is here?
Don't know about the part about the encryption key. I know what it is, and how it basically works (stops people from publishing dodgy programs and getting lots of people installing them!) Not sure how to fix it though...

Anyone else up on the other issue?

perfect_circle · 01-20-2005, 05:19 AM

1.yum is a program that downloads an program in rpm format and then installs it.
2.you should have xmms by default installed, it's under muntimedia->audio player.If i can guess correct you have a problem with mp3(redhat / fedora strip the mp3 support from all programs).
3.To install the mp3 support type this:

Code:

rpm -ivh http://ftp.freshrpms.net/pub/freshrp...c3.fr.i386.rpm

or visit http://www.fedorafaq.org/.
4. You actually download the source of xmms. The error you get is that there are no compiler installed in your system, to compile the source. By default FC3 do not install the development packages. You have to tick the "development pckages" box when you were installing FC3 to be able to compile programs. If you want the development pckages, go to sytem->ADD/Remove packages (i think) and install them from the cd.

jkobrien · 01-20-2005, 05:19 AM

Hi,

I think you need to walk before you can run.

Two commands to start off with are "man" and "apropos".

"man" gives you the manpages for any given command. Try "man man" to find out about the "man" command itself.

"apropos" gives you a list of relevant commands for a given keyword. For example, if you want to know about directories, try "apropos directories".

Good commands to start with (read the manpages) are "ls", "cp", "mv", "cd", "cat", "less", "echo", "mkdir" and "rm" (careful!). You've obviously figured at least some of this stuff out already though.

To run a program from the command line, you just type the name of it - that's what you're doing with the example commands in the previous paragraph - but it needs to be executable (man chmod) and in your search path.

To your specific questions, if you use rpm to install programs you don't need to worry about where they go, the installer will do all that for you (they usually end up somewhere like /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /bin, or /usr/local/bin). If you want you can keep the rpm files in an archive folder wherever you like, but I think the system does that for you anyway (man find).

For the first error - did you download the "public.gpg.key" file from the fedora website?

For the second one, does the readme file specify a version of the gcc compiler? "gcc -v" will tell you what's installed.

John

perfect_circle · 01-20-2005, 05:26 AM

the adress i gave you for xmms-support is not printed correctly.
so follow the link to download the rpm and then do
rpm -ihv xmms-mp3-1.2.10-9.1.1.fc3.fr.i386.rpm
in the directory you downloaded it.

manas_shukla · 01-20-2005, 05:38 AM

jkobrien i think, has understood how basic my fedora skills are, i need more of those basic commands, like you said i need to walk before i can run!
im still trying most of the things you and the others ( thank you! ) have told me. I wish i had some sort of book, but i dont, so i'll be bothering you guys a little more! lol!
thanks,
till my next windows-induced stupidity failure,
manas.

jschiwal · 01-20-2005, 05:40 AM

You were asking about where programs go. Most programs that you install will go in /usr/bin. The shared libraries installed with the applications normally go in /usr/lib. The /bin files will contain common programs that you use in the shell such as tar, sort, chmod and others.

A great web site to get you started is The Linux Documentation Project (www.tldp.org). I has many how-to's, guides, and manuals.

__J · 01-20-2005, 05:46 AM

http://www.linuxpowered.com/LDP/LDP/...tml/index.html

also

http://www.linuxpowered.com/LDP/LDP/sag/html/index.html

that one is a little more complex, but good stuff. keep in mind not everything will coincide exactly with fedora, as they are meant to be general guides, but these will get you started.

jkobrien · 01-20-2005, 06:01 AM

I wouldn't worry about the lack of a book. There's plenty of material on the web - google will be a huge help to you.

Also this forum (as you can see from the responses to your post) is one of the most useful resources that there is. I've found that LQers are a very helpful bunch, particularly for someone like you who is prepared to make an effort themselves to figure things out. Use the search function and don't be afraid to post any questions you have. I would recommend specific posts with one or two questions for best results.

Best of luck!

John

Deeze · 01-20-2005, 09:16 AM

I don't use Fedora, but I'm pretty sure you'd have more luck locating and installing a binary version, vs compiling from source (which is what you appear to be doing). XMMS is a very common program. I'm certain there is a binary version out there. I would even be inclined to think there is one on the very cd that you installed from (that is, if you installed from cd and not from the net).

student04 · 01-20-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jschiwal
You were asking about where programs go. Most programs that you install will go in /usr/bin. The shared libraries installed with the applications normally go in /usr/lib. The /bin files will contain common programs that you use in the shell such as tar, sort, chmod and others.

/usr/bin?! That's where the binaries are stored, not the actual program files, right? I thought they go in /usr/local/ and links to the binaries are put into /usr/bin/

As for the lack of mp3 support, which i didn't seem to read as a problem from the original poster, a thread has already convered this (actually many have). A link to the two files is in my signature, but i'll post it here as well incase it gets changed in the future
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/history/114094

All you need to do is copy those two files to xmms' plugin directory and restart xmms.

jschiwal · 01-20-2005, 06:30 PM

Quote:

/usr/bin?! That's where the binaries are stored, not the actual program files, right? I thought they go in /usr/local/ and links to the binaries are put into /usr/bin/

If you install an application using a package, the executables will probably go in /usr/bin. According to the Linux Hierarchy Standard, programs you install yourself should go in /usr/local/bin, but the 'make install' step of most tarballs I've run have put the programs into /usr/bin instead. It is possible to assign the variable INSTALL_DIR to change the default installation, but my answer was based on what is done in practice rather than what it is supposed to be.

Some larger installations such as KDE will be installed under the /opt directory instead.

manas_shukla · 01-21-2005, 09:30 PM

thanks to everyones suggestion and help, im making a lot of progress and i've followed every single persons advice like and obediant schoolboy!Check it out...
1)YGarl told me to find a C compiler and I've done that, dont thing i'll be facing any problems on that front anymore.
2)Perfect Circle's links to the mp3 rpm for xmms has done wonders! thank you. Now I dont have to open windows to listen to my music.
3)JKObrien's advice was indispensible, and I'm trying to learn the basics first ( need to walk before i can run ) those links he gave me are very usefull for beginners like me, I recommend them to EVERY NEW-B
4)Student04 , Jschiwal and Deeze...thanks...especially for the technicalities...it helps!

Now, for a few doubts...
1) I've learnt that you can use a src.rpm to install a file...what command line prompt do I use for that?

2)What command do I use to install a binary file.

3) Can YUM be used for both? ( src.rpm and binary?)

4) Lastly, and completely unrelated...Student04...do you still have a GMail invite left? Could I Get one?

thanks so much, all of you,
manas

student04 · 01-21-2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by manas_shukla
4) Lastly, and completely unrelated...Student04...do you still have a GMail invite left? Could I Get one?

Haha certainly (just email me so i can click the invite button in gmail because i can't paste it into LQ's email form)

wiseNoob · 01-21-2005, 10:19 PM

I glazed over slightly with the RPM install stuff, but I had a similar problem with FC3 and GPG keys... (from the first part of the thread)

first go here:
http://www.fedorafaq.org/ and http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/

in it you will find a TON of useful items including your mp3 xmms install instructions.

also, you may want to see here:
http://www.fedorafaq.org/#gpgsig

this will explain how to set up FC to allow the gpg keys for use in yum. you may also want to download the yum.conf file that is posted there to allow for a wider range of yum mirrors. just comment out (put the # sign in front of each unwanted line) the ones you don't want.

personnally I would avoid (at first) all but fedora-release and fedora.us. they seem to have the safest updates with fewest compatibility issues. here is the link for that:
http://www.fedorafaq.org/#installsoftware

yum is definitely the best way to install software in FC, but you won't learn nearly as much.

the first yum update will take a while, but once that is done, you can update with little or no issue.