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confused on how to install binaries?i tried ./config?

Hello everyone, i'm not sure what the difference betweeen downloading the binaries of a program or downlaoding hte source code. I'm assuming the difference is for the source code you have to compile it, and for binaries i'm like urnt? noobacide? Anywho, I untared the files so now its in directory:
/home/coffee/progs/scilab-3.1.1
in this folder i have:
a config folder
a configure* //green text whatever that is
and a makefile.obj with a makefile.incl and lots of others
i tried ./configure and it says:

Code:

[coffee@x1-6-00-50-8d-d1-c1-97 scilab-3.1.1]$ ./configure

checking build system type... i686-redhat-linux-gnu

checking host system type... i686-redhat-linux-gnu

Humm... this is a binary version

  you'd better read the README file first.

I don't see a readme.txt anywhere! sorry i'm noobalicious!

The README file is just that. It'll be a text file named README It will probably NOT be a file called readme.txt (that's a windozy way of naming files).

Try the following to find it:
cd /home/coffee/scilab-3.1.1
find . -name README
Then when you know where it is:
cat /path/to/README

But you are using Mandriva. There's a much easier way to install software:
urpmi!
Search this site for "Easy urpmi", and follow the instructions.
Then, when you have updated your sources, do the following as root:
urpmi skylab
That should do it for you with the minimum of effort.
Whilst you are at it, you might as well get all the mandriva updates:
urpmi --update --auto-select
I hope you are on broadband!

HTH
EditOK Here's a link to easy urpmi:
http://www.mandrivausers.org/easyurpmi/index.php
Go there and enter your details eg Mandriva2006, etc. Click "Proceed to step 2"
Go through all the steps.
Select all 3 in "Core Distribution" and all 3 in "Other sources". Choose mirrors that are close to you if you can.
When you click "Proceed to step 3" you will get alist of commands to type into a root window.
So open up a terminal, use su to become root, and copy & paste (Highlight copies, middle-click pastes, right?) the commands from your browser window, one at a time into the root terminal window, and execute them.
If you see an error, you have either mis-copied the command, or the mirror is down - in which case go back and choose another one.
That's it.

awesome thanks man, what is this installing by the way?
OKay now its all done it said:

Code:

...retrieving done

examining hdlist file [/var/cache/urpmi/partial/hdlist.updates.cz]

writing list file for medium "updates"

examining pubkey file of "updates"...

...imported key 22458a98 from pubkey file of "updates"

built hdlist synthesis file for medium "updates"

found 0 headers in cache

removing 0 obsolete headers in cache

wrote config file [/etc/urpmi/urpmi.cfg]

okay now i typed in urpmi scilab
it installed everything now how can i run the program it just installed?

Quote:

what is this installing by the way?

Looks like it was installing updates.

Quote:

okay now i typed in urpmi scilab
it installed everything now how can i run the program it just installed?

Well, scilab may have put itself on one of your menus - have a look for it. If not, you could try running update-menus as root, and then having another look for it.
Or, open a terminal and type scilab It should start.
Or, find out where it is (which skylab), and make a link to it from your desktop.

Ohhh i had no idea update-menu existed! thanks alot :)