Hi,

I have installed Mandrake 10.0 mainly because I need to install and run some software that is specific to Linux.

Coming from a windows background I am finding it all very confusing. The installation instructions for the software are complicated for a newbie and I was wondering if someone could help explain the following terms or instructions or point me in the direction where I could get more help

1. Untar the tar file? What is Gunzip and tar?
2. Setting up env variables?
3. How to configure command line parameters?
4. Makefiles?
5. Adding env variables to file that runs when starting a shell? Shell?
6. Command search path?
7. Manpath variable?

While I can (and will, if so requested) explain what each of those things is, my first question to you is, what do you have to install that cannot be installed as a normal Mandrake package? *Most* things can be installed via the Mandrake Control Center/Software Management tool. So much easier than source compilations, for a new user.

I was just following the instructions that were with the software.

Thanks, but there is no need to explain the terms I listed I was just looking for a pointer to where I can learn about this stuff myself. However do you think I can install the software vis the Software Management tool. Should I just point this tool to the jar file?

Well, you still haven't told me what it is, but from your answer, I would say, no, you can't just point the tool to the jar(?) file. (I assume you meant tar file. A jar file is a java archive, a tar file is a *nix archive file.) My question is, is this application available as a Mandrake rpm package? If it is, that would be the easiest to install. If not ... well, you'll learn a lot about Linux.

The Rute Tutorial is a pretty good source for a lot of info about Linux.

WOW! That Rute is huge. I think thats too much. I just need something that covers the terms mentioned above is there a smaller manual / quick start guide somewhere?