I'm a linux newbie, but a longtime Unix user, mostly Sun Solaris. I am using Mandrake 9.2 with KDE as my desktop.

I downloaded Mozilla firebird to be my primary web browser. It came packaged as a tar archive. I extracted the archive into my home directory. It runs fine from there, but that doesn't seem to be a very proper installation.

So I guess my question is: what would be considered a proper install for programs that just come lumped in a directory like that? What are common places to put them? How do I set up buttons and menus on the desktop? Is there an automated install procedure that I am missing?

Try out this site : http://jetblackz.freesite.org/Instal...aFirebird.html

Has directions for installing many different types of software.

HTH

Nathan