Linspire? Make Install? Am I missing something?
 

I am brand new to Linux and Linspire/Lindows. I was hoping to install some new programs. Problem is I have NO CLUE what I am doing. I am used to downloading an EXE file, running it and PRESTO! The program is installed. I have been thumbing throught the various help pages. Most of what I have seen is geared toward command line instructions. Is there any online resource for Lindows users that contains tutorials on installing new programs from source code?

Thanks!

Hangover

The best info you will get on how to install a program from it's source is too look in the README and INSTALL files. Most, if not all, have those two files that contain instructions on how to compile the program

For example, if I have the file program-src.tar.gz :

I would do tar zxvf program-src.tar.gz, this will extract the files. Then, I would read the README and INSTALL files. In most cases, you will end up doing the following:

./configure && make && make install

As I said before, this is in most cases and it can varie. Your best bet is to read the two files.



Good luck ;)

That's great, but it is still a little more advanced than I am. I have the tar files unpacked. I think I need to ask some more remedial questions like:

1) Where do you enter these commands with the Lindows interface? Is there a Lindows equivalent to the "MS-DOS Prompt"?
2) Where do I need to have my source code located? Right now I have it in file:/usr/.

Please understand that the average user has forgotten more about Linux than I have ever known. Thanks again.

Unfortunately, I'm here for the same problem. But I know at least part answer to your question.

The Lindows equivalent to the MS Dos prompt is located here: Programs > Utilities > Console

But when I type make, it says command not found!

I have been using Linux since 1999. I just installed Linspire 4.5 (the new name for Lindows). There is a REALLY easy way to install programs, that is to buy a membership to their warehouse, I believe it is called CNR. It is like $5 a month. All you do is scroll down a list of about 2000 programs, pick the one you want, click the little green icon and the program is installed.

Good luck

When you typed make were you in the directory that you unpacked the file to?

This means you don't have make installed and if you do then the link is somehow broken or make is not in your PATH environment. There are several ways to find this out. Some distros have a nice little command called 'locate' which searches your directory structure for any instances of your search string in the directory paths. Or you can do a 'find' comman as well. The final way is to go into your /usr/bin directory and look for the make command (this is where most distros put the make command, however, this is not a must). Hope this helps
SuSE pretty much does this too and it's free :)