got stuck at this point ...


after typing ./configure

there is a error with this :

checking.....no
configure error : no acceptable C compiler

I tried . make & make install

after typing it

Error message : no target specified no makefile found.

I'm sure a .rpm file will give me some problems too .

why will an RPM give you problems?? Assuming you are running an RPM distro you would be best off sticking with them rather than compiling code. You have a fedora icon in your profile... fc12? just use yum to make it painfully easy.... "yum install someprogram" and off it goes, job done.

Your problem here is that you don't have a c compiler installed, which would be gcc. This will come from an RPM on your installation media / package management system. Most likely there will be something like a "development tools" bundle which will instlal gcc, glibc-devel and all other requirements to generally compile code.

So what i'm doing is trying to compile code ?
meaning working in a terminal window and using commands ?
so why is this so difficult ?

Thanks

It's difficult because you're compiling code. Now, please install a "compiling code" environment. Or find a binary package of whatever you're trying to install.

I approached using linux by learning first the command line (terminal) . am I wrong ?
There's a great deal of files on websites that deal with rpm / tar / gzip etc. format. Is there an easier way of installing them to use on my desktop ?
No I'm not running a rpm site , just curious .

How does YUM work ?

Installing by source (tar.bz, tar.gz or sometimes .zip) is generally more difficult than installing using a binary (pre-compiled) package like .rpm or .deb. As far as I know, yum uses .rpm binary packages.

I'm pretty sure there's a beginner-friendly yum manual ready for you (try "man yum"). If that's not enough, I'm sure someone else with some RH experience will know more

first of all i am a super noob at linux. I am trying to figure out how to install limewire 5. I dont understand how to change directories in linux. i know how to do it in windows (CD) but i dont understand how to do it in linux or how to find the directory of the source download and or what this means sh ./runlime sh and where to use that command. I am super lost and would really like to figure this out. if you could tell me step by step.

How do I say it nicely, Xzibit? "Don't try to run before you can walk." Linux/Unix is not quite the "padded-cell environment" that Windows can be. You can get yourself into trouble that you can't easily get out of, and one good way to do that is to "up and do things" right away... ahem, like you're doing now.

Honestly, I do not mean in any way to insult you when I counsel that you should "stick strictly to packages" at this point. Find a package that contains what you want, and install it. Learn how your distro's package-manager works. Don't go monkeying around with from-source compiles ... not yet. There are many things which your distro's adroit package-designers and testing teams neatly steer you clear away from: nasty things that you know not of... nor that you should be at all eager to encounter. Yet. Too soon.

Go to your local bookstore and buy a book on beginning Linux, then read it.

Next time, please create your own thread instead of hijacking an existing, unrelated one.

It is difficult because you are not trying to understand the output of "./configure". It told you that you didn't have a c compiler... perhaps that implies that you should install one.

Evo2.

Please start your own thread if you have a question.

Evo2.

"compiling code" and "using the command line" are not the same thing, there are thounsands of things you can do with a command line other than compile code, just like windows can apparently do more than install malware for you.

Not running an RPM site? I don't think you understood the question... you're running Fedora 12? 11? If so then that's an RPM based distro, and so forget tar / gzip / make install / configure and all that until you understand them, just run "yum install someprogramyouwanttoinstall" and it'll download the relevant RPM packages and install them all automatically (try doing that on windows!), assuming it's a valid program that yum knows about. There are also equivalent tools to use yum via a graphical interface through your admin menus on your desktop.

Are you sure about that? I think I missed that update.

You guys are being awful hard on the guy; he asked a simple question and wanted a simple answer.

I have never used fedora; but the problem here is that you don't have a program to compile the code. If you open Fedoras' package manager you should be able to search for gcc and install it no problem. You can also try "yum install gcc", as root.

Also, I would suggest executing "make" and "make install" separately. You also will have to be root (Linux terms) [which is 'administrator' on Windows] to properly execute the command. This is easy; simply use "su -" to become root. (It might be slightly different on your distribution {version}; it's been a long time since I used fedora).

For example:
For clarification: Fedora uses yum to utilize .rpm packages to install programs (think 'self-installer'). Simply download the package and double-click on it, it should install it for you (like Windows). Note that is NOT what you're doing above; you're manually doing it.

Gzip, Gzip2 and tar files are more like zip files on Windows, they can contain anything, but they usually require more manual configuration , like what you're doing. Note that these files will require "extracting", like on Windows with zip files

So right now you should make a mental note to associate .rpm packages as self-installers (.exe if that helps) for Fedora, and that Gzip, Gzip2 and tar, are more like zip files which can contain anything, but may require manual compilation and installation.

And, yes, I think using the command line is a great way to start. It will allow you to understand the fundamentals of your Linux distribution so when a problem arises down the road, you won't be left wondering. The command line simply shows you how Linux works underneath the hood; where as on Windows and Mac you've been indoctrinated enough to know what to do. The reason the command line is great for beginners is because it shows you right away how different Linux is from Windows and even Mac.

Be aware of dependencies, these are programs that are required by another program to run successfully. Think "Firefox-plugin" is dependent on "Firefox". This is exactly why your compilation of the program failed. The reason .rpm packages are the preferred method of installation is that they take care of these dependencies for you.

Sorry this thread has gone awry for you, Xzibit, hope this helps.

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