I am using a Debian-based system. I have an RPM file I want to use, so I navigate to it in Rox-filer (I use flux), and click HELP. It says it is an executable file.

So how do I run it? I looked it up on the man pages, but I'm not quite grasping it. It's not .src.rpm.

i believe in debain you need to install alien to deal with rpms.

cheers

Why are you trying to use an RPM package on a Debian system?

An RPM is a RedHat style installation package. Debian uses the .deb package system. Can't you simply apt-get whatever it is you're trying to install?

If it's not available in the Debian repositories, try and find .tar file to install it. It isn't a good idea to mix package types unless you are trying to break your system.

Really? I couldn't find a .deb of the file I need, and I can't apt-get it or compile it - I'm trying to get GCC, so I can compile my modem drivers

What do you mean you couldn't find GCC in Debian??? Just what distribution are you using? Are you using the tools available for apt?
Synaptic is a very good GUI frontend for apt. Great for searching. If you don't have, install it. "apt-get install synaptic"

It will make your life a lot easier.

Most distros include the compilers in the install. Am curious just what you're using that didn't include them.

You should be able to easily apt-get the compiler from the Debian repositories. There are very very few packages that aren't available in the Debian repositories, you just have to learn how to use apt. Give Synaptic a try and see if you can find what you need that way instead of mixing RPMs into your system.

I'm using Feather, a minimal distro.

Oh ok, that explains it. That's what "minimal" means. A lot of imprtant things left out. LOL

Being Debian based, you should have apt. Do the apt-get for Synaptic and you'll have an easier time finding the packages you want.