Compiling Programs
 

Hey,
I just installed Suse 9.1 (First Time for Linux). It is working great.
But I need to install the latest version of Kopete, or another MSN Messenger that will work, Gaime, etc.
And eventually other programs.

But I can't seem to install them. Through posts on the form I found out I need to go into the super command line with my master password.
Then enter the path of the directory that has the code. Then enter "./configure".
I do that, and it starts to do stuff. But then it always says it can't compile and says something about $Path.

Now I have a couple questions, one, I think I need to go and get a C Compiler, I hear something about GTK, is that one, or something different?
Do I need Glib? Or does Suse have this already? What and where do I get the stuff I need.

Also, when I am compiling programs like Kopete, does it have to be in a certain directory to compile?

Any help on this matter would be great.

Let's get you startetd.

GTK stands for "gimp toolkit" and is a widget/ui drawing program. Chances are that you are using it without even knowing it. GCC and G++ are C compilers. You will also need autoconf, libtool, and make if you wish to compile programs.

You may not need to compile those programs. You can use suse's package manager instead, unless you need the absolute latest versions, AFAIK all of the versions of GaIM and Kopete since suse 9.1 support MSN...

IF the package isn't in suse's package manager or you MUST compile it, here's the way to do it. It's alot easier to just get it from the package manager, if you can.

However, if you want to compile the program, here's what you do.

First, you will need a C compiler and a host of other tools.
Namely, you need gcc, g++, libtool, autoconf, and make. You should install all of these tools from SUSE's package manager.

Then you download the archive and extract it to somewhere...
Then open a terminal and type:

where path/to/wherever is where you extracted it to.

Next, you need to configure it. If you need any other libraries, it will tell you here.
Type the following command into your terminal.

If this ends with an error, it should tell you why. Chances are that it requires some library or package that you don't have.
Go to suse's package manager and install these packages and re-run configure. Repeat until it completes successfully.

Finally, you need to build and install the program.
As root type:

That will build the program, and ( && ) if that exits sucessfully, it will install the program.

Once that's done that should be it. You may need to add the program to KDE or GNOME's menu.

try the gaim rpm
http://linux01.gwdg.de/~pbleser/rpm-...=/Network/gaim
what happens
here is how to install rpms
http://www.tfug.org/helpdesk/linux/rpm.html
good luck

wow alot of newbs asking the same questions that is good. i disagree with some of the things you have heard though. i think you should run ./configure as a user and run make as a user then if they are both successful you need to run make install as root using the su command. chances are you ahve the tools you need like the compiler and gtk. they will undoubtedly come with suse, but you are having a problem with the $PATH right? that is cause suse is rpm based and you are trying to build from source. this usualy results in this. i could tell you how to set the $PATH to include what you need and export it, but you really should just google that. waht you need to do it just use rpms as much as possible. there will be dependancies and you will have to find them. but you are just asking for trouble if you install from source on an rpm based distro. i would just google for whatever package adn make sure you include suse as a keyword. you will find several people that have made packages. that should be what you need. the reason for this is that rpm based distros like suse, redhat, mandrake, bla bla bla have certain places they store libraries and these places are different from where source based distros like slackware and gentoo would. so you then have to set the path to include the places or make symlinks and all this... anyway you reallyu need to just decide if you want the rpm based or source based. to some rpm based is better cause it is easier, but that doesnt mean better to me. i think you should use a source based distro, but anyway. that is the problem you are having. just find the rpm and make sure it is a suse rpm for your version.