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Old 11-06-2003, 08:21 PM   #1
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help installing ANYTHING... configure doesn't work bc I am missing lots of packages


hello

I am having a really frustrating problem with Mandrake 8.0

I am trying to install (anything) but the command ./configure always gets stopped by an error. I have so far had to install X11 headers, zlib (libz) or whatever, and keep getting errors like "check your installation"

Well now at the end of ./configure, here is the error.
-------------------------
configure: WARNING: libjpeg not found. disable JPEG support.
checking for Qt... configure: error: Qt (>= Qt 3.1 (20021021)) (headers and libraries) not found. Please check your installation!
For more details about this problem, look at the end of config.log.
-------------------------

I went to RPMfind and found a RPM for a newer qt (I have 2.2). But it says it requires kdelibs-2.1.2-4mdk.i586.rpm which I located and downloaded.
My current kdelibs is 2.1.1-7mdk. WHen I try to install the new kdelibs, I get errors that the files conflict with the existing kdelibs files. (Of course the do).

So, I can't install any programs, because I can't install qt ,because I can't install new kdelibs. Help!!!!!!

p.s. I'm a real newbie to linux so you will have to explain things slow, thanks
 
Old 11-06-2003, 09:33 PM   #2
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one of the main problems is you are trying to use source from a package perspective.
let em elaborate

A distro made of packages does not usually include everything (on basic install) for compiling the programs they give you, this is because they are only needed during compile, not after.

Also you need to change your thaught a little. When something does not compile it is not because a package is required, but because something is required. also don't think of source like 3 commands it copied files, it is 3 commands that check for things, utilise things and come together to form what you want, then it installs. this said a lot obviously can go wrong, but the benefits beat the bad side most of the time if speed is an issue.

ways around this:

1) use a distro that is compile friendly (anything that does nto use rpm packages, nothing that does, most noteably slackware and debian.)

2) install development and library packages, how to do this depends upon your distro.
ask how to install mandrake development and library/header packages in a mandrake forum. Thus should help you.
 
Old 11-06-2003, 09:37 PM   #3
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Thanks!

So if I understand properly, it is a distribution-specific problem. INstalling all these rpm things won't help me. Right?

So I can't fix my kdelibs?
 
Old 11-06-2003, 09:54 PM   #4
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you can, it just isn't always easy. if you are gonna compile things you have to start that way, best with a distro that likes it (such as slack)

if you are gonna go packages go with a good package distro (like debian)

if you want easy and do not want to add to much or play around a lot go with a desktop easy distro liek redhat/suse/mandrake/fedora(basically redhat)

guess redhat can be off that list now ;-) (because the distro is no longer being made not to starta flame war)
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:02 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally posted by exodist
one of the main problems is you are trying to use source from a package perspective.
let em elaborate

A distro made of packages does not usually include everything (on basic install) for compiling the programs they give you, this is because they are only needed during compile, not after.
So, you know that you will be compiling things and make sure that you install them for future needs.
Unfortunately most people just click Workstation and/or Game Station and never get to see the wealth of programs & utilities available to them.

Since everything is there but most people never see them..."Mandrake" gets a bad reputation as being "not compile friendly"...whatever that means.

Quote:
ways around this:

1) use a distro that is compile friendly (anything that does nto use rpm packages, nothing that does, most noteably slackware and debian.)
Or Red Hat, or Mandrake, ...or a hundred other distros.

...if you load the development tools that come on the CD.

Oh, how many times I have heard: "How many CDs do I need to download for a minimal/basic/etc. install?".

Quote:
2) install development and library packages, how to do this depends upon your distro.
ask how to install mandrake development and library/header packages in a mandrake forum. Thus should help you.
During Mandrake's Install it will ask you what kind of station you want...see above.

All you need do is tell Mandrake to give you a full listing and then you can find what you want and install it right off the CD during the install process.

Install this stuff and 90% of your problems will never happen.
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:06 PM   #6
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Well, I like my Mandrake because I found that once I have it set up the way I like it, It's good to go. I just set up my users and Internet connection, everything else is there. - office software, graphics, sound, everything is set up.

I did install the development stuff, and most of the other stuff, since at the time I was a computer programming student and the environments came in handy.

But now, I want to install: one game, L-ICQ, a scanner program, and RealPlayer. I just can't install anything and it bugs me. I guess my kdelibs are too old. Can't I replace them somehow with the new ones I downloaded?

Last edited by Avatar; 11-06-2003 at 10:10 PM.
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:12 PM   #7
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Quote:
Or Red Hat, or Mandrake, ...or a hundred other distros.
Unfortunetly these are not compile friendly I have found (experiance, not simple opinion)

I am a long time slack user, I have compiled everything I have needed sence day 1 5 years ago. Obviously my collection fo sources is quite large (about 400 and a script to compile them without me there)

in slack and debian it works fine, in redhat, mandrake, and suse it does not, there are the obvious lacks of dependancies one distro includes and another doesn't, this is not much of a fault if any, however slack and deb make an extra effort to put libraries programs need, redhat usually only does what is needed to compiel the programs it comes with (still quite a large collection, not trying to bash it here) the bigest problem I have is that redhat suse, and mandrake don't always upgrade EVERY package when they release a new verion (mainly minor version, like from 8.1 to 8.2) they only compile the ones with patches or add ine xtra upgrades, the problem, then is that the updated packages sometimes use a newer compiler than the other packages. back in the day this was fine, but with allt he changes from gcc 2.x to 3.x and even gcc3.x to another 3.x this can lead to compiel time problems that just arent experianced back where the packages are made, or have no effect with a precompiled package.

I am just poiting out that slackware seems to recompiel everything for each release and I never have had gcc version errors.

I won't even go into glibc, its a bitch to upgrade (I do it a lot)
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:14 PM   #8
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Hellllpppp!!! What do I dooooo???
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:16 PM   #9
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I should also note that my experiance comes from extaordinary compiel needs, almost all the software I use is experimental, almost nothing in my comp is "stable" and because of that I can run into compile errors some people will never see. My experiance has shown that redhat and mandrake do not work well for this level (almost everything from distro install is replaced). Slack handles it much better.
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:17 PM   #10
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I'm at a beginner level! pay attention to me!!! can I UPGRADE my kdelibs and my Qt so I can have kooka???
 
Old 11-06-2003, 10:20 PM   #11
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simple answer: yes
complicated answer: you actually have to do it, it won't do itself, there are many ways, you can search google for precompiled then d-load dependancies as it requests them, or you can install devtools and compiel them, but then you deal with other dep needs and requirements, at newbie level package is probably easyer, but you have to learn to compiel some time, not everything is packaged
 
Old 11-07-2003, 09:46 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally posted by exodist
I should also note that my experiance comes from extaordinary compiel needs, almost all the software I use is experimental, almost nothing in my comp is "stable" and because of that I can run into compile errors some people will never see. My experiance has shown that redhat and mandrake do not work well for this level (almost everything from distro install is replaced). Slack handles it much better.
And, from a previous post:


Quote:
Unfortunetly these are not compile friendly I have found (experiance, not simple opinion)

I am a long time slack user, I have compiled everything I have needed sence day 1 5 years ago. Obviously my collection fo sources is quite large (about 400 and a script to compile them without me there)

I am sure that if someone has the interest in collecting all the compilation packages available that they figure it out eventually.

Most people just want to get a linux system operating, that does not take this.

...how many versions of GCC comes in the Slackware Install?...all of them? How many have you collected over the years? As I recall there was a pretty serious bug in one of the 2.x versions...or maybe it was an early 3.x ???

Mandrake 9.2 comes with:

Kernel 2.4.22 (a Linux 2.6.0pre kernel is also provided in contribs)
XFree86 4.3
Glibc 2.3.2
GCC 3.3.1
Apache 2.0.47, Samba 2.2.8a (Samba 3.0.0 in contribs), MySQL 4.0.15
ProFTPD 1.2.8, Postfix 2.0.13, OpenSSH 3.6.1p2
KDE 3.1.3, GNOME 2.4.0, IceWM 1.2.13, WindowMaker 0.80.2, Enlightenment 0.16.5, Blackbox 0.65.0
OpenOffice.org 1.1, KOffice 1.3.0, Gnumeric 1.2.0
Mozilla 1.4, The GIMP 1.2.5, XMMS 1.2.7

The list of libraries seems to go on forever....if you check during the install process. I did have to switch drivers for my SBLive 5.1 but that took me all of 1 minute.

The new Slack comes with:

Quote:
Release highlights include support for ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture, which will be the default in the upcoming 2.6.x kernel series), GCC 3.2.3 (with GCC 3.3.1 as an alternate choice), GNOME 2.4.0, and KDE 3.1.4. Slackware 9.1 uses the stable 2.4.22 kernel, but is 2.6.x ready.
...so you can see its a tradeoff to a point.

The primary diff. in Mandrake is that for much of the compiling you need to install the "(whatever)-devel" packages.

Get used to how a distro does things and it gets a whole lot simpler.

Mandrake's focus has always been to make it simple to install for the most people...and without Mandrake's efforts in simplifying the install process for new users we would still be using text installs for the most part.

Here's a clue: When one's focus is on something difficult like creating a very simple & effective graphical install for the masses...other things take 2nd, 3rd, etc. place....

Once Mandrake advertised that they were going to do this...other people jumped on the bandwagon. Now nice GUI installs are common.

And, now Mandrake's focus will be on other things the Newbie Community is gonna want.

Right now I think they are working on a LiveCD ala Knoppix.

Without hunting down & adding any "dependencies", I have installed and have working these programs in 9.2 that went virtually flawlessly:

AVview (TV and Security Camera)
Xawtv (Same)
Checkinstall
Gringotts
Gramps (Genealogy)
Xine (w/DVD)
Mplayer (w/DVD)
Gkrellm
Xscreensavers
Opera
Firebird
BitTorrent Shadowclient

...and many others.

Samba works, My printer works, and my LAN & Internet was set up for me during the install.

Much of the problem has been the computer mfgrs. who scrimp by with the cheapest and/or proprietary hardware & setups. I haven't had any problem with my Pioneer CD/DVD or Plextor CD Writer...

...you get what you pay for; I learned that decades ago.

I haven't had to upgrade any libraries like I did in 9.0 or 9.1...and I agree, Glibc is a bitch. Tcl/Tk isn't any fun either....

Mandrake is on the cutting edge...not a distro satisfied to just "wait till the bugs are worked out"...-THEN- issue a version.

Yes, if I were satisfied with just wanting something that worked, I could just install what I wanted and let it go at that. Or, I could install a distro that had worked most all their bugs out; had all proggies concurrent; then watch other distros pass me by while I waited for the next "two steps behind the times" version to appear.

...it's a tradeoff.

My advice to newbies is this:

UNTIL YOU ARE COMFORTABLE COMPILING & INSTALLING PROGRAMS IN LINUX...STAY WITH THE PROGRAMS & VERSIONS ON YOUR CD SET THAT COMES WITH YOUR VERSION.

...afterwards you can play with the other distros.

Last edited by Nu-Bee; 11-07-2003 at 11:06 AM.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 09:58 AM   #13
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wow.......... overload.......

when available, use rpm packages, not source....
when only source is available use a program 'checkinstall'
to compile your source into an rpm

and if you get a package dependency
download it from rpmfind.net

and if u get a file dependency
(which will look like sumfile2.so.2 (look for the ".so."))
then go to google.com/linux

and search "provides thefiledep.so.number"
which will give you some package names which u can then download from rpmfind.net.

after you have done it a few times, it becomess second nature, and you can install, and solve dependency's without even thinking about it

and no, in my opinion, its not a distribution specific problem, all distro's have dependency's.

anyway...... yeah, its a million more times simple that it sounds.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 10:53 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by qwijibow
and no, in my opinion, its not a distribution specific problem, all distro's have dependency's.
Waaah!...now you did it...you told the truth.

You are going to bust a lot of bubbles, and make a lot of people mad here.

Last edited by Nu-Bee; 11-07-2003 at 11:08 AM.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 11:16 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by Avatar
I'm at a beginner level! pay attention to me!!! can I UPGRADE my kdelibs and my Qt so I can have kooka???
Sure!...but the question is:

What all must I do to do that, and what other programs might break because I changed the libraries they were depending on?

A distro is released with certain core libraries, then programs that are compatible with those core libraries are added to make the distro version.

Now someone wants "The latest release of (some program)."

...but the developers of that program built the new version with NEWER LIBRARIES REQUIRED.

So...if you want the new version of the program you are going to have to have those libraries.

But, while you are upgrading those libraries, you might well be breaking 20 other programs in the distro that were depending on the original libraries that the distro was released with.

Sometimes you can have multiple versions of a library, and sometimes not.

...is it sinking in?

Last edited by Nu-Bee; 11-07-2003 at 11:24 AM.
 
  


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