I downloaded the latest v4l2 and compiled the gspca drivers into the kernel (upgraded from 2.6.17 to 2.6.26.3 on Mandriva 2007 spring). (I understand that these are now part of the latest linux kernels)

So I have a /dev/video0, and if I run xawtv for instance, it "sees" the device.

I also understand that I need libv4l as an inteface between the driver and things like mplayer, xawtv, and skype.

So, I download different libv4l versions (latest is 0.5.9) but whichever version I try to compile I just get a whole bunch of compilation errors.

What on earth is going on here? (I am using gcc version 4.)

Read the link in #4 in my signature. Then post the relevant information for troubleshooting your problem.

The version of gcc I have is 4.1.1-3. I did not post what the compilation errors are because there are many, and they a different for each version of libv4l I can find. I havn't been able to find a package manager that works on mandriva spring 2007.

All that I should have to do is make, then make install. Has anyone compiled libv4l from source? If so, which version? and what was the compiler?

It took a lot of searching elsewhere, and found it won't compile stand alone. It needs to be compiled as part of http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb so it picks up the right headers.