Hello all.....I have a kind of newbie question that still isn't clear to me. When NOT using a package manager, how is software uninstalled? Yesterday I compiled a program and installed it but now decided that I needed to configure it slightly different and would like to recompile it using the make commands. However, I would like to uninstall the version that I installed first.

Is it a matter of just using the locate command and finding as much "stuff" to delete and just not worrying about the stuff that I miss (if any?)
Or is there a way to use the make uninstall command work. I don't know how to target that? I am totally unclear on this.

On some programs, the read-me file says to just "delete the directory to uninstall" and that is simple enough for a simple program. But this is glame and it has a LOT of stuff all over the place. How do I clean that up? I would really appreciate some direction on this issue in a general sense for future reference as I am finally comfortable installing new software on my computer...I would also like to find a nice way of getting RID of software on my computer.

Thanks in advance!

I should have done more research before asking the question. I am sorry but I am more clear now, but hopefully this post will help someone else. After more searching I found some posts right here on this forum about different ways to uninstall software.

I compiled the program from source and that seems to be a problem for some because it isn't "package managed." Well, I also read where some programmers will have a make uninstall script with the source to get rid of the program. I had thrown out the files after I made the program from the tarball.

I just downloaded the files again, ./configure, su'd to root, and then did the make uninstall command and sure enough, there was a complete uninstall script written in there...I'll keep that in mind and maybe READ the configuration files more thoroughly next time. The only thing left are a couple of shared files (which I don't think are shared) and some hidden directories in my home directory which weren't even used yet...so I'll dump them.

If anyone has any comments or stuff to add, please feel free to do so as a lot of us are just learning the ropes and this isn't so clear. I have some files to remove now......thank.

I'll just say Kudos to your question and then finding your own solution. I have to admit that in the programs I compile/install myself, typically I just allow them to install overtop of the existing tree when updating, without an uninstall first. Which may leave a little obsolete junk around but so far has not caused any problem (sometimes install locations change, but one just has to check on occasion). I do keep the build tree around for installed software (in /usr/src/build).

yeah, fsbooks, that sounds fine. I guess one of my problems until recently (like the last few days) was realizing HOW programs install in Linux, WHERE they go and how to manage that.

I like to keep things really clean, but I know that stuff leakes through the cracks sometimes. RPM's are ok, but I'm getting to like compiling from source. Also, I think you can learn a lot from READING The files that they give you, but that takes some time.

About installing "over the top" that seems fine too. As far as libraries go, the new installation should find, create, or link the appropriate library files. Old ones hanging around really aren't a big deal as the usually seem to be small anyway. But still, there is this "thing" about me that likes to keep things as clean as possible, but generally, I've found with the "locate" command, you can hunt down just about any file which at least has the program name attached to it. It's a great way to clean up after an uninstall operation.

Also, as a habit, I'm going to keep all of the source files that I download and put them on CD so that if and when I need to uninstall, I can see if the writer put in a make uninstall routine FIRST, and then go and do stuff manuall. I'm getting this...I'm just glad that most people on this forum are patient enough for others to catch up a little

Thanks again for your comments