Hey Anthony...THANKS for that description! I've spent my first 2 weeks as a Newbie
searching through HOWTOs, bookstores, newsstands and internet, just trying to get
some sort of "this is the basic overview" for the silly .tar files. Your summary is
a great help!
Lance
Anthony Huereca wrote:
> Installing programs was one of my biggest complaints/problems when I was still a
> linux newbie. I can help you on some of the stuff though. First, get the binary
> whenever possible. It will save you a ton of headaches. A binary acts more like
> a Windows .exe file. Binary's are usually suffixed with a .rpm extention. They
> are the easiest to install. Just "su" to root and type in your password at the
> prompt. Then, in the directory where you downloaded the file, type "rpm -Uvh
> the_program_name.rpm" Now, to run it, just type in the program name, for
> example, "licq".
>
> When someone talks about the source (sometimes abbreviated "src"), they are
> talking about a ".tar.gz" file usually. These are slightly more complicated,
> and in my experiances, sometimes don't compile. But if you have to download of
> one of these, it isn't too hard to install. Go to the directory where you
> downloaded it from, and type "tar -zxvf the_file_name.tar.gz" This will unpack
> the file, and create a new directory. Go to the new directory, and there should
> be a README file in there. Use pico (pico the_readme_file) to read it (or any
> other text editor), and it should have further instructions on how to install.
> But most of the time, it consists of using "./configure" to configure the files,
> then "make", then "make install", in that order. Of course, sometimes it gives
> you an error when you do one of the steps in compiling, in which case I can't
> really help you. If it all worked, you will have a new binary file (which you
> can distinguish because it has a * by it) in the directory you are in.
>
> As for getting libc, glibc, or any of the others, it's my understanding
> (which means I could be wrong) that glibc is the newest, and since I'm assuming
> you're using Mandrake 6.0 or better, the glibc file would probally be better.
> You'll normally only see the glibc description when dealing with source stuff
> though.
>
> --
> Anthony Huereca
> http://m3000.1wh.com
> I had a life once......now I have a computer and a modem
>
> > Ok, I've read so so many docs on installing progs, but I always seem to get
> > one thing wrong, and I dont know what it is!??!! I would be very geratful
> > if someone could go over it, real easy, in a windows user (soon to be
> > Xwindows user if I can get this!) sort of fashion...really s l o w, step by
> > step, and really really easy! The thing I find myself having the most
> > trouble with is knowing what files to even download for a prog in the first
> > place!! Like Licq for example. I go to www.linuxberg.com, check out the
> > Icq for X11 page, and when I see the Licq download description, there's like
> > 6 different files! I mean what's a binary and which one do I get, and do I
> > get glibc or what??! Geez! I've read so much docs that say "get the
> > source, and they ask for I binary get that...blah blah blah...over my
> > head!!!"!! So if you can help me please do, I'm sure I'm not the only one
> > with this problem!
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > Jim Garner
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
