whats the use in compiling?

[deanrantala]

I have to ask this, What good is it to distribute tar.gz files on the internet? I have used linux now for a little over 6 months. I love it, and usually have no problems using RPM's. But NEVER in my 6.5 months have I EVER had a piece of software that compiled. I always get some kind of error message or another - either a missing file, missing library, bad header, improper flux capacitator, discombobulator, muffler ball bearring, blah, blah, or another. Its ALWAYS something. And funny thing is: I'v tried RH, Mandrake, and a couple smaller distros - same thing. It dissapoints me because most the cool little apps I see online don't come in RPM often and it seems everyone else seems to have no prob. "just configure, make, and make install" This also burns me cause I have a winmodem driver that, in order to use, must be - you guessed it - COMPILED. Do I have to be a programer to do this or what? What am I missing? I truly feel sofware installation should be much less painfull if Linux is to see the majority of desktops in the future.

[Hayl]

as long as you have all the dependancies met then there is usually no problem compiling anything (that is well written).

I truly feel sofware installation should be much less painfull if Linux is to see the majority of desktops in the future

this is why there are binary based distros like SuSE, Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian, Slackware, Lindows, blah blah, blah.

most things that can only be installed by compiling are not ready for primetime :)

if you are looking for a distro with more (the most) pre-compiled (binary) packages, then perhaps you should look into debian. it has well over 10000 pre-compiled packages available.

[JohnT]

In compiling for your specific distro there are many parameters to take into consideration before starting the process to insure a good compilation. Here 's a link to a run-through of the process that might help clear-up some of the mystery.
http://startlinux.co.nz/articles/article_171.php

Any additional questions....post back.

[clane]

Does the phrase "looking for trouble" mean anything to you?
You'll probably get "sympathiser" responses and "go play in Windows land" responses. More of the latter, probably. You are warned.

My experience has been similar, except I've gotten my fair share of programs to compile recently. It can be difficult. It can be easier. And it probably won't change. That seems to be the nature of the beast.

Regarding compiling specifically, I've found that as I add various apps to my PC, whether by the RPM method or the TAR.GZ/compile method, I am always gaining more of those obscure libraries and files that ALWAYS seemed to be missing during my first attempts at compiling. The result is that the more you get working and installed now, the fewer problems you have down the road, since you will have already installed the files required to satisfy the current dependency situation. And when you do come up against a problem, you will now have greater knowledge to fight with since you've seen it before.

Learning Linux is a worthy endeavor. Don't give up.

[deanrantala]

Windows land.....I like that. However, windows is a virus and I hate viruses:D So.......

Anywayz, I don't mean to dis linux in any way - regardless of how much of a pain in the arse it can be at times, I feel the fuctionality and reliability far surpasses anything Billy Boy will ever have to offer:) (except for the compiling deal)

I just don't like not knowing how to do something on linux, it drives me crazy. Simply put: I feel I must understand every aspect that makes my computer tick.

Nonetheless, it is the small price you pay for an infinitely customizable, open source OS, so I can't complain too much.

Maybee I'll start learning some c+ then I'll make my own tarballs and laugh at other gnubees that can't install it:D

[hop-frog]

(I think) almost everything you will compile in linux requires 'make', 'gcc', 'gpp', 'xdevel', and 'binutils'. See if you have those installed.

[kevinalm]

Well, hardware drivers are the main reason for compiling from a tar.gz. Binary rpm's tend to be very specific to distro, distro version and model of the hardware itself. If you manage to compile from source it is much more likely to work, at least in my experience.

A large part of the problems most people have in compiling is in not having developement and kernel developement components installed on their system. Hardware "drivers" are actually kernel modules so you must have both for the compile to succeed.

The other major pitfall is not reading the README and INSTALL files (or what ever else they might be called in you tar.gz.

It is possible to compile drivers. Both my modem and my soundcard drivers are compiled from source. ;)

[MxCl]

Install your distros complete development pack, it'll take a gig or two but probably will kill all your problems.

Also read the README for prerequisites to compilation, install any libraries it needs and then compiling should be easy.

Providing source for linux is necessary because linux is multiplatform and you can't provide a multiplatform rpm and few people want to provide rpms for every platform hence the situation that exists.

Role on Autopackage..

[deanrantala]

I got an 85 gig HD so I'll try installing all the devel stuff. Besides, I AM going to start learning some c++ (actually, I took a crash coarse some time ago when earning my ASB - but never finished that degree, so....) so it won't hurt to install al that stuff anyways.:)

[sharth]

well, a little debian hint. auto-apt will automatically find dependencys for a program.

also, to run a binary, you only need the libraries. to build it, you need the development libraries as well as the normal libraries. you're probably missing the development libraries.