Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Installation of applications killing me!
Kelly6
04-06-2001, 02:03 PM
So far I have downloaded about 8-9 applications of the net which I was hoping to use. Only 2 of them install and work properly.
My particular problem is with the tar.gz files. Each time I run configure there's one problem after another. It's really pissing me off. It takes me 20 minutes to try and install each application and I don't even end up with it working.
My most recent problem is a message saying X include not found or something similar.
I was hoping someone who knows what this feels like starting out with Linux to give me a hand and explain a few things. This has really put me off trying to even bother getting any new programs.
Please respond to my cry for help! :)
inkedmn
04-06-2001, 03:57 PM
go here (http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf/intel/compiling/softinstall.html). that should help you...
take care
bdg1983
04-06-2001, 04:25 PM
Doing a 'full install' of your distro will help minimize the dependency problems. Not all, but certainly helps.
Bradmont
04-06-2001, 04:44 PM
Heh, you need apt ;). It handles all dependencies for you... happyness!
Craig McPherson
04-06-2001, 09:27 PM
Debian.
Never download software from source when you can get it as in a compiled package format. Compile from source only as a last resort. It wastes too much time, there are too many things that go wrong, and you wind up with crap all over your system that'll eventually require you to scrap everything and reinstall. Just don't. Use Debian. It has everything you need as packages, and you can get them all from one place -- without hunting willy-nilly around the Internet for programs and their 5000 dependencies. That's all handled for you. If you find something there's NOT a Debian package of, you can convert an RPM. If, as a last resort, you have a compile something from source, make sure it only, only, ONLY puts stuff under /usr/local. Nowhere else. You'll slowly cruft up your filesystem if you ignore my advice.
Stween
04-07-2001, 01:53 PM
i agree with craig who posted ^^^ right above me ^^^, but from the point of view that packages are easier for the beginner, especially if a nice frontend (like GnoRPM for Redhats RPM format) is used...
Although ive never enjoyed using debian packages (perhaps i didnt try to learn hard enough), RPMs did make installing and removing software very easy, and helped me to start with...
But now i think i can honestly say i know what im doing, and always compile from sources :) Its just the purist (masochist?) in me....
Stween
kernel.panic
04-07-2001, 03:05 PM
Originally posted by Craig McPherson:
Debian.
Never download software from source when you can get it as in a compiled package format. Compile from source only as a last resort. It wastes too much time, there are too many things that go wrong, and you wind up with crap all over your system that'll eventually require you to scrap everything and reinstall. Just don't. Use Debian. It has everything you need as packages, and you can get them all from one place -- without hunting willy-nilly around the Internet for programs and their 5000 dependencies. That's all handled for you. If you find something there's NOT a Debian package of, you can convert an RPM. If, as a last resort, you have a compile something from source, make sure it only, only, ONLY puts stuff under /usr/local. Nowhere else. You'll slowly cruft up your filesystem if you ignore my advice.
It's anybody's argument whether debian or redhat or whatever, is better. But it's no argument that packages are a better software solution for *most* users. Something to consider, though, I have noticed that most software that I compile/make/make install (about 40% of what I use) allows for an rpm style uninstallation.
A good method for this stuff is as follows:
- Untar the software-x.x.tar.gz to ~/src (or whatever folder you want).
- Do the install (./configure, etc etc)
- Leave the source where you installed it from, (for most, space usage won't be a problem)
- When time comes that you want to uninstall it, just cd into ~/src/software-x.x/ and then use "make uninstall".
For about 80% of apps I have tried this on nowadays, it has worked great. Just watch for errors like "could not remove *directory*: directory not empty" etc. This is if you have put config files or themes in the apps directory, you will need to rm -rf the /usr/local/ folder relating to the app, or wherever it installed to.
That aside, rpms or debs are easier, but compiling tends to optimize the software for your pc, from what I understand.