Ignorant about compiling and 64 bit issues

[dgoddard_on_JL]

My computer is using athalon x86 64 bit chip and I am running SuSe 9.2 64 bit version. My impression so far is that I can expect to have a lot of probems with dirvers etc. If I don't get the source code and compile them myself.

:confused:

Is my understanding right on this and where can I get infomation on compiling from source code for linux? I am willing (may prefer) do it in a command line interface if need be.

My current desire is to get gftp working and SuSe did not come with it. I got the source code downloaded as a .tar.gz file.

Don
*** Ignorance we can fix ---- Stupidity goes all the way to the bone ***

[movEAX_444]

The commands are this:

(assuming file1-2-3.tar.gz is in the current dir)

$ tar -zxvf file1-2-3.tar.gz
.. **** scrolls by..
$ cd file1-2-3 (or whatever the dir that got extracted is called, use 'ls' to see the dir name and cd into it)
$ ./configure && make
$ su
.. enter your pass..
# make install
# exit

That's it. I suggest you read the README or INSTALL file when you cd into the extracted archive first.

[je_fro]

I would suggest you find gftp in Yast...I'm sure it's there.

[jensa]

Wait a minute...

I am not sure I understood you correct, but if the source code is written for 32-bit, compiling from source does not make the program/drivers work in a 64-bit operating system.


I am not sure how it is with SuSe 64-bit version (I use gentoo-64), but usually if you have any support for 32-bit apps (32-bit libraries etc) then they are in a specific folder (probably called something like lib32) and but compiling the source code by the old



./configure

make

make install



will make use of the 64-bit libraries.


Therefore you have 3 options:



1) Download 32-bit source code (if the .tar.gz file doesnt say 64-bit its not 64) and edit the makefile (or add flags to ./configure command) so that the proper libraries are used. (Not many poeple have the energy for this)


2) Download 64-bit source code and compile using ./configure make && make install (It's hard to find 64-bit source code).


3) Use Yast. Yast knows what kind of system you have and will install the program properly. As far as I know SuSe 64-bit has come a long way so they probably have most programs in Yast youll ever need.


Also, if you have 32-bit libraries and the program is available as a binary (already compiled) you can probably run it straight away.



I am not 100% sure about everything I just said so if someone could correct/confirm my post that would be nice.