Ch2i5
11-12-2001, 10:04 AM
Ok, can someone explain this to me, I keep hearing about when you get a new program, you have to recompile ****, and I don't understnad, can someone explain this clearly to stupid old newbie me?
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bdg1983
11-12-2001, 10:14 AM
You only have to compile files if you download the source code. Source code are the programming files used to develop the application....they are distributed in case you want to look at or modify the program to suite your own needs or add some added features this is called open source.
Some distributions use pre-compiled programs packaged in single files called rpm's. They have the filenames that have the extension .rpm . You can easily install these with a simple command line or gui interface and since they are pre-compiled you don't have to worry about doing it yourself.
Hope this helps
Willy
Some distributions use pre-compiled programs packaged in single files called rpm's. They have the filenames that have the extension .rpm . You can easily install these with a simple command line or gui interface and since they are pre-compiled you don't have to worry about doing it yourself.
Hope this helps
Willy
z0mbix
11-12-2001, 10:14 AM
You don't have to compile programs, depending on you distro. Which one do you use? If you use RedHat/Mandrake you can install via a .rpm binary file or .deb with debian.
I take it you are talking about .tar.gz, .tar files etc. These are source code programs that have to be compiled into binary in order to run.
There are some good howto's on this somewhere. Try searching the nhf pages (http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf) and the linux documentation (http://www.linuxdocs.org). It's not as hard as it sounds! ;)
I take it you are talking about .tar.gz, .tar files etc. These are source code programs that have to be compiled into binary in order to run.
There are some good howto's on this somewhere. Try searching the nhf pages (http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf) and the linux documentation (http://www.linuxdocs.org). It's not as hard as it sounds! ;)
Some Dumb Guy
11-12-2001, 10:21 AM
Yes,
You have to convert the source code (which is in a quasi human readable programming language like 'C' or 'C++' ) into something that the computer can understand, which is a binary file format with different 'sections' in the file containing different pieces of information, all of which are used by a combination of OS subsystems ( the program loader reads several of these sections, passes some of the information to the Memory Manager, some to the Process Manager, etc.) The rest is used by the running application itself. Some of what is in the binary is simply data, other bits are instructions in a form that the CPU can interpret.
So, you get a new program in source code form, it needs to be compiled before it can be run. Actually it usually also requires linking, but that is usually infered by the word 'compile'.
Is this what you mean, or are you refering to having to recompile the kernel itself. This is essentially the same issue as before, but what usually causes your need to do this is that the cuirrent version of the kernel - and probably other parts of the OS you are running has not had some 'vital' subsystem 'compiled' in, or 'enabled' by the compiler. This may prevent your app from running. Like if you don't have sound support in your kernel and want to run the cd player or something like that. So here you have an issue.
You need a compiler. usually your installation has a compiler in it, but it might not be the correct version for what you need to compile, or you might not have the kernel source installed, or the wrong version of some library, etc, etc... All in all it's really very tedious, which is why most people run Windows, and just install pre-compiled application for their specific Windows version. Of course they put up with OS bloat, instability etc, etc as well, but hey, you don't completely eliminate this just by using Linux, and you have the added joy of dealing with these other issues as well.
You have to convert the source code (which is in a quasi human readable programming language like 'C' or 'C++' ) into something that the computer can understand, which is a binary file format with different 'sections' in the file containing different pieces of information, all of which are used by a combination of OS subsystems ( the program loader reads several of these sections, passes some of the information to the Memory Manager, some to the Process Manager, etc.) The rest is used by the running application itself. Some of what is in the binary is simply data, other bits are instructions in a form that the CPU can interpret.
So, you get a new program in source code form, it needs to be compiled before it can be run. Actually it usually also requires linking, but that is usually infered by the word 'compile'.
Is this what you mean, or are you refering to having to recompile the kernel itself. This is essentially the same issue as before, but what usually causes your need to do this is that the cuirrent version of the kernel - and probably other parts of the OS you are running has not had some 'vital' subsystem 'compiled' in, or 'enabled' by the compiler. This may prevent your app from running. Like if you don't have sound support in your kernel and want to run the cd player or something like that. So here you have an issue.
You need a compiler. usually your installation has a compiler in it, but it might not be the correct version for what you need to compile, or you might not have the kernel source installed, or the wrong version of some library, etc, etc... All in all it's really very tedious, which is why most people run Windows, and just install pre-compiled application for their specific Windows version. Of course they put up with OS bloat, instability etc, etc as well, but hey, you don't completely eliminate this just by using Linux, and you have the added joy of dealing with these other issues as well.
Ch2i5
11-12-2001, 10:36 AM
thanks alot for explaining this, I've been going on and off with Linux, but lately, since I found this site, really wanna get back into it, I'm just trying out different Distros, and so far an old version of Cladera that I have won't boot up, RedHat Linux is kewl, but SuSE comes with alot more converters and appz to help me still use my files on my windows partition like my mp3s. But last night I downloaded Mandrake linux...the only problem is, last night my monitor also blew, and now I'm using my dad's computer. Once I get my new monitor...god knows when, I'm gonna burn Mandrake 8.1 and use that, cuase of how "easy" it is for newbies like myself. I really wanna use Linux, cause i've heard its alot more stable, and its a new thing to learn, and seems to have alot more freedom over Windows. I do have a question, how do you install/compile RPM's and the source code files you said..what was it, tar.gz? I'd really be greatful, this site, and the people that help, are what have reborn my interest in Linux...Plus my dad doesn't know too much about linux, so I can know something better then him!! MUWAHHHAHAHAH!~!. LoL. Ok, well since I'm going into withdrawel syndrome, since i can't use my computer, I gotta go do some chores, and get out of this house... THanks!
bdg1983
11-12-2001, 05:22 PM
Any reason for posting the same question twice 25 minutes apart? Usually you see duplicate posts when they click on the 'post topic' button twice in error, but???
No problem. I was just wondering why.
No problem. I was just wondering why.
Ch2i5
11-12-2001, 08:34 PM
Well I left the window opened, and pressed the back button and some stuff, I guess it just reposted
DMR
11-12-2001, 10:13 PM
rpm -ivh [i]package_nameThe "-i" option is short for "install"; the "v" and "h" options give you more on-screen feedback during the install. Most distros which use RPMs also have a GUI "package manager" program which makes the process of installing or uninstalling programs easier.
.tar, .tar.z, and .tar.gz files usually contain the uncompiled source code for a given progam/package. The ".tar" extension is short for Tape ARchive, and comes from the ancient past of UNIX, when the backup medium was 9-track (among other formats) data tape. A .tar file consists of many related files packed (but not compressed) into one single file. The .z and .gz extensions indicate that the original .tar archive has then been compressed, usually using gzip these days, which is similar to Winzip in the Windows world.
Man tar and man gzip for more info on the usage of tar and gzip.
Once you unzip and untar the source-code files contained in the archive, you will have to compile them; Some Dumb Guy has already described the basics of this. Exactly how this needs to be done can vary depending on which program you're trying to compile. It also sounds like this isn't a route you want to take quite yet. For now, I'd suggest getting the pre-compiled binaries in whatever format is available to you.
Hope this helps...
[ 12 November 2001: Message edited by: DMR ]
[ 12 November 2001: Message edited by: DMR ]
.tar, .tar.z, and .tar.gz files usually contain the uncompiled source code for a given progam/package. The ".tar" extension is short for Tape ARchive, and comes from the ancient past of UNIX, when the backup medium was 9-track (among other formats) data tape. A .tar file consists of many related files packed (but not compressed) into one single file. The .z and .gz extensions indicate that the original .tar archive has then been compressed, usually using gzip these days, which is similar to Winzip in the Windows world.
Man tar and man gzip for more info on the usage of tar and gzip.
Once you unzip and untar the source-code files contained in the archive, you will have to compile them; Some Dumb Guy has already described the basics of this. Exactly how this needs to be done can vary depending on which program you're trying to compile. It also sounds like this isn't a route you want to take quite yet. For now, I'd suggest getting the pre-compiled binaries in whatever format is available to you.
Hope this helps...
[ 12 November 2001: Message edited by: DMR ]
[ 12 November 2001: Message edited by: DMR ]
vee-eye
11-12-2001, 10:22 PM
Ch2i5, if you accidentally double-post, please delete one of them, especially if it's a thread...
Ch2i5
11-12-2001, 10:25 PM
Sorry about that, Newbie!! LoL, wish I could get onto the IRC chat, but it says it can't resolve the Server IP
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