Do you have to install a compiler to install from source

[vincent]

You need to install the "build-essential" package in order to compile from source, so open up a terminal and type

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sudo apt-get install build-essential

[markcynt]

An even better package that will most likely make compiling run smoother

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sudo apt-get install gnome-devel

[vincent]

If you're just looking to compile something and install it, instead of actively working on development, I think an IDE like Anjuta (and everything else pulled in by the gnome-devel metapackage) is overkill. Good ol' "make" is probably more than enough for the OP to work with. Just my opinion though.

[markcynt]

If you're just looking to compile something and install it, instead of actively working on development, I think an IDE like Anjuta (and everything else pulled in by the gnome-devel metapackage) is overkill. Good ol' "make" is probably more than enough for the OP to work with. Just my opinion though.

I've found the opposite to be true.

While gnome-devel does pull in a lot of stuff that's not needed, it pulls in a lot of development packages that build-essential doesn't but are needed to compile many source packages.

Just my experience.

[vincent]

Right, then I suppose I haven't ever compiled anything complicated enough to warrant the use of the gnome-devel package? Meh, all I've ever compiled are programs written in C/C++, and my experience states that build-essential is sufficient (for me). My advice to the OP: check out the README file in the tarball first and see if it calls for any particular dependencies or library files, and then install those before proceeding to compile.

[markcynt]

Right, then I suppose I haven't ever compiled anything complicated enough to warrant the use of the gnome-devel package? Meh, all I've ever compiled are programs written in C/C++, and my experience states that build-essential is sufficient (for me). My advice to the OP: check out the README file in the tarball first and see if it calls for any particular dependencies or library files, and then install those before proceeding to compile.

You're the greatest Vincent.