If you compile - remember build-essential

[Husse]

For compiling to work build-essential must be installed

Code: Select all

apt install build-essential

note that code only works in Daryna. "Normal code" is

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install build-essential

[JohnH]

Hi Husse,

I'm sure this is important, but what does it do and why do we need it?

Regards

John

[MagnusB]

build-essentials is just a meta package, it depends on all the most common tools used when compiling. So instead of having to manually install them as you need them, build-essentials does that for you. You will not need it if you do not compile anything yourself..

[McLovin]

I've actually been trying to compile everything lately, makes for a more customized install.
For those who don't know, when you run an install from Synptic, a .deb., or even apt-get from console, you get a pre-configured set-up, great if you have pretty standard hardware, but if you are like me, (lets hope you're not, cause I like to "break" my system, just to learn how to fix it) and add new hardware, or have some odd hardware, this can create problems. Compiling from source, (as I understand it, please correct me if I'm wrong) scans your set-up, (hardware, kernel, drivers, etc.) and then compiles the program according to your particular system, making for an install more customized to you and your computer. Also compiling from source allows you to decide where to install something, by default everything (well, almost everything) gets installed in /usr/bin, but compiling from source lets you add some option inputs to install wherever you like.

[MagnusB]

Gentoo uses this with their package manager (Portage) where you more or less compile each installation. This could be great for some, and a good way to learn how Linux works etc, but what you gain from it is nothing more than a personalized system and a tiny bit of performance boost.
However, if you want to compile, Debian based systems are not the best way to go. Slackware, Arch Linux and of course Gentoo are much better for those purposes..

[McLovin]

Gentoo uses this with their package manager (Portage) where you more or less compile each installation. This could be great for some, and a good way to learn how Linux works etc, but what you gain from it is nothing more than a personalized system and a tiny bit of performance boost.
However, if you want to compile, Debian based systems are not the best way to go. Slackware, Arch Linux and of course Gentoo are much better for those purposes..

I've thought about trying Arch, Slackware just seems like it's software selection is too old, and for some reason Gentoo, which is the one I really want to try, can't see any of my hard drives, I've tried minimal, live cd, and live dvd, both the graphical and cl installs, and none of them seem to want to see my drives.
I mainly use use the compile to further my knowledge in Linux, and how to get things the way I want.
So I guess what I'm saying, or rather asking, is Arch worth a look?

[MagnusB]

Arch is great, way easier to configure that most distro's if you know a bit about your hardware and what you need. Follow the New user guide, and you should make it to the finish line without any major issues, I would think However, it is text based installer that only installs kernel and a shell, all other software needs to be added manually after installation (GNOME/KDE, GDM/KDM etc etc). Be prepared to use the CLI if you want to install it...

[McLovin]

CLI is not much of an issue for me, (if I can compile, I think I can make it through a cl install, besides that's I installed Debian Lenny), I think I'll give it a shot, Hardy's not bad, but I think I can wait for Mint to adopt the new features as they aren't that radical that I have to have them now. So I'll remove Hardy and try Arch, and see how it is.

[kwatson512]

Okay, then where should I place the new driver? What directory? And how do I navigate there to run the installer? Should I also copy the installer there?

Very frustrated.

[Husse]

Okay, then where should I place the new driver? What directory? And how do I navigate there to run the installer? Should I also copy the installer there?

Very frustrated.

???
And what's the relevance of this post in this topic?

[kwatson512]

Hesse,
The relevance is that I followed the link you sent me in another topic. Sorry. I'm new and just trying to figure things out.

[kwatson512]

Husse,

And I apologize again. I realize I misspelled your name in the last reply.

[Husse]

The relevance is that I followed the link you sent me in another topic.

OK but how do you think we would know that and know which topic and where to find it.
However put in the first topic this would make sense
(Oh don't expect me to remember any posts - I can write close to a hundred posts some days)

[Mapleblack]

When I setup a new system I always install the following packages:
build-essential & automake for compiling
subversion, well for downloading from subversion.
alien & fakeroot, installing RPM packages (fakeroot not really needed but comes in handy)

With these I can install most things

[Cubby]

Compiling from source, (as I understand it, please correct me if I'm wrong) scans your set-up, (hardware, kernel, drivers, etc.) and then compiles the program according to your particular system, making for an install more customized to you and your computer. .

I don't know if this is how it works, but I was recently thinking how it would be great if installing packages through the package manager/apt would scan your computers hardware and os when you chose to install anything, like it does when you initially install the os. I'm asking too much here, but I can dream.

[piratesmack]

If the software you want to compile is in the repositories (maybe you want to build a newer version or want to apply some patches), the apt-get build-dep command is userful for getting all the build dependencies.

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get build-dep PROGRAM


[gychang]

is this necessary for tar.gz?

gychang

[McLovin]

if you are downloading tar.gz packages for compiling, yes.

[dutch1]

hi, i do not really know if this item is in the right place in this discussion, but I am looking now for a long time for a simple list of (sudo)-commands if i have to deal with .gz, .gaz. rpm etc.
I am trying to install those files on my computer for a long time but for one or another reason it does not work.
Of course I do realise that with Synaptic I have the most progs I need, but nevertheless....

Hope one can he;lp me or direct m to a place where I can find it all

Hans

[dutch1]

hi, i do not really know if this item is in the right place in this discussion, but I am looking now for a long time for a simple list of (sudo)-commands if i have to deal with .gz, .gaz. rpm etc.
I am trying to install those files on my computer for a long time but for one or another reason it does not work.
Of course I do realise that with Synaptic I have the most progs I need, but nevertheless....

Hope one can he;lp me or direct m to a place where I can find it all

Hans

Please, can anybody give me a simple list, or

direct me to a page where i can fuind a list like that?


Hans