Installing software

[cdpoe]

i am a newb to linux and so far have enjoyed my experience with Linux Mint!
it has been a wonderful distro to ease into the linux environment.
i have a question involving software installing from a tar file.

i successfully extracted the tar file to /usr/local/src directory i created for compiling software apps.
i understand once the app has been extracted, you navigate to the folder and run the ./configure command.
the folder created in the /usr/local/src directory was "xpde" in my case.

so i input "cd /usr/local/src/xpde" in the commande line.
i then type "./configure" and i receive the following message: "bash: ./configure: No such file or directory"

i checked the ubuntu forums, and several tutorials on extracting tar files.
i am unable to get to the ./configure step and get stuck here.
any help is appreciated.

thanks!

[foggytown]

Hello,
I assume that you are attempting to install the same xpde mentioned in this tutorial:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/xpde

If so, the tuturial links to a pre-compiled binary...you might want to try that.

--john

[Husse]

Always install from the software portal first, then aptitude or synaptic (the same just different front ends), after that use a .deb file
First if all that has been tried do you use tarballed software especially if you are a newbie - but it's a good thing you want to learn
I think the problem is here

so i input "cd /usr/local/src/xpde" in the commande line.
i then type "./configure" and i receive the following message: "bash: ./configure: No such file or directory"

Now everything outside /home is root's domain so you need sudo there
I think the error message is odd, but probably bash thinks you are odd
If you are sure this is the right place and the right thing to do try sudo ./configure