Compile source code

[fng_the_greek]

Greetings from Athens, everybody

Can someone tell me/point me to links, etc. on how to compile source code on my openSuse 11? I am trying to move away from windows, but some programs I want for everyday use are available in source code only. So, What must I do? Thanks in advance.

[DenverD]

Greetings Greek-fng, from Denmark..

welcome to open source and SuSE Linux

here is a pointer for you: http://en.opensuse.org/Compiling_software

but, are you SURE they are not available already for SuSE?

that is, even a "full install" from a CD or DVD will not have ALL
software available loaded on your machine...

have you opened YaST and gone to "Software Management" and searched for
what you want?

and, be advised that most popular programs are avaliable in .rpm
files....and, there are many such file compiled for SuSE...those you can
also install with YaST..

care to name the programs you want but don't immediately see?

i'm not trying to talk you out of compiling, it is not hard once you
have all the needed development packages installed (again, via
YaST....or better yet when i FIRST install SuSE, i always click to
install the development packs....just so much easer..

again welcome....i've been to several of your beautiful islands (Rhodes,
Kos, Samos, Corfu for sure, maybe some others) and enjoyed all of them
more that the traffic and busy-busy of Athens..

--
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

[ghostwind]

I think this may be more of a question of how to compile software, rather than someone thinking that they need to compile every piece of software they install. But if they do think they have to compile every piece of software installed, the answer for you is no.

Most of the software you will ever need comes in pre-compiled binary files called RPM's. Using these files makes installing programs almost as installing a windows program.

However, if you want to learn how to compile your own software, there are a couple things you will need to know.

First, you need to make sure you have the following installed onyour computer:

#1 MAKE
#2 Kernel header
#3 Kernel source

None of these packages are installed by default, to the best of my knowledge, and can be installed graphically, using YasT. I suggest you do a google search on these packages to learn specifically what they do

When you download a program's source code, you first need to decompress the file. Then, within the directory, you should read the INSTALL and README files. They will tell you what you need to do in order to install the software.

As a general guide, here is what usually is done to compile the packages"

#1 Open up the directory you just extracted the source code to in the terminal.

#2 Type "su" (without the quotes) to give yourself root access. enter your root password. You should see somthing like this after you login:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chris@linux-2260:~/Desktop> su
Password: 
linux-2260:/home/chris/Desktop # 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The # sign indicates you are now the root user

#2 type "make". stuff will then happen.... be patient, this can take awhile.

#3 type "make install". More stuff will happen... be patient, this can take awhile.

#4 tada! you have just installed your first program from source!

[DenverD]

ghostwind wrote:
> I think this may be more of a question of how to compile software,

i agree...which is exactly why i pointed her/him to
http://en.opensuse.org/Compiling_software

and since s/he wrote "some programs I want for everyday use are
available in source code only" i then followed _the answer_ to how to
compile with "but, are you SURE they are not available already for SuSE?"

--
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

[fng_the_greek]

Thanks for your prompt responses guys.

@denver: An example is kchmviewer. I have many .chm files I can't view in Linux. My research pointed me towards kchmviewer, but when I found it, it needed to be compiled. And pidgin, it comes install-ready for windows and Fedora (from their site), the rest will have to compile, as it seems.

And yes, you are right, Athens is like that. Thank god we have the islands to rest and relax a bit.

@ghostwind : Thanks for the brief guide, I will look into it, use denver's link too, then see what will happen.

I will keep you informed, have a nice day and cheers everybody.

[DenverD]

> Thanks for your prompt responses guys.

welcome...and you can "pay back" there was a guy in another forum here
asking about Greek fonts....i don't know if he got the help he
needs...or maybe he need help in your lingo....you might check in from
time to time and help that way..


> An example is kchmviewer ... pidgin

BOTH of those are also ready to install in SuSE...just

- pop open YaST

- give it your root password

- click on "Software Management"

- a new window will open and after a while of initialization there will
appear a "Search" blank on the left

- enter kchmviewer in that blank

- press the search button right below the blank you typed in

- on the right will appear "kchmviewer KDE chm Viewer <snip> with an
empty box just to the left...

- single left click in that box (a check mark will appear)

- erase kchmviewer from the Search blank and

- type in pidgin

- click the search button

- this time several possible packages will appear on the right...

- read the summary of each, or highlight one and then look down a little
where you can get all the DETAILS of what it does, how big it is, what
version and more..

- decide which packages you need and single left click in each box....i
use Pidgin and in mine it shows i have installed these:
-- libpurple
-- pidgin
-- pidgin-bot-sentry
-- pidgin-bot-sentry-lang
-- i SUPPOSE you might also need libpurple-lang if you want a menu in
greek, for example....but MAYBE not...don't know

- down in the bottom right of the window, click on "Accept"

- sometimes (often) YaST will find that other packages ARE needed and it
will show you a list, tell you they are needed and then ask if you want
them....say Yes (or Ok, or whatever it wants to install them all)

- after it is finished it will ask if you want to install more, click no
to close the Software Management window...

- and you should then find both new packages in your menu..Pidgin under
Internet > Chat and i guess kchmviewer somewhere under Graphics..

by the way, it is fun to compile your own, but using YaST and ready
built packages is faster....AND if YaST installs it SuSE will
AUTOMATICALLY watch for security patches for it and keep it up to
date...cool, huh?

> And yes, you are right, Athens is like that. Thank god we have the
> islands to rest and relax a bit.

wish i was on one of the islands now (but maybe it is too hot)..

--
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark