I have noticed there are a lot of programs that you can download for linux, but need compiling. How do you do this? I assume you need a compiler, which one do I download? Do I need different compilers for differnet applications? Please help, I’m a puzzeld penguin,.
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Install the gcc, make, and the devel libs, or better the pattern devel
C/C++, to compile you would read the README file that comes with the
program sources, but basically you have to do: “./configure” and if all
is ok you type “make”, if all is ok then as root type “make install”
But better read the README file before, cmake proyects are compiled
different, some QT4 different, etc
VampirD
Microsoft Windows is like air conditioning
Stops working when you open a window.
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Also as a general rule you should first try to find the package (program) in Software Management in Yast.
Hi
Best place to start is here for applications;
http://software.opensuse.org/search?
Note, you need to be careful installing applications via the one-click
as you can get into conflicts with additional repositories added!
What specific applications are you wanting? It might be better to list
them (after doing a search) so we could offer further advice 
To compile you normally need gcc make gcc-c++ and the rpms
<somename>-devel but can get confusing… you can install development
patterns as well via YaST to install for example KDE4 development if
that is what you wanting to compile and it should install most of the
requirements.
Again, it’s best to stick with just the oss, non-oss and update
repositories (and packman), and just ask for advice here on the forum
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.42-0.1-default
up 17:58, 2 users, load average: 0.03, 0.07, 0.08
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.53
VampirD already said it, but I want to make it a little more clearer that
the source code based programs have clearly completely different
requirements.
Many are written in c but some need completely different prerequisites (for
example sbcl needs a working lisp system to be compiled). Often the README
does not contain all information you need to compile the system (sometimes
needed libraries or headers are not mentioned) so you can get stuck if you
are not a programmer who knows how to find the missing dependencies.
That is exactly the reason why the most important applications are available
in binary form in nearly every linux distribution. deb packages for debian
and its derivatives (ubuntu, mint …) and rpm packages for opensuse,
fedora, red hat …
To make compiling/installing from source easier I always install the KDE development pattern and the Kernel development pattern.
Of course if you’re running Gnome you’d want the Gnome development pattern.