Confused on the process of building from source

**heprox** · 12-16-2005

I've been using Linux for about a year now and still can't figure out how to build and install an application from source? I have a Centos 4x installation that I'm trying to compile rsync-2.6.6 from source (I couldn't find an RPM). Does anyone know of a good walkthrough for beginners?

**AndrewB** · 12-16-2005

normally there is an install document to walk through, or a read me
but normally you uncompress it
then

Code:

./configure
make
su
&#91;password&#93;
make install

**Cabhan** · 12-16-2005

To explain a bit:

First, there is usually a README file that contains a goodly amount of info. There is also often an INSTALL file that contains installation-related stuff.

Now then, the commands listed above:

Code:

./configure

This will configure the installation with specific options. For example, if the program usually installs to /usr and you want it to install to /usr/local, you can run:

Code:

./configure --prefix=/usr/local

Code:

make

This actually compiles the code and leaves the compiled stuff wherever it is compiled.

Code:

make install

This will move the files to their proper directories, for example, /usr/bin. Because this accesses system directories, you usually need root permissions to do this step.

**smolloy** · 12-16-2005

Nice explanation Cabhan!

I've compiled from source hundreds of times now (I did LinuxFromScratch!) and reading your explanation made me realise that I'd never quite understood exactly what the difference between "make" and "make install" was!!

You learn something new every day don't you!

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