Installing gcc, g++, GNUStep, gobjc, and libraries

[rezwits]

I am trying to set-up a work enviornment for developing programs for Mac, Windows, and Linux. I am having a hard time when I think about Linux because I am so used to double-click installers on both Windows and Mac. I decided to use my PPC G4 (mac) to install Debian 4.0r1 from the Install DVD. Everything went fine. But the main issue is I goto the terminal app under Linux, and quickly type GCC just to see if I get an error and I get a dreaded "command not found", so now I am thinking ok I have a DVD install and no developer tools installed. I want to use GNUStep (try at least). But I am unsure of how robust this will be. This is my second time I am trying Linux again. My last install was Red Hat Valhalla I believe 4.0 for PPC. Hated the KDE. But I am here to stay with it because I want to have my applications developed for: Win x86, Mac x86, Mac PPC, Mac OS8, Linux x86, and Linux PPC (at least). I have a few other questions though. One thing I am really wondering though is if you develop something for Linux it's not automatically Cross-Platform right? Ex. If I compiled/built an app for Linux on my PPC Linux if I transfered that to my x86 Linux box it wouldn't just automatically run, right? That's my thinking. That aside the main issue is:

How do I install my development tools for Linux? Everything in terminal as root? Are there any simple double-click "Instant Development Envirornment" for GCC C, and C++ at least?

Thanks

[rezwits]

http://gcc.gnu.org/install/prerequisites.html

I found this page, but this Laundry list is insane. Do I have to hunt down all of the packages and install them individually? Or are most of these included with the Linux Distribution...

[rezwits]

I found the package manager installer for ALLLLL the packages, and just clicked them and installed and then compiled a program. Wasn't so bad after all...

[chris-harry]

How do I install my development tools for Linux? Everything in terminal as root?

you dont have to do everything in a terminal nowadays (except a few things)...

i am really use to using a terminal, because its so easy to update, and you aint using as much processing power and ram when needing to update...

anyway... there are a few package managers out there... (this is going to get you as close to a GUI install as possible, but not like a windows GUI install)... synaptic is a package manager, that is GUI...

it checks dependencies and all that stuff, and the best part, is that is puts everything in logical folders (aka, KDE compondents, Development, Java etc)... and its the fastest GUI package manager that i know of... :P

hopefully i have been some help... :P

[rezwits]

I am using PPC for one machine and x86 for another. If I want to use certain programs, for my x86 I can just download and install unless only source code is given; but on my PPC unless the site with the ware states specifically that its a PPC version, I have to compile/build everything for it then right?

Getting there...