How do I install tar.gz and src.rpm files?

[Cyberian]

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Currently using SuSE 9.1.

Hi,

This is my 2nd day using Linux. Total newbie. I have searched google for tutorials and manuals but I do not understand what they are trying to say. Like I said, this is my 2nd day using it.

As a newbie I was told to stick to RPM files. But not all applications have RPMs. So how do I install tar.gz and src.rpm files?

I have my files DL'ed in: file:/home/cyberian/src

I am suppose to type something into Konsole. But I do not know what. Please help.

BTW, do Red Hat RPMs work in SuSE? Or cause any problems?

[sarumont]

I don't know about src.rpms (*shudders at RPMs*), but for a tar.gz:

cd Download_Dir/
tar xvfz file.tar.gz
cd file_dir/
./configure
make
su -c "make install" (enter root password here)

That should do it.

[bsdunix]

have the tar file in an open directory window (ie; konqueror), open terminal, type su -, enter password for root user when it prompts you to do so, type "cd /directory/that/tar/file/is/in", now, right click the tar file. you'll see a drop menu...highlight "actions", click on "extract here" wait. next, you'll see a new folder appear with similar name to tar file. neat, huh? I thought so! click on that. now, look for a "readme" or "install" file or any and all text files that came along with this tar file. read them all. most of it will have you thinking that you're expected to never get to wind up kissing a girl and always be made fun of, but somewhere, you'll get some useful information. some of these packages have special instructions we wouldn't want to miss out on. if it's all useless gibberish, click back on the prompt in your open terminal and type "cd"(hit "enter") then left mouse button hold+drag+highlight the /directory/folder/name at the top of your konqueror window; everything just past the "file:" part and make sure no files within your presently open folder are appended to the end of this string. now, right click the blue highlighted text, select "copy", it copied the string into your clipboard and probably won't forget too soon. now left click again at the prompt in your open terminal, type "cd (space)and then, right click the prompt, click "paste", enter. now, in that directory konqueror window, just look for a file simply named "configure". if you see one; type the word "configure" in your terminal. wait. when it's done, it will give you back your "#" or "$" or "%" shell prompt sign. at this point, either there was a configure file or there wasn't one. either way, you're now gonna look for a "Makefile" just type "make" this may take time. when done, if no errors from missing dependancies or libraries or stars weren't aligned just so...and ALL worked out, and no complaints came up, and you got your shell prompt back again, type "make install". you're DONE when it's done!
RPM files are RPM files you right click them and select "preview in KRPMview". sometimes, in suse 9.1, there is no config or make needed. sometimes, you'll see a black terminal shell screen icon thingie. it will sometimes have a .sh at the end of it's name. then, to use the shell, you type the name of the script as you see it with a little addition prior; #"sh" or "./"pew/my/butt/sure/stinks.sh easy enough, innit? I probably showed you the stupidest way to do all this stuff and confused the hell out of you but, hey, who else was gonna write a book for ya?

[bsdunix]

D'oh! oh well, i forgot the banana, anyway! :banana:

[gypsy7]

I seem to be having a problem with those commands for some reason. It seems to work until the command "make" at make it returns

make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

Please start a new thread describing in detail any problems that you are having because this thread is almost 5 years old. You can also check this thread for more details on installing software from source.

Sorry for any inconvenience.