What eaxctly is a development package?

[NiteFlite]

I need to use pcap for my application. I need the header file pcap.h.
Someone said I need to download libpcap-devel, the development packasge.

My questions...
1) What exactly is a development package.
2) Do I need to compile it and link it to the linux kernel somehow.
3) if I download that where do i put it. How do i use it?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[yancek]

These things are usually best done using the distributions package manager so that dependencies are resolved. So, which distribution of Linux are you using? That would be a good starting point to get some help.

[NiteFlite]

Centos 5.2 is the distribution.
Is there something more you are asking for?
I'm sorry I'm new to this...

[oz]

Hello and welcome to the forums!

I don't run CentOS, so can't say what all is or is not in the their package repositories, but CentOS uses YUM as its package tool, so you might be able to install it with YUM by going to the command line and issuing the following command:

yum install libpcap libpcap-devel

Don't forget that you need root permissions to install software.

[NiteFlite]

Thanks!
Will check it out.

[oz]

If you aren't familiar with using YUM, you can check this article for info that might help you:

Managing Software with yum

It was written for a previous version of CentOS but should still be valid.

[yancek]

See the link below:

PackageManagement/Yum - CentOS Wiki

[NiteFlite]

Thanks to all. I will check it out...

[hazel]

I need to use pcap for my application. I need the header file pcap.h.
Someone said I need to download libpcap-devel, the development packasge.

My questions...
1) What exactly is a development package.
2) Do I need to compile it and link it to the linux kernel somehow.
3) if I download that where do i put it. How do i use it?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

The specific answer to your question is that Linux libraries usually come in two parts: the library proper (ready-compiled for your distribution) and the "development" package which includes the library headers.

You need the library to run programs dependent on it. Usually you install such programs in binary (compiled) form, using a package manager like yum. You don't need the development package unless you want to compile programs from source, which novices don't usually do.

You don't ever need to compile the development package itself, because it's only headers, which are plain text. And when you install the package, those headers will automatically be copied to the right location.