how do you install tar.gz files

[xanius]

Have you installed the gcc compiler?

Yast - Software - Software Management

Search for gcc

There will be a lot of packages for different purposes but normally just the main gcc package is enough.

Ok, so someone needs to answer this in plain English. When someone takes the time to write in and ask "how do you install tar.gz files" you don't respond with a correction saying "you don't actually install these files" and then leave it at that. Clearly what the user is asking is, "I have a tar.gz file, I want to install the program that I downloaded the tar.gz of."...like folks, do we really have to dance around so much?

I have just downloaded audacity, in tar.gz format. I want to install the program Audacity, hope this is crystal clear. I have extracted the files using the tar zxvf - audacity.tar.gz...the files are out in the open in the tmp directory. Now, how, EXACTLY do I continue with the install?

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

Here's a HowTo with instructions on installing software from source (post #2):

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...are-linux.html

It's generally better when possible to use the default package tool for your distribution when installing software rather than installing from source.

[xanius]

Hi Oz,

So I'm not clear on what the default package manager is. Shouldn't that be common to all Linux systems if I'm talking about tar.gz files?

I have extracted the files, renamed the directory because Linux gives it a brutally long file name, and now I have changed to that directory in a terminal window and have typed the command ./configure. It did something, there was a lot of output in the terminal window. Now I'm in the same directory, su to root and typed makethen I get output saying that there is no make target and no makefile found. Now what??

[xanius]

Seriously, what an F-around this is. So the readme for Audacity says I need wxWidgets installed. So I downloaded yet another tar.gz file, extracted it, switched to that directory, ./configure which looked as though it did all kinds of work, then get an error about make file command again. Even though there is clearly a makefile.in file in there....I understand why this OS is seriously lagging in market share. At literally every step of the way there is an obstacle.

[gogalthorp]

This is why it is suggested you use the installer software that comes with Suse, It is called Yast-Software-Software Management.

Yast should be in the menu. This uses repositories with precompiled packages (Applications) it also takes care of all dependencies so if you need a library or some other application these will also be installed.

The repositories have most but not all possible Linux applications. Some will need to be compiled. If you are going to compile from source you need to be prepared to supply all required libraries also you will need the gcc compiler which is not installed by default and for kernel packages you will need the kernel source which is also not installed by default. Both gcc and kernel-source packages can be installed via Yast

You may need to add some more community repositories to find a specific package. This link shows the main community repositories

Additional YaST Package Repositories - openSUSE


The Packman repository should have the audacity package ready to run.

[oz]

Assuming that your distribution is some version of *SUSE, your default package tool would be Yast. When you use it for installing software, any dependencies are pulled in along with the packages that you are installing. When you compile and install software from source they aren't, hence the suggestion to use your default package tool.

Oops... looks like gogalthorp pressed the submit button a few seconds before me!

[mikesd]

.I understand why this OS is seriously lagging in market share. At literally every step of the way there is an obstacle.

First of all, you come in here asking a question in a not so mannerly way, and then when someone tries to help you, you get defensive instead of trying to learn.

What error did you get on the make file? If you have problems, be specific. We can't read minds you know.

Now, to answer your question.

As others have said, Yast is the way to install in software graphically in suse. Redhat has yum, the debian distros have apt and i guess some graphical front end for them too.

It has been stated that it's best to use the default manager for your distro because it tries to resolve dependency issues and is the most stable (usually) release of that software.

So, go into Yast --> Software Management. Then in that little search box on the left hand side type audacity and see if it's there. If it is not found, we will surely help you add packman repositories and any others you need. We are more than willing to take our time and help you for nothing, but please be polite and specific.

Thank you and have a good day.

[xanius]

Gentlemen,

I appreciate your responses, and yes mikesd, I wasn't so cordial in my questions however let me put it in context. I have been attempting to use Linux off and on for some time now. I have 10 years of professional I.T. experience, yes primarily Windows administration, but I am not new to the logic of operating systems. I was frustrated because I have found that many "answers" provided to Linux noobs are incomplete and only lead to another question, and another and another. My first post was in response to a terrible answer provided to one user who was asking the same question I was - how do you install an application from a tar.gz file? The response that added to frustration was one where the respondant clarified that tar.gz files are compressed, similar to a .zip and that you don't "install" these files...ok, I get it however, the real question is not that hard to figure out.

In my case, I have downloaded the tar.gz for "Audacity". I have extracted the file in my /tmp directory and now have /tmp/audacity-2.8.10 directory. I have read the "readme" file and it has instructed me to install wxWidgets, which I have also downloaded and extracted. The problem is that after extracting the wxWidgets, I open a terminal, change to the wxWidgets directory and run ./configure, then "make", and I get an error telling me there is no makefile. There is a makefile.in, in fact there are a number of files with the word "make" at the beginning of the file name however, after 2 hours of reading inconclusive, completely useless, and in many cases, very snarky instructions from experienced Linux users, I still don't have a functioning app installed. Now, maybe I'm just stupid, but I have a lot of evidence to refute that, but does there exist anywhere, an actual example of installing a tar.gz file detailing the entire process?

Thanks for considering.
X.

[mikesd]

Well it does depend on the actual app. Some files have .bin files and some have install scripts than configure and run make and so on.

can you please try running ./configure again and see if gives an error of any type, then post that error. If there is not run make again. I suspect that it may be dieing on ./configure for a reason and that is why a make file is not being made. This is why it is preferred to use the package installer.

Can I ask why you don't just install the package already compiled for your distro?

And just because your in IT and have IT experience does not mean you won't have problems learning something new. Please remember there is a learing curve for everything and you'll get more responces by being polite.

[gogalthorp]

In most cases a tar.gz file (just a compressed file like zip), which is just the container of the source code of the package/project will have instruction which you found. Most will require the gcc (c compiler) and the make package those that link to the kernel (ie drivers and such) will in addition need the kernel-source package. You should not need kernel-source for audacity since it does not link to the kernel. All can be installed via Yast. So can Audacity! I suspect that if you look close at the output of config you will see that a c compiler could not be found. As default the gcc is NOT installed by Suse neither is the kernel-source. For the most part they are not needed unless you are a programmer or you insist on doing things the hard way.

A compile for a package for the most part happens in 3 steps

first config this is a script provided by the packager to configure the make configuration/definition files which actually compiles the project.

then make is run to compile (note make is not supplied by the package it must be present in the environment)

then make install is run to move the executables and needed bits to there final resting place. Normally you need to be root at this point since in most cases you are moving things to root owned locations.

This is all done this way because in many cases the package may be compiled to run on many different architectures and environments. ie non Intel processors and multiple different os's like Unix, Apple,Windows, Linux etc. The config script sorts this out and creates files to make config files to compile the project to the target environment.

If you want to install simple executables use Yast or the package manager for your distro. Suse uses RPM files to contain the executables and also define the dependencies so the installer can check and update the required libraries as needed.


another note since you are new to *nix. *nix based and modeled OS's are case sensitive unlike Windows/DOS which is not so take care with the case on commands and files.