How to compile program under Linux / UNIX / FreeBSD
Q. I've downloaded tar ball software but I don't know how to compile the same? Can you provide the instructions for compiling a program?
A. Many new users find it difficult to compiling programs in Linux. Usually following steps are involved:
a] Download tar ball using wget
b] Untar tar ball using tar command
c] Compile program using make or configure command
d] Install software
Task: compiling program
Step # 1: Download program tar ball:
$ wget http://url-com/prog.tar.gz
Step # 2: Untar tar ball :
$ tar -zxvf prog.tar.gz
$ cd prog
Step # 3: Untar tar ball:
Configure program:
$ ./configure
Compile program:
$ make
Install program (must be run as the root, login using su or use sudo):
$ sudo make install
or
$ su -
$ make install
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Discussion on This FAQ
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Tags: compiling program, configure_command, downloaded tar, install software, make_command, root login, sudo_command, tar ball, tar gz, tar_command, untar, wget_command ~ Last updated on: November 18, 2007
November 19th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Step # 3: Read README, INSTALL, and any other documentation. This will save a lot of hassles when configure and/or make fails.
November 20th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Ed,
Yup, README or INSTALL will save tons of time. Appreciate your post.