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Compiling software

  • 22-06-2004 8:45am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,484 ✭✭✭✭


    Ok, this is one thing that has irritated me about Linux every time I've tried it. I'm currently giving mandrake 10 a shot (I am by no stretch of the imagination an experienced linux user, still very much a Windows head). Why don't more Linux developers make binaries of their software available rather than forcing everyone to download the source and compile it themselves? For example - I downloaded the Firefox 0.9 linux installer last night, had it installed in a minute or two, no messing about. I also downloaded a battery monitor program for KDE (as it doesn't seem to have one built in). I spent about 2 hours trying to compile the f**king thing. It kept failing at different stages due to various different -devel packages not being installed on my machine. I managed to install most of them from the mandrake RPM's - including some Qt one that it kept moaning about - and still kept doing it afterwards. Argh!

    (still haven't got the thing working)

    if only that was available in a pre-compiled form i could have saved lots of time. Blah.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,880 ✭✭✭nosmo


    Odds are, seeing as you are running mandrake, there are RPMS available for whatever you might need, have a look around the site and the mirrors, maybe google it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,484 ✭✭✭✭Stephen


    I had a quick look around (its called Kbatt), have had no joy yet.

    But my point is, why don't people make compiled binaries readily available, like we see in the windows world?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,958 ✭✭✭Chad ghostal


    as far as i know (linux noob myself)
    compiling the software makes it work on many platforms
    as opposed to the developer making an individual package for all of the major distributions..

    just browsing over the site it looks like its just the one guy making the program, and it would probably be alot time and trouble making packages for everyone.
    time that could be spent developing.

    but then im only guessing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 347 ✭✭Static


    Because depending on who's making the software, they may not have the time/resources to build binaries for the multitude of platforms out there, and have to do this every time they make a new build. Don't assume everyone uses intel + linux.

    This is before the nightmare that is troubleshooting problems people have with said binaries.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,751 ✭✭✭Ste-


    I find when installing Mandrake that a lot of the stuff needed can be installed when first installing Mandrake. I always choose individual package selection.

    That way you can choose the development tools and you won't need to do it later.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,564 ✭✭✭Typedef


    You could just use Debian (or perhaps a yum/apt mirror on RedHead/SuSE/Mandrake) and apt-get Kbatt.

    Odds are, somebody somewhere in the Debian project has gone to the bother of making a .deb of whatever it is you're looking for and 'apt' should take care of all the dependancies.

    As an aside you could always just use Gentoo and

    emerge Kbatt.

    typedef@Vader# emerge a-good_looking_girlfriend-non-slut_non-gold-digger_non-clingly-bunny-boiler


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,334 ✭✭✭OfflerCrocGod


    I also recommend gentoo for all that ails you, it's brilliant compared to RPMs and you get your software optimised for your platform
    Originally posted by Typedef
    typedef@Vader# emerge a-good_looking_girlfriend-non-slut_non-gold-digger_non-clingly-bunny-boiler
    What ebuild is that? - I've been looking for that package for a while now and I just can't find it - maybe Gentoo is just not as good as I though it was;).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,268 ✭✭✭hostyle


    All software I have come across that won't install properly has always been KDE based (with the exception of gnomad2) ... unhelpful I know. Try a different WM and work from there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,987 ✭✭✭✭zAbbo


    Installing software has been done to death here,

    so here we go again

    Go here - http://urpmi.org/easyurpmi/index.php

    Select your version, open the console as root(su)

    Add the mirrors, now if you want to use the GUI its the Add Software option in the KDE menu

    Hard isnt it?

    Just for the record you prolly didnt install kbatt or select acpi etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,268 ✭✭✭hostyle


    Originally posted by bazH
    Go here - http://urpmi.org/easyurpmi/index.php

    Thats a most helpful URL, which I've used in the past to find local mirrrors of the PLF rpms. However it doesnt help if the package you wish to install isnt included on those sites, gnomad2 for example. There are countless other packages they do include which are very out of date. I'm not blaming anyone, its just what I've found.


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