Installing issue with tar.gz files

[Craig White]

On Sat, 2005-02-12 at 17:38 -0500, Gene Heskett wrote:
> On Saturday 12 February 2005 12:54, Kumara wrote:
> >Hi list
> >Could someone tell me how to compile/install packages that comes in
> > tar.gz Ex. I have asterisk tar.gz source file but don't know how to
> > install it. could someone give me steps to go ahead.
> >
> >I'm fairly familiar installations with rpm packages (but not
> > src.rpm) hope your assistance
> >Mohan
> 
> Generally speaking, a tar.gz file is going to be the srcs, not the 
> executables.  To install that will require that you have the 
> 'development' packages installed into your system so that you have 
> the compiler and other tools required to build and install that 
> package on your system
> 
> Bear in mind that rpm will have no knowledge of anything installed by 
> this method.  That doesn't mean its 1005 bad to do, and ai have quite 
> a bit of stuff so installed on this system.
> 
> Anyway, if the package has all the tools in it, the installation then 
> is a matter of unpacking the tarball, with a command like 'tar xzf 
> name_of_tarball.tar.gz', then cd'ing to the directory made by the 
> unpack, probably the same as the tarballs name without the tar.gz on 
> the end of it.
> 
> Once there,  do
> 
> ./configure(enterkey)
> 
> it will spit out a whole bunch of stuff while it finds the resources 
> it need on your machine.  When its done, hopefully without reporting 
> a failure, then:
> 
> make(enterkey)
> 
> When thats done, also without reporting a failure:
> 
> make install(enterkey)
> 
> Will install the program, and generally, all you have to do to run it 
> is name-of-program(enterkey) and it should run.
> 
> Its not always that easy of course, but the learning experience of 
> figuring out what went toes up, and fixing it, often with the help of 
> a mailing list such as this one, but who's focus is the program under 
> the spotlight, is invaluable, both from the learning standpoint for 
> you, and the level of the help available should you stick up your 
> hand and wave at one of the 'teachers'.
----
This explanation leaves out the most single important instruction of
all.

In virtually all cases, a tarball will have a README or an INSTALL file
and in many cases, both. Reading INSTALL is almost always essential.
Reading the README file is just generally a smart thing to do. Checking
them out 'before' you run ./configure, make etc. is what smart people
do.

Craig