Installing from source or deb packages

[Scott]

Timothy A. Holmes wrote:
> Ok:
> 
> this question has been brewing for some time now.
> 
>  
> 
> Its actually in a couple parts:
> 
> 1. how do install from source under Ubuntu – most of my linux experience
> is under Fedora Core 2, 3, 4, and there I know the
> 
>  
> 
> ./configure
> 
> Make
> 
> Make install
> 
>  
> 
> Routine.  But I am wondering how to do the equivalent stuff on Ubuntu


That procedure is the same on any Linux distro, so it's the same here
too. :-)

However,   I've always added a step and instead of typing "Make
Install:"   I'd type "checkinstall" in it's place.  This will create a
.deb package that you can install, which is much easier to manage.  I've
used that on Fedora Core as well, of course there it creates a .rpm package.

So, if interested,   sudo apt-get install checkinstall.


>  
> 
> Also,
> 
>  
> 
>    2. how do I know what .deb packages are good for ubuntu, and which
>       ones are not.  One of the replies on my VPN question suggested
>       that I use kvpnc, which I tried last night, and it gave me
>       headaches and kept crashing (the one out of universe) and so I
>       want to install the late test one from the site, and its in deb
>       packages, but I don’t know if that deb package will work with Ubuntu.
> 
> 

Well supposedly if it's in Ubuntu's archive and it's signed it's good.
However, as you have noted that isn't always the case.  Software is just
buggy, period.  However, a good rule of thumb is to stick with Ubuntu
packages and not mix any from other archives.  Of course, this isn't
always possible as while Ubuntu has thousands of packages, they don't
have what everyone is going to want all the time.

So  I'm afraid I can't really answer your question.  However, more often
than not, the packages in Ubuntu's archive are just fine.

-- 
Scott
www.angrykeyboarder.com
© 2005 angrykeyboarder & Elmer Fudd. All Wights Wesewved