Compiling programs in linux?

[Alex]

How would some lovely person like to explain to me exactly what all this compiling programs from source RPM is about? I understand that programs are written specifically for each linux kernel, and, in search of a good messenger program for Mandrake 10.1 I can only find GAIM, which is available for Madrake 10.0 or as a source - am I right in thinking this means that I need to download the source, the compile and make it?

I was coping fine with the nice easy bits of linux, but now I've come across this and can't seem to find any articles on this interwebby thing to help me on my way...

Oh, and seeing as I'm much perferring GNOME to KDE, does this mean that Kopete is out for the question as it seems to be for KDE?

Hang on a minute - whats all this about?

http://kopete.kde.org/

I didn't think this had happened yet?

Anyway, back on topic, will someone please explain the basics of getting a program working from the source rpm? I would be mightily grateful!!

[Daymonkey]

if you have a rpm i do believe the command in the diretory its in is "rpm -i filename.rpm"
afaik you cannot use kde programs in gnome.

[Alex]

If that's the install command then it's not necessary as Mandrake 10.1 just has an installer program that does it for you. The problem is that it just says it installs the source code in order that you can compile and make the program.

On more of a side note, anyone know how to get urpmi working with a fastish local server? I can find how to do it (I hope) with an American server, but not sure if it wouldn't be better with more of a local server...

[directhex]

you can run gnome programs in kde, and vice versa, no problems.

and you can usually get away with using an rpm for a slightly older version of your distro - the 10.0 rpm ought to be fine for gaim

[dgr]

you can run gnome programs in kde, and vice versa, no problems.

Provided you have the kde-base package installed, you should be fine. RPM will shout at you about missing dependencies otherwise.

[directhex]

rpm will shout at you about missing dependancies whatever you do, though

[yngvai]

If that's the install command then it's not necessary as Mandrake 10.1 just has an installer program that does it for you. The problem is that it just says it installs the source code in order that you can compile and make the program.

If you find the source directory (maybe under /usr/src /usr/local/src ?) you might find theinstructions on this site usefull. Regarding your post, patents etc, you might find this site interesting :-

http://thankpoland.info/

Hope it helps