Installing software in linux

I am using Suse 8.1 on my laptop. I use it for college, typing and other work like compiling java, when i was using windows.

Can somebody show me how they can install an SDK?

The instructions on Suns website don't cut if with me, being a n00b and all to this.

Lets start by saying i have the SDK sitting on my desktop, whats the next step? The SDK is a bin file.


Another issue i have with installing software is mozilla and licq, this is for my desktop machine. licq is for version 8.0 of suse, which i am sure will work with 8.1, the file is an rpm and mozilla is a gz file.
I've read the readme on the gz file btw.

Lets also assume i know nothing of the command line.

rpms are installed with:

rpm -Uvh filename.rpm

where "filename.rpm" is the name of the file.

Any errors post them back here.

The tar.gz file is probably installed like this:

unpack it first:

tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz

unpacks to a directory, change dir into that directory:

cd filename

now there will be an INSTALL file or README file, read it like this:

more INSTALL

or

more README

it will tell you what to do. Its more than likely going to be something along the lines of:

./configure
make
make install


Remember that these operations will require you to become root. Either log in as root or "su" to root with the "su" command.

U sure it's the current directory? My really bad memory says it was /usr

While i will try these suggestions don't be surprised if i cannot do it.

As a side note, i installed Licq on my system, at this time i have not been able to get it to work. I click on it in the menu and the flower icon appears then after a period of time, everything just disappears. Is there something i can do to get this to work?

This is the version of licq that i said should work on suse 8.1 when licq is for version 8.0!

How do i do that? Remember i said i am a total n00b with the command line

meltedbutter@linux:~> licq
13:24:14: [WRN] Licq: Ignoring stale lockfile (pid 3148)
13:24:14: [ERR] Unable to load plugin (qt-gui): /usr/local/lib/licq/licq_qt-gui.so: undefined symbol: __ti7QDialog.

Thats what i get when i type "licq"

as a side note whats the command that gives a systems uptime, showing how long its been running for?

I hardly ever bother with RPMs myself, its meant to make things easy but it leans towards complications for me always.... I tend to always download the source code and ./configure, make, make install, etc...

While i can understand your method, is this the better way for someone like myself?

Is it not harder?

Well, not really much harder when you realise that its like the same set of 6 or so commands in 95% of cases....

Its certainly more likely to work if you do it properly....

Okay i have the tar file unzipped and its inside a folder i create called "licq", thats sitting on the desktop. Whats the next stage now?

you can give me the instructions for mozilla as well if you want since that is also in a folder extracted from the tar file.

open a command prompt
navigate to the directory that you just untarred.

The desktop is probably not the best place - I would suggest a "download" directory in your home directory in which you can untar files.

Your desktop will be something like .gnome-desktop or .desktop or something directory in your home directory.

Once inside, consult the INSTALL file, which you can read by entering the following command:

more INSTALL

or it may be called README, thus:

more README

Anyway, there will be simple instructions. Read and follow those, but its very likely to be:

./configure
make
make install


which is it for about 95% of software out there in this form.

Just out of curiosty, where i am to enter the command, in the location bar or open a console?

ABSOLUTELY...


....on an open console....

There are 4 README files each explaining an issue hte software has with clients and servers whatever. But there are 2 makefile files. Are these what you mean?

Also can you explain what you mean by this:

"./configure
make
make install"