what the heck do i do with tar.gz files?
often times when i want to install a program, they have no deb files, and only Tars. how to i install from a tar??
also, i would like an explanation on the file types
A .tar.gz file is kind of like a .zip file. It's a compressed archive with other files inside it. You should just be able to double-click on it, and extract the contents.
I haven't installed anything from a .tar.gz file, but I imagine you just unzip it and put the files where you want them. The package manager doesn't keep track of .tar.gz installs, the way it does with .deb installs, though.
I am a member!
A tar.gz is a compressed tarball, i.e. an archive. You can open and extract them with Gnome's "file roller" archiver frontend the same way you would a zip file.
As for how to install from one, depends on the tarball really. Most of the time tarballs contain source code, which you will have to build yourself. Usually you use make to build them, but some use different build systems. Some tarballs might have a nice convenient script to do it all, or even prebuilt binaries.
There should be a "readme" inside the tarball or on the project's site that explains further.
Also, be careful. You should read the LICENSE file which tell you if it is apparently free software. Choosing or not to install free software, you at least MUST know which kind of software are you installing.
After that, you can read the README file for knowing more about the program and INSTALL for reading the details of how to install it. Normally, it is just to open a terminal in the folder created when the .tar.gz was extracted and run
./configurefor checking dependencies and setting the root where the program will be installed (just default without other parameters)
makefor compiling, and
sudo make installfor installing it into your system. However, it is possible that the method was different, so you must always read INSTALL file, or README if it doesn't exit. It's the way of installing pakages from source code, which is useful for installing last versions or unsupported packages, but in general there is a binary package in the trisquel's repository which saves your time, it's easier, avoids problems and you can be sure that that software is respecting your freedom without need of inspecting it deeply.
В 10:23 +0200 на 05.10.2011 (ср), lluvia_listas[@nospam] написа:
>
> for compiling, and
>
> sudo make install
I would not recommend this step. It could override system files and
usually the installed files are not easy to remove. It is not a good
idea to manually install software in the same place where the package
manager does (/usr, /usr/bin, /usr/lib, /lib, /bin ...).
Some packages do not provide "make uninstall", which prevents their
removal. A better way is to set the DESTDIR variable. This will install
all files in the path specified by DESTDIR. For example:
DESTIDR=$HOME/binaries/ make install
Of course not every project respects the DESTDIR variable. Packages
using GNU Autotools do.
For testing the step could be executed without sudo. It will fail, but
it will be possible to see where it will install.
It is always a good idea to execute ./configure with
--prefix=/usr/local.
A useful tool is GNU Stow, which manages software installed
in /usr/local (mostly compiled locally) by providing symbolic links
in /usr/local/bin, /usr/local/lib etc. etc. to the actual path where the
package files are. This is
usually /usr/local/stow/locally_compiled_package_name.
Oh, and for configure, make, gcc and other commands to be available one
should install the build-essential package.
> I would not recommend this step. It could override system
> files and usually the installed files are not easy to
> remove.
I take note!
Btw, is there some way of installing programs in your /home using apt-get or aptitude (which don't require you to have root permissions)?
В 11:15 +0200 на 05.10.2011 (ср), lluvia_lists[@nospam] написа:
> Btw, is there some way of installing programs in your /home using apt-get or
> aptitude (which don't require you to have root permissions)?
I don't know any. I to will appreciate it, if someone could share some
knowledge and experience on the topic.
Some packages include 'make localinstall'.
There is also checkinstall. It's been a few years since I've used it, so I don't remember much about it, but if I recall correctly, it takes a program tarball, builds a proper Debian-style package from it, so it can be installed and tracked like other software on the system.
+1 for checkinstall. I always use it if i have to build something from source.
I don't know if you are in the same situation, but when I started using
GNU/Linux I had to make a change of mind, and change the way I thought
you were suppose to install a program. You probably know this already
but, is my understanding that using the repositories is the best,
easiest and safest way to install a program. For most users this will be
enough, but if you are a more advanced user, then you probably have the
enthusiast and curiosity spirit that is needed to get best from free
software. Is the crazy pleasure of knowledge, you have to be patience
and read, read, read. But even if you are not this kind of user you can
still get the benefit of free software, we are all working and doing
what we can to bring free software to every one. Just be patience and
you will learn. I just love free software. Sorry I let my self carry on.
hehehe.
El mié, 05-10-2011 a las 01:14 +0200, name at domain
escribió:
> often times when i want to install a program, they have no deb files, and
> only Tars. how to i install from a tar??
>
> also, i would like an explanation on the file types