Auto Compiler/Installer for Debian?

[Artificial Interceptor]

Hi guys!

Resently i installed Debian 5 on my Laptop. Delicous design and good funcotionality.

Well i wanted to install firefox and offcurse i forgot to think about how to compile and install procedure.
So.. i don't wan't to learn how to compile these .tar.bz2 and .deb files if there could be found a auto compiler-installer program for linux that does job for me.

i will ask here before i go seaching google.

any help would be usefull!

Cheerz

[maboroshi]

why do you want to build Firefox from source...

try:

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apt-get install mozilla-firefox

other wise if you want to install from source untar the package

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tar zxvf filename.targ.gz

then change into the package directory build the source

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cd /directory_containing_source
./configure
make
make install

alternatively you can do

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make && make install

as final commands anyway good luck

Edit *

also if you want to run a .deb file

then type

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dpkg -i filename.deb

I am not sure how to compile a Debian package but tar should be

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tar cf archive.tar *

Anyway hope i got this right as to what you were asking

*cheers

Maboroshi

[maboroshi]

Now that I read this again

look into

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apt

and Debian packages it will allow you to install different packages with out needing to compile them yourself

Anyway good luck

[Artificial Interceptor]

Well im understanding what you are writing, and im to lazy for those codes, it could be nice with a graphical program that could build and install the programms for you. Like you download an source package mozilla.tar.bz2 file and you use the Auto installer program to install and build Mozilla firefox or what ever you wanted. isn't there such a program already or what?

[bad_brain]

the graphical interface for apt-get is aptitude.
but compiling in a GUI? never heard of that, and actually it also makes no sense, because you would have to use an unpacker, then switch into the GUI for the compiler....total waste of time, in a shell you are way faster.
but most applications are in the Debian repositories anyway, so you use aptitude...

[Artificial Interceptor]

Okay, well , in Windows you've got the "Windows Installer" program to install and build the programs in Windows, you don't use the "command prompt" which is "the" Shell for Windows... so why don't we have a program in linux that does the same job as "the" Windows Installer? it would be much easyer for stupid folks like me to use Linux, Linux is cool because it doesn't (edit) use much system resources like Windows, and it does look better, the only thing that scares people away from it is because everything is manually done.

[Lundis]

The windows installer copies files and edits the registry, it doesn't compile anything, unless you explicitly tell it to and provide a compiler for it of course.

You seem to be missing the point with apt, you don't have to download the source, nearly all applications have pre-compiled binary packages in debian's software repository. You use apt or one of the graphical frontends to search for, download and install the packages. Personally I use synaptic to find packages I don't know the name of already. Synaptic is a "real" GUI like those you're used to. You can install it by going to a root terminal and typing "apt-get install synaptic". There is no need to google stuff, download and install it manually, apt does it all for you!

Besides, you do not want to compile firefox yourself, nor do you want a program that does it for you. Trust me on this one

[bad_brain]

exactly! simply compare a nmap install:

in windows:
- google for a place to download
- download the file
- install it

in Debian:
- apt-get install nmap

here you can browse the Debian repositories: http://packages.debian.org/stable/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and here you can search them: http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages#search_packages" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

installing from source is not often needed in Debian because there are so many apps in the repositories. and if you want to install something exotic that isn't in the repositories compiling it from source is also really simple (the usual 3-step: configure, make, make install).
for somebody used to windows it might look complicated, but when you are used to it you will notice how much better it is....and the advanced install features grant options that a windows user could only dream of (like the conversion of packages that were made for other distros, that's like having a command on Windows that allows the install of Mac software).

[Artificial Interceptor]

Okay i see now, BUT, when i tryied for synaptic here's what i got from the terminal:

E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13 Access Denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

i used : apt-get install synaptic

[Artificial Interceptor]

now it won't let me use that dpkg -i .deb code. it say that it needs super user rights.

[Artificial Interceptor]

What am i doing wrong ?

[Artificial Interceptor]

Im sorry for my persistance, you guys are the pros i just forgot that for a moment. I have been under the influence of Windows for a longtime now and still are.

[Lundis]

Patience dude, triple-posting serves no purpose ^^

The lock error means that another instance of apt is running. This happens if you open two programs that use apt at the same time, maybe you had aptitude running somewhere? or perhaps the update app was doing its shit? You get the idea.

You need to run dpkg from a root terminal since it modifies parts of the filesystem that users don't have (write) access to.

[Artificial Interceptor]

This happens if you open two programs that use apt at the same time, maybe you had aptitude running somewhere?

hmm that i'm in secure of, 'cause that was the first i ever used the terminal and that command in it after installation of Debian.

You need to run dpkg from a root terminal since it modifies parts of the filesystem that users don't have (write) access to.

Can you tell me how to open a root terminal?

[maboroshi]

to open a root terminal on debian

open a terminal as you normally would I believe its under accessories

type the following command

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su

enter your password and you will be root