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Building From Source: When Packages Aren't Available

Sometimes you need to compile from source. When packages aren't available. Or you need a specific version.

Here's the thing: Compiling from source is a last resort. Use packages when possible. But sometimes you need to compile.

When to Build From Source​

Build from source when:

  • Package not available
  • Need specific version
  • Need custom configuration
  • Development/testing

Use packages when:

  • Available in repos
  • Standard version works
  • Don't need customization

My take: Use packages first. Compile only when necessary.

The Build Process​

1. Install Build Tools​

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install build-essential

# RHEL/CentOS
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"

My take: Build tools are essential. Install them first.

2. Get Source Code​

# Download tarball
wget https://example.com/software.tar.gz
tar -xzf software.tar.gz
cd software/

# Or clone from Git
git clone https://github.com/user/software.git
cd software/

My take: Get source code. Extract it. Navigate to it.

3. Configure​

./configure
# Or
./configure --prefix=/usr/local

My take: Configure sets up the build. Use options if needed.

4. Build​

make

My take: make compiles the software. Takes time.

5. Install​

sudo make install

My take: make install installs the software. Needs root.

Common Build Patterns​

Standard Build​

./configure
make
sudo make install

Custom Prefix​

./configure --prefix=/opt/software
make
sudo make install

My take: Custom prefix installs to specific location. Useful for organization.

Check Dependencies​

./configure
# Shows missing dependencies

My take: Configure shows what's missing. Install dependencies first.

Common Mistakes (I've Made These)​

  1. Missing dependencies: Install build tools and dependencies first.

  2. Wrong directory: Make sure you're in the source directory.

  3. Not reading README: README has instructions. Read it.

  4. Skipping configure: Always run configure first. It sets up the build.

  5. Not checking version: Make sure you have the right version. Check requirements.

Real-World Examples​

Build From Tarball​

wget https://example.com/software-1.0.tar.gz
tar -xzf software-1.0.tar.gz
cd software-1.0/
./configure
make
sudo make install

Build From Git​

git clone https://github.com/user/software.git
cd software/
./autogen.sh                    # If needed
./configure
make
sudo make install

What's Next?​

Now that you understand building from source, you can install anything. Or review Package Management to use packages.

Personal note: I used to compile everything from source. Then I learned package managers. Now I compile only when necessary. Packages are easier. Use them.