./configure

[Ubuntuud]

Hi, I heard somewhere that when you install a .tar.bz2 file you should use the following code:

mkdir <obj>
cd <obj>
../configure --enable-debug
make
make install

But when I run "../configure --enable-debug" it doesn't reconise it. But I've searched around a bit and found out that I need to type:

aclocal
automake
autoconf

But when I run that, it says "'configure.ac' or 'configure.in' is required".
How can I get those?

[akurashy]

Try this

sudo apt-get install automake autoconf autotools build-essential

Also you just need to untar the the tar.bz2
Enter its folder via terminal
then follow the commands

./configure --enable-debug
make
make install

[Ubuntuud]

Thanks, but you say that you "just need to untar", that's exactly what I'm doing. My problem is, that when I type "./configure" it doesn't understand it.

[Ubuntuud]

Thanks, but you say that you "just need to untar", that's exactly what I'm doing. My problem is, that when I type "./configure" it doesn't understand it.

[alinuxfan]

are you untarring it first?

example:
tar -xvf myfile.tar

seems like you need to cd into the untarred directory and ls to make sure the "configure" file is there...
I am confused on what you are having problems with

[Ubuntuud]

I wasn't untarring it, I'll go and try now. And newbies have some weird problems you know...

[alinuxfan]

yeah I know aobut that...I am still a newb myself...I just had to learn the tar thing the hard way back on my mandrake 9 box
Good Luck

[Ubuntuud]

Oh, does it matter that it's a .tar.bz2?

And I'll try to explain my problem:
I have downloaded this program (if you want to know, opencity)
And in the install instructions it says this:

mkdir obj
cd obj
../configure --enable-debug
make
make install

So my noobish knowledge and I go and run that code, everything goes just fine until we cross the line "../configure --enable-debug" when I type it the terminal produces the following output: "bash: ../configure: unknown file or directory"

But when I scroll down in the installing instructions it says:

In case you don't have a configure script, the following
commands will creat one:

aclocal
automake
autoconf

So I run those codes, but with each of the three it says: "aclocal/automake/autoconf: 'configure.ac' or 'configure.in' is required"

That's my problem...

[stoffe]

Ok, here's what you do. You unpack the archive to somewhere easy to find, like your home directory or something. You can do this with Archive Manager for instance, probably just need to doubleclick the downloaded file for it to start.

Then, start a terminal and navigate *into* the created directory, probably named opencity something. You need to be inside this directory from the terminal. You could install nautilus-open-terminal to get a context menu entry for opening a terminal in a directory from nautilus (why oh why is this not default when it is so often needed).

Once inside that directory, when the prompt says opencity something in the path, you should be able to see the file configure there by typing "ls". Then, follow those instructions as they were typed. It should work just fine.

Another option is to try and see if you can find a prebuilt package for it. Even if it isn't in the repositories, there's sometimes .deb files available on the net. Type "sudo dpkg -i package-name.deb" to install such a package.

HTH

[Ubuntuud]

Thanks alot, that'll do it.

[Omnios]

Just for argument sake most tar balls come with install "text" file with compile instructions which also sometimes point out something pertaining to debian based systems.

[Ubuntuud]

I got past the ../configure line now, but when I type "make" it says (I'm translating it, it'll probably not be 100% accurate): "*** No targets specified and no makefiles found. Stop."
Is there a trick to get past this to?

[hod139]

Are you sure you got past the configure step. What I mean is that there might have been an error message is the long list of output you missed. Look carefully at the output ./configure produces, and see if there is an error message.

Also, I know that the standard install process is

./configure
make
sudo make install


but I would suggest installing the checkinstall program and doing

./configure
make
sudo checkinstall


which will create a .deb package and install that, allowing you to easily uninstall the program later using apt or synaptic.

[Ubuntuud]

Oh, you're right, it says I need SDL library or something. Where can I get it?

[akurashy]

Go to synaptic and search for SDL :)

[Ubuntuud]

OK. Thanks all, I managed to install it. Opencity might not be a great game, but at least I know how to install such a package now...

[Ubuntuud]

And an other thing. Because I needed SDL I installed all SDL packages, and suddenly my sound started working, lucky me...