Re: Installing from source

[Carl Mummert <mummert@cs.wcu.edu>]

There is a package named 'alien' that can take care of some of this, depending
on exactly what you are needing to install.


What you do is to layout the files in some remote directory, like you
would want them installed: 

  /somewhere--etc/file1
            |
             --usr/bin/\file2
            |
	    --- and so forth

You can do this automtically with most makefiles by chainging the
INSTALL_PREFIX or similar variable to point to some remote directory
that you create for this purpose (then, 'make install' will put the files
in that remote place.. just go slow.)  You can also just build up
the directories by hand.  

Make sure the permissions on all the files are correct.

Then, cd to that remote directory.  Notice that, in some sense, it is the
root directory for your installation.  What you will do is to package the
files in this direcotry; then, when they are installed from the root
directory, they will fall where they should. 

>From that remote directory, run 'tar czvf package.tgz'.  This will amke
a file named 'package.tgz' that has all of the files that were in
your current directory and below. Don't use the name 'package'!

Now run 'alien package.tgz' as root - you will get a package.deb
file.  Now, run dpkg -i pacakge.deb.  You cen rm the tgz file and
the files in the remote directory.  

To uninstall, 'dpkg --purge package' will work.


Carl