"Make file" never seems to work for me [solved]

[Edd]

I have tried to install a few things where you have to "make file", but everytime I do it I get this error:

make: *** No rule to make target `file'.  Stop.

Before this, I do "tar xzvf filenamehere.tar.gz" then go "cd filenamehere"

Then finally logging in as root before doing "make", then "make file". I get the following error when typing "make" in the first place:

make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found.  Stop.

 

Hope someone can help!

Thanks :)

 

[moved from Software by spinynorman]

[rolf]

make is usually not the first step of building a program from source. When you unpack the source tarball, there will almost always be readme or install text files describing the process. Also, at the website of the program, there will often be building/installation documentation. Look for this information. Usually, ./configure is the first step.

[arctic]

it is impossible to make or configure something if you don't have already a makefile created to which the compiler will refer later.

 

read this in order to learn more about the building process and makefiles: http://www.gnu.org/software/make/manual/html_mono/make.html

 

:)

[Lowe]

In other words, most of the time all you need to do is.

 

./configure

make && make install

 

Always read the README and INSTALL files that come with them, to get a better idea.

[scarecrow]

Sometimes, ./configure arguments are necessary, as well as a "make check" right after "make". But yes, the 3 above steps are obligatory for compiling any application by using gcc.

[Edd]

It was because of the configure line! Thanks for all your help, I am getting the hang of linux. Slowly ;)