start program without navigating to directory

keither · 2009-11-22 23:51:40

This is probably a stupid question, but I've compiled a piece of software I need from source using the traditional (./configure, make, sudo make install) method and I have to navigate to the directory where it was installed (usr/local/bin) in order to start the program from the terminal. How do I compile the program so that I can just open up my terminal and type the command to start the program?

spiky25 · 2009-11-23 00:05:17

make a sh script then type his name in your terminal it will be enough ...

tdy · 2009-11-23 00:08:52

It's considered bad practice in Arch to install stuff into /usr/local and to install stuff without using PKGBUILDs. If you must install stuff to /usr/local/bin, you need to add it to your $PATH.

Last edited by tdy (2009-11-23 00:28:16)

doorknob60 · 2009-11-23 00:17:03

Or, usually when compiling you can use ./configure --prefix=/usr and it will install it into /usr instead of /usr/local. Also check to see if what you're using is in AUR, as that is usually the cleanest and simplest way to install unsupported software.

keither · 2009-11-23 00:18:07

I am new to Arch, and I don't quite understand PKGBUILDs yet. If I install something from the AUR, I use makepkg, but I really don't know how to do that when the PKGBUILD does not already exist. Is this something I have to write before I install? The ABS wiki does not really clarify this for me, since it seems to make the assumption that I want to install something from the ABS tree where there is already a PKGBUILD.

Thanks!

karol · 2009-11-23 00:22:55

Update your bash_profile or whatever:
alias abc="/path/to/file -x -y -z"

mcmillan · 2009-11-23 01:20:56

keither wrote:

I am new to Arch, and I don't quite understand PKGBUILDs yet. If I install something from the AUR, I use makepkg, but I really don't know how to do that when the PKGBUILD does not already exist. Is this something I have to write before I install? The ABS wiki does not really clarify this for me, since it seems to make the assumption that I want to install something from the ABS tree where there is already a PKGBUILD.
Thanks!

Yes you have to modify a preexisting PKGBUILD to fit whatever your new program is, but it's not very hard to do. There's also files in /usr/share/pacman that can be used as a starting point, with the basics (./configure -> make -> make install) being in PKGBUILD.proto

keither · 2009-11-23 02:13:00

This is actually a good opportunity for me to introduce myself to PKGBUILDs, so I will do just that. Thanks!

Inxsible · 2009-11-23 06:14:01

keither wrote:

This is actually a good opportunity for me to introduce myself to PKGBUILDs, so I will do just that. Thanks!

also look into yaourt for installing from AUR. its a wrapper around pacman which can also handle aur. Much easier for new users than makepkg

Arch Linux

#1 2009-11-22 23:51:40

start program without navigating to directory

#2 2009-11-23 00:05:17

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#3 2009-11-23 00:08:52

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#4 2009-11-23 00:17:03

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#5 2009-11-23 00:18:07

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#6 2009-11-23 00:22:55

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#7 2009-11-23 01:20:56

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#8 2009-11-23 02:13:00

Re: start program without navigating to directory

#9 2009-11-23 06:14:01

Re: start program without navigating to directory

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