Differences

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--- software_building [2023/05/21 17:23] – ab4mw
+++ software_building [2023/05/21 18:38] (current) – ab4mw
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==== Building Software from Source Code ====
+** PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS **
+===== Building Software from Source Code =====
 === Abstract ==
@@ Line 6: / Line 7: @@
 The process is largely the same for an organized system of building.  This discussion will focus on Linux as the operating system since developers of Windows programs commonly provide installer packages for the pre-compiled binaries.
-=== NOTES: the character "~" (tilde) is used in the Linux shell to denote the currrent user's home folder.  This shortcut makes writing shell scripts much more compact, and does not require the writer to know that current user's home folder location at all.
+=== NOTE: the character "~" (tilde) is used in the Linux shell to denote the currrent user's home folder.  This shortcut makes writing shell scripts much more compact, and does not require the writer to know that current user's home folder location at all. ===
-=== Kickin' it old school.  The TARBALL (is that the proper British spelling?) ===
+==== Kickin' it old school.  The TARBALL (is that the proper British spelling?) ====
 **Background**
@@ Line 21: / Line 22: @@
 ''tar xvzf MyProgram.tar.gz''
-This will create the folder structure contained inside the tarball under the "src" folder, so what is created will looks like
+This will create the folder structure contained inside the tarball under the "src" folder, so what is created will look like
 ''./src/MyProgram/<source code files>''
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 Now the source "tree" is ready to be configured and built.
-=== Giddyap with git ===
+==== Giddyap with git ====
 **Background**
-Now that git IS a thing, most projects are offered to end users via Github, Gitlab and other online git repositories.
+Now that git //IS// a thing, most projects are offered to end users via Github, Gitlab and other online git repositories.
 Each project commonly has a home page accessible via web browser.  This page gives information about the project including it's license class and other requirements for building the project.  The README.md file is typically displayed on this web page so the prospective user may decide if the project is interesting.  Usually, this web page also displays a link to use in order to clone the repository.
@@ Line 42: / Line 43: @@
 The source code now resides in the folder ~/src/RPiKeyerTerm for this project.
+===== Building from the Source Tree =====
+=== Background ===
+There are many ways to prepare the source code for building, including doing nothing at all.  Commonly, the developer will include building instructions in the README file or another text file which is frequently called INSTALL.  Pay attention to full capitalized filenames because it is very common to use this convention in order to draw attention to textual information files in the root folder of a source code tree.
+=== Commonly Used Steps for Building Source Code ===
+Now that the source code tree is in the user's home folder area, follow the advice of the developer usually containted in the INSTALL or README text files included with the source code.  Ways to prepare and build are usually detailed in one or more of these text files.
+**Commonly Used Steps with the Tarball Repository**
+Linux make tools are frequently used in tarball repositories.  This means the use of the ./configure script which is usually included with the source code.  This is followed by the "make" step and usually by a "sudo make install" step to add the newly created program to the Linux system.
+From the top level of the source code tree:
+''./configure''
+''make''
+''sudo make install''
+Evaluate the results of each step as you go to ensure that no errors are called out.  If errors exist, go back to the README or INSTALL files and ensure that you have taken all pre-requisite steps required by the developer.
+** PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS **