Help me understand the way linux install programs

[shengchieh]

Here're even more links.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/...urce_linux (Compile Programs From Source in Linux)
http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/softinstall.html (Installing software from source in Linux)
http://www.linux.lk/software/compiling.php (Compiling Software Packages; 2003)
http://howto.wired.com/wiredhowtos/index...egory=Work (Compile Software from Source Code)
http://liquidweather.net/howto/index.php?id=82 (compiling software)

My strategy is first see if I can use whatever the linux distro has, i.e., synaptic package manager, pacman, software manager, etc.  The second is to compile.

Sheng-Chieh