How to compile program under Linux / UNIX

Many new users find it difficult to compiling programs in Linux. Usually following steps are involved:

a] Download tar ball using wget

b] Untar tar ball using tar command

c] Compile program using make or configure command

d] Install software

Task: compiling program
Step # 1: Download program tar ball:

$ wget http://url-com/prog.tar.gz

Step # 2: Untar tar ball :

$ tar -zxvf prog.tar.gz
$ cd prog

Step # 3: Untar tar ball:
Configure program:

$ ./configure

Compile program:

$ make

Install program (must be run as the root, login using su or use sudo):

$ sudo make install

or

$ su -
$ make install

If you are still confused, look out for the README file that comes with the package. Every package comes with that with proper instructions on compilation.

Cheers
Nobs