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Systems & Data Center · Intermediate

Compiling Software from Source

Building a program from its source code, typically using configure, make and make install.

Definition

The classic sequence is ./configure (detects dependencies and generates Makefiles), make (compiles) and make install (copies to system paths, often /usr/local). Build tools such as gcc and development headers must be installed. Software installed this way is not tracked by the package manager.

Example

./configure --prefix=/opt/app && make && sudo make install installs into /opt/app.

Exam tip

Know the configure, make, make install order and that source installs bypass package manager tracking.

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