Installing Software from Source in Linux
(Getting → Unpacking → Configuring → Compiling → Installing the Package)
This method is used when:
- Software is not available in repositories
- You need custom configuration
- You want the latest version or source-level control
1. Getting the Package (Source Code)
The source package is usually downloaded as a compressed archive (.tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .zip) from:
- Official project website
- GitHub / GitLab
- FTP servers
Using wget
wget https://example.com/package-name.tar.gz
Using curl
curl -O https://example.com/package-name.tar.gz
📌 Source packages commonly contain C/C++ source code and build scripts.
2. Unpacking the Package
After downloading, the package must be extracted.
For .tar.gz
tar -xvzf package-name.tar.gz
For .tar.bz2
tar -xvjf package-name.tar.bz2
For .zip
unzip package-name.zip
This creates a source directory:
cd package-name/
3. Configuring the Package
Configuration checks whether:
- Required libraries are available
- Compiler exists
- System is compatible
- Installation paths are set
Using ./configure
./configure
Custom Installation Path
./configure --prefix=/usr/local/package
📌 This step:
- Creates a
Makefile - Detects system dependencies
- Fails if dependencies are missing
4. Compiling the Package
Compilation converts source code into binary executable files.
Using make
make
What happens:
- Source files are compiled
- Object files are created
- Binary executables are generated
📌 This step may take time depending on package size.
5. Installing the Package
Installation copies compiled binaries and files to system directories.
Using make install
sudo make install
Files are installed into:
/usr/local/bin/usr/local/lib/usr/local/share
📌 sudo is required because system directories are modified.
6. Complete Installation Flow (Exam-Focused)
wget package.tar.gz
tar -xvzf package.tar.gz
cd package/
./configure
make
sudo make install
7. Verifying Installation
package-name --version
or
which package-name
8. Uninstalling Source-Installed Package
If supported:
sudo make uninstall
Otherwise:
- Manually remove installed files
- Or use package manager alternatives
9. Advantages of Installing from Source
- Full customization
- Latest features
- Optimized for your system
- No dependency on repositories
10. Disadvantages
- Time-consuming
- Dependency issues
- Harder to uninstall
- No automatic updates
11. Comparison: Source vs Package Manager
| Source Installation | Package Manager |
|---|---|
| Manual process | Automatic |
| Customizable | Standard |
| No auto updates | Auto updates |
| Complex | Easy |
12. Real-World Example
Installing Apache from source to enable custom modules not available in repo.
13. Conclusion
Installing software from source gives maximum control and flexibility, making it suitable for advanced users and administrators. The process—getting, unpacking, configuring, compiling, and installing—follows a standard and logical workflow in Linux.