[Discuss] Installing software not in repositories -- Kubuntu 7.04

[pw]

Murray Strome wrote:
> I know that someone on the list posted a message some time ago (probably 
> months) telling me how to best install software that is not in the 
> repositories.
> 
> For example, I want to install Acroread (preferably latest version), but 
> when I search for it on the repositories, it does not seem to be there.  
> I am sure I could go to the Adobe site, download and install it that 
> way, but I am not sure if that is the best approach with Kubuntu or not.
> 
> Similarly, the version of GIMP in the repositories is 2.x. I like a lot 
> of the features which have been added to 2.3 but I think that if I 
> download and install it following the GIMP Install instructions, it will 
> not show up in the installed data base (synaptic or adept).
> 
> Does anyone have any advice before I go ahead?
> 
> Murray


If there are no RPMs available then compiling from
source is the best way.

In either case, RPMs or source code, you need to be
aware of all the dependencies. After that there
are no guarantees either.

ie: I just collected all the dempendencies for anjuta
as RPMs for my distro. Finally got it all installed
and the software still didn't work properly, even though all
the RPMs were made specifically for my distro.

Personally, I find source to be the most reliable
method of installing anything. The builds tend to
provide more information if there is an error or
something is missing. Then again, I program so
perhaps my preference is biased toward the domain
of my skill set.

Gnome PDF viewer a.k.a. xpdf is usually pretty up to date.
That should have come with your distro.

Peter