> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Install Software by Compiling Source Code > This article explains how to install software by compiling its source code, covering steps from cloning a repository to running the compiled application. In this lesson, we will explore how to install software by compiling its source code. Unlike installations from Ubuntu's repositories or third-party packages, compiling from source allows you to run the absolute latest version of an application available directly from its development repository. When you compile software, you transform human-readable source code into an optimized binary executable that your computer can run efficiently. ## Clone the Repository Before getting started, ensure that Git is installed on your system. Most modern versions of Ubuntu and Linux come with Git pre-installed. In this example, we will clone the Git repository for an application called htop. Run the command below to clone the repository: ```bash theme={null} git clone ``` After cloning, switch to the project's directory and review its contents. You'll notice a README file that includes built-in instructions for building the project, along with other key files. ![The image shows a terminal window displaying a list of files and directories, likely from a source code repository. The files have various extensions such as .c, .h, and .md, and some directory names are highlighted in different colors.](https://kodekloud.com/kk-media/image/upload/v1752881341/notes-assets/images/Linux-Foundation-Certified-System-Administrator-LFCS-Install-Software-by-Compiling-Source-Code/terminal-file-list-repository.jpg) ## Install Dependencies According to the README file, several libraries and compilation tools are required. One essential package is `libncursesw5-dev`, which is a development library, indicated by the `-dev` suffix. Additionally, the `build-essential` package installs the necessary compilation tools. Install the required packages by running: ```bash theme={null} sudo apt install libncursesw5-dev autotools-dev autoconf automake build-essential ``` If you encounter dependency errors, verify that your software repositories are updated and consider running `sudo apt update` before installing. ## Run the Autogen Script After installing the dependencies, locate the executable script named `autogen.sh` (often highlighted in green). This script generates the `configure` file, which prepares the build configuration options for your project. To run the autogen script, execute: ```bash theme={null} bash ./autogen.sh ``` The execution output should look similar to: ```bash theme={null} autoreconf: export WARNINGS=all autoreconf: Entering directory '.' autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gettext autoreconf: running: aclocal --force autoreconf: configure.ac: tracing autoreconf: configure.ac: creating directory build-aux autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Libtool autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Intltool autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gtkdoc autoreconf: running: /usr/bin/autoconf --force autoreconf: running: /usr/bin/autoheader --force autoreconf: running: automake --add-missing --copy --force-missing configure.ac:69: installing 'build-aux/compile' configure.ac:23: installing 'build-aux/config.guess' configure.ac:23: installing 'build-aux/config.sub' configure.ac:24: installing 'build-aux/install-sh' configure.ac:24: installing 'build-aux/missing' Makefile.am: installing './INSTALL' Makefile.am: installing 'build-aux/depcomp' autoreconf: Leaving directory '.' ``` This generated `configure` script allows you to set various build options. To view all available configuration options, run: ```bash theme={null} bash ./configure --help ``` Running `./configure` without arguments will configure the project using default settings. ![The image shows a terminal screen displaying configuration options and environment variables for compiling software, specifically related to the htop program. It includes options for enabling warnings, debugging, and specifying package locations.](https://kodekloud.com/kk-media/image/upload/v1752881342/notes-assets/images/Linux-Foundation-Certified-System-Administrator-LFCS-Install-Software-by-Compiling-Source-Code/htop-configuration-options-terminal.jpg) ## Verify Configuration Requirements Before building the project, the configuration script checks for the presence of necessary libraries and compiler support. Below is an example snippet of these checks: ```bash theme={null} checking for stdlib.h... (cached) yes checking for string.h... (cached) yes checking for strings.h... (cached) yes checking for sys/param.h... yes checking for sys/time.h... yes checking for sys/utsname.h... yes checking for unistd.h... (cached) yes checking for sys/mkdev.h... no checking for sys/sysmacros.h... yes checking for execinfo.h... yes checking for mbstate_t... yes checking for mode_t... yes checking for off_t... yes checking for pid_t... yes checking for size_t... yes checking for ssize_t... yes checking how to run the C preprocessor... gcc -E checking for grep that handles long lines and -e... /usr/bin/grep checking for egrep... /usr/bin/grep -E checking for uid_t in sys/types.h... yes checking for uint8_t... yes checking for uint16_t... yes checking for uint32_t... yes checking for uint64_t... yes checking for alloc_size... yes checking for access... yes checking for nonnull... yes checking for NaN support... yes checking for library containing ceil... | ``` Once all checks pass, you are ready to compile the application using `make`. ## Compile the Application The `make` command compiles the source code into an executable binary. To start the compilation process, run: ```bash theme={null} make ``` If you wish to see a list of all available make targets (such as `clean`, `install`, and `uninstall`), type `make` followed by a space and press the Tab key twice. These common targets help in managing build artifacts and installation processes. For example, if the build process fails or you need to start from a clean state, you can run: ```bash theme={null} make clean ``` After successfully running `make`, the `htop` binary is compiled in the current directory. ## Run the Compiled Application After compilation, you can run the newly created `htop` executable directly from the current directory: ```bash theme={null} ./htop ``` Upon running `htop`, you should see an interface similar to the following: ```plaintext theme={null} Main I/O PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S CPU% MEM% TIME+ Command 13535 jeremy 20 0 15120 6956 4992 S 2.0 0.1 0:06.53 sshd: jeremy@pts/0 19840 jeremy 20 0 8000 4224 3456 R 1.3 0.1 0:00.04 /htop 24200 root 20 0 58560 4200 23304 S 0.7 0.3 0:13.96 /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-journald ... ``` Press Q to quit the application interface. ## Install the Binary System-wide Typing the full path to run the executable each time can be cumbersome. To streamline the process, you can install the application system-wide. This action moves the `htop` binary into a directory included in your system's PATH (typically `/usr/local/bin`), allowing you to run it from any location. Install `htop` system-wide by executing: ```bash theme={null} sudo make install ``` Now, you can simply type: ```bash theme={null} htop ``` For example, navigate to your home directory and run: ```bash theme={null} cd ~ htop ``` Because `/usr/local/bin` is in the default PATH for Ubuntu, you no longer need to specify the full path to launch the application. Compiling software from source can provide enhanced performance and access to the latest features. Always refer to the project's README for specific build instructions and troubleshooting tips. ## Conclusion In this lesson, we covered the process of compiling and installing software from source code. The steps included: * Cloning the repository * Installing necessary dependencies * Generating configuration scripts via `autogen.sh` * Verifying configuration requirements * Compiling the project using `make` * Running and installing the binary system-wide By compiling from source, you ensure that you are running the most recent version of the application. Happy compiling, and see you in the next lesson! ```bash theme={null} htop ```