Uninstalling programs

[mlangdn]

Some of the programs I install are from source code, not RPM. If I decide that I do not like a program, what is the best way to uninstall? After compiling, there are files all over the place! I have hosed my system enough - time to try to do it right.

Also, a secondary question. Where can I find the best books, ebooks or whatever, that can teach me Linux and keep me out of trouble. You guys are great at bailing me out, but I would like a faster track on learning. Crash and burn is a little slow!

Mike

[Grogan]

Well, manually is the sure fire way to remove software you've compiled. Alternatively, if you've still got the build tree intact after the compile, some compilations have a make uninstall defined. It will remove everything the make install put on your drives. If you don't... you can recompile and run the make install, then run make uninstall.

Not all source packages have a make uninstall, and in some cases it's not possible (e.g. for critical system libraries).

You can tell ahead of time... look at the Makefile (which will be there after running ./configure) and see if an uninstall make target is defined.

I generally just remove software manually, but you have to know what you're doing. Based on the --prefix you used, (e.g. /usr/local) the binaries will be in bin, the libraries in lib, the includes (headers) in include and application data in share. Includes usually go in a subdirectory under include, and the libraries usually start with libwhatever, where "whatever" is usually something that gives a clue as to what it is.

As for books, this isn't stuff you'll likely find in any books. Most Linux books are written for noobs that don't do shit like this.

I don't recommend you waste money on books... any information in books is also online. The Internet is your fat book.

Check this out though:

http://rute.sourceforge.net

Read it online, or you can also buy it in printed form.

[mlangdn]

Thanks for the link - this looks very promising! It is also downloadable in .pdf. I will simply print the entire missive.

Also, today I should receive Mandrake 9.1 in the mail. I bought the distro through Edmunds Enterprises for $7.47, including shipping. I currently use MDK 9.0. I will try to delete manually and see what happens. This time if I screw it up, I know I was going to start over anyway. I tried to use the update feature the last time, but that was going to take forever! I have my important stuff backed up, so I am good to fry!

For interested viewers, here is the link to Edmunds:

www.edmunds-enterprises.com

Mike

[BobGuy]

Check out BLT. This course has always been free.

Getting Linux installed is not going to do much for you unless you know how to use it, and that's what this course is really about.

The next term begins Monday, 5 May 2003. Registration for that class closes Saturday, 3 May 2003.

http://basiclinux.net/

[mlangdn]

Thanks, BobGuy! I registered just now and will plunge right in - well, on May 5 anyway!

Mike

[ralpha6]

I've signed up for that class mlangdn, so maybe we can help each other out ;)

[mlangdn]

Sounds good to me ralpha6! Thanks!

[mlangdn]

Just an update - I downloaded rute.pdf and printed all 660 pages. Wow! I started in Linux, but my printer configuration is a little off. After printing a page or two, the printer would quit - then on restart, it would miss a page. I am using a Lexmark Z22. In windows, Acrobat reader would not recognize the file extension during download. I downloaded to Mandrake 9.1, then ran into the printer problem. It took an hour and a half just to do 50 pages. The only solution I could come up with was to email to myself the file rute.pdf from my Linux box to Outlook Express in XP. Since it was extracted in Linux, Acrobat was able to recognize the pure .pdf extension. The printer worked flawlessly in XP. I printed the odd pages first, then flipped them and printed the even pages. Only used 330 sheets and 1 1/2 black cartridges. It would have been cheaper to buy the book, but not as much fun!?

Now all I have to do is digest this book while taking the online class suggested by BobGuy.