compiling software.

[psychomin]

after reading the article about compligint softwares from just linux library, i've noticed that it tells you to edit /etc/profile file if you use the prefix option.
just wondering why do i have to edit /etc/profile file when i use the prefix option?

also if i get library error, it tells me to run ldconfig
wut does ldconfig do?

and wut do makewhatis & updatedb command do?
because it tells that it is recommanded that i run makewhatis and updatedb after compiling the software.

[X_console]

1. When you use the --prefix option, you're telling configure to install the programs into a location that isn't specfied in your PATH. In order for your users to easily access your new program (easily) you need to modify the PATH variable in /etc/profile.

2. ldconfig creates the necessary links and cache to the most recent shared libraries found in /etc/ld.so.conf. Generally you want to run it everytime you install new libraries to make sure that your system sees them. man ldconfig for more details.

3. makewhatis updates the whatis database. When you type a command like whatis gcc you get a short line on what the program does. Everytime you install new programs (if they install man files), running makewhatis updates the system. updatedb updates the locate database. When you type locate gcc it locates all instances of gcc. man makewhatis and man updatedb for details.