new linux user

how to install a file in linux like yahoo messg & msn messg

[AceAll]

hi ,
let me know how to install *.bin files *.rpm files in linux system. when do we have use "make" and "configure" command? give me the installation procedures .

thanx

[wheel]

You use the make and make install type commands to compile. However I run linux on both my server and desktop and I haven't used those commands in a year or two.

Instead, use your distribution's package manager (rpm manager). For my distro, I:
1) clear the rpm package database. this is one command I enter at the command prompt.
2) set up a list of mirrors for the rpm package - this tells the rpm program where to download the program. In mandrake, I google easy urpmi which gives me a site that gives me the exact commands

After you've cleared the database and refreshed it with current mirrors in most cases you can then just type in:
rpm packagename
and it will do a 100% automated download and install.

That's the way to do it! It will download, install to the proper place and also install any needed dependencies. The exact rpm command will vary by distribution.

[AbsintheSyringe]

I'm not sure if I got your question right, pretty confusing but it should be something like this.

rpm -Uvh filename

./configure

make

make install

That's the whole procedure.