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Development Tools Console Foundations Installing Software Building Software From Source

Posted by Yi Ren
Yi Ren
4,990 Points

build-essential?

Currently I'm learning how to build software from source video. I know the definition and what it's used for but do I have to run:

sudo apt-get install build-essential

everytime if I want to install a software from a source?

1 Answer

Jade Briggs
Jade Briggs
16,714 Points

Hi Yi,

No. The build-essential part of the command is the initial set of tools used to build software from source, so it does not have to be run every time you want to build software from source. This means you only need to run the command sudo apt-get install build-essential once on your machine. Once it has been run, you will have the tools you need and there is no need to run it again.

Think of it as if you were a carpenter. You need tools like a saw and hammer to work with the wood. You only need to buy the saw and hammer once, then you can use those tools over and over to create things from the wood. The saw and hammer = sudo apt-get install build-essential The wood = source files