50

I'm trying to install a Debian package from source (via git). I downloaded the package, changed to the package’s directory and ran ./configure command but it returned bash: ./configure: No such file or directory. What can be the problem? A configure.ac file is located in the program folder.

./configure
make
sudo make install
Anthony Geoghegan
  • 12,605
  • 7
  • 59
  • 62
Lexx Luxx
  • 1,343
  • 11
  • 26
  • 37
  • What Package are you trying to install?? – eyoung100 Oct 02 '14 at 23:17
  • @eyoung100 binwalk – Lexx Luxx Oct 02 '14 at 23:26
  • See [Install Binwalk Without Graphing](http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/157248/how-to-install-binwalk-on-debian-without-installing-the-graphs-libraries/157309#157309). Of course if you need the graphing dont skip `make deps`. If it helps, just upvote me, and I'll know it was you :) – eyoung100 Oct 03 '14 at 01:52

2 Answers2

58

If the file is called configure.ac,

do $> autoconf

Depends: M4, Automake

If you're not sure what to do,

try $> cat readme

They must mean that you use "autoconf" to generate an executable "configure" file.

So the order is:

$> autoconf
$> ./configure
$> make
$> make install
Tyler Maginnis
  • 1,425
  • 11
  • 12
22

The failsafe for generating a configure script is autoreconf -i, which not only takes care of calling autoconf itself, but also a host of other tools that may be needed.

o11c
  • 1,408
  • 7
  • 13
  • 1
    autoreconf: `configure.ac' or `configure.in' is required. – Dr.jacky Jul 26 '15 at 04:40
  • 2
    @Mr.Hyde Well, obviously it only works for projects that *use* autoconf. – o11c Jul 26 '15 at 16:01
  • @user3338098 If you've installed your distro's "all important build tools" package (Debian/Ubuntu `apt-get install build-essential`), it should include that already I think? – o11c Oct 17 '18 at 00:57
  • I, for one, can attest that `autoreconf -i` is the correct solution. – daparic Mar 01 '19 at 20:39