How to install from tar.gz

[tez49]

Downloaded an application and there are 2 tar.gz files and 1 called 'debian-binary'.
I have extracted the 2 tar.gz files but now have no idea what to do with them. Each extracted file has many sub-folders. Any advice on how to install pleeease?

[kage]

What program is it? What OS are you using (assumed linux, but what distro?)? What files and folders are visible after you extracted the archive?

[bkdc]

Make a directory then copy the tar file to the directory, then

$ tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz

[kage]

bkdc: That only extracts the archive. Once it is extracted, depending on what kind of file it is, there are several ways to actually install it.

If it is a program's source code, you can manually build it by cd'ing to the extracted directory and running:

./configure
make install clean

If it is a *.deb binary package, then you would use (on a debian/ubuntu system):

dpkg -i *.deb

If it is a debian binary package and you are not using a debian-based system, the .deb file will need to be converted to a native binary format (such as *.tgz or *.rpm). Your distro should provides documentation on how to do this.

[bkdc]

Find the README file or INSTALL file and read its instructions for installation. There will usually be a setup script (often called install.sh) that you must execute as root.

[Name:]

In the case of LAME, you enter:

./configure
make
make install

and then you're good to go!