I went to their website and downloaded and compiled the source files in
the correct order, compiling them into RPMs for easier upgrades in the
future (most of the included files come with a pre-configured .spec file
needed to make RPMs). The problem arises not from the use of RPM (at
least, I don't think) but from a problem with one of the needed
libraries. For some reason, after making and installing (via the
included instructions) the gdk-pixbuf library (this is one of the few
that do not come with a .spec file, so I just did a normal ./configure,
make, make install) the next components to be compiled and installed
(all the components listed before gdk-pixbuf compiled into RPMs and then
installed without a hitch) I recieved a message telling me that the
compiler couldn't find the gdk-pixbuf library. I tried re-installing
the version that came with my distribution (linux mandrake), the
7.0-1mdk version versus the 8.0 version I tried to install manually from
the GNOME website, nothing changed. My current non-default compiler
options (or rather, the options used by the configure script) are as
follows:
MACHTYPE=i686-mandrake-linux-gnu
HOSTTYPE=i686
CFLAGS="-06 -fomit-frame-pointer -mpentiumpro -mcpu=pentiumpro
-march=pentiumpro -ffast-math -fexpensive-optimizations"
These are variables set by my .bashrc file; the directions for using the
configure script recommend setting these options through the use of
variables like this and so far I haven't had any problems. My kernel
compiled with very similar options (except for the machtype/hosttype
variables which I did not know about at the time, and I doubt they would
make a difference) so I am certain that the options are, in general, not
at fault (otherwise I wouldn't be typing this right now.)
To add to my tremendous aggravation, HelixCode's website doesn not seem
to have ANY working links to the RPM for the library for Mandrake on
ANY mirror, but of course there is a link. But, that's another story
altogether.