Problem compiling VIM sources on Ubuntu

Ross Maloney · External Since: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 21

I have installed Xubuntu 6.10 on a PC. As a test of that environment I
have attempted to compile VIM 7.0 from sources downloaded from
www.vim.org. When I run ./configure, the process terminates with:
checking for tgetent()... configure: error: NOT FOUND!
You need to install a terminal library: for example ncurses.
Or specify the name of the library with --with-tlib.

From what I have read, Xubuntu shares a lot of its environment with
Ubuntu and it appears that my problem has been faced by others before me
using Ubuntu. But solutions to this apparent terminal library absence
have not been posted. I have used a standard Xubuntu installation and
there is a libncurses.so in the /lib directory.

Has any body been succcessful in compiling VIM on Ubuntu, and how did
you overcome this appearent terminal library absence?

Ross

Sebastian 'lunar' Wiesner · External Since: Dec 24, 2006 Posts: 13

Ross Maloney <rmatycorp.RemoveThis@iinet.net.au> typed

> I have installed Xubuntu 6.10 on a PC. As a test of that environment
> I have attempted to compile VIM 7.0 from sources downloaded from
> www.vim.org. When I run ./configure, the process terminates with:
> checking for tgetent()... configure: error: NOT FOUND!
> You need to install a terminal library: for example ncurses.
> Or specify the name of the library with --with-tlib.

Well, it says to install a terminal library like ncurses. A quick search
on my Ubuntu system gives me following results for this library:

[lunar@nargond]-[13:40:01] >> ~
--> aptitude search -F %p libncurses
[...]
libncurses4
libncurses5
libncurses5-dbg
libncurses5-dev
libncursesw5
libncursesw5-dbg
libncursesw5-dev

Did you try installing one of the two development packages?

--
Freedom is always the freedom of dissenters.
(Rosa Luxemburg)

SINNER · External Since: Feb 13, 2005 Posts: 322

* Ross Maloney wrote in comp.os.linux.misc:
> I have installed Xubuntu 6.10 on a PC. As a test of that environment I
> have attempted to compile VIM 7.0 from sources downloaded from
> www.vim.org. When I run ./configure, the process terminates with:
> checking for tgetent()... configure: error: NOT FOUND!
> You need to install a terminal library: for example ncurses.
> Or specify the name of the library with --with-tlib.

> From what I have read, Xubuntu shares a lot of its environment with
> Ubuntu and it appears that my problem has been faced by others before me
> using Ubuntu. But solutions to this apparent terminal library absence
> have not been posted. I have used a standard Xubuntu installation and
> there is a libncurses.so in the /lib directory.

> Has any body been succcessful in compiling VIM on Ubuntu, and how did
> you overcome this appearent terminal library absence?

When compiling you must have the dev libraries

apt-get install libncurses5-dev
--
David
Ignore previous fortune.

Ross Maloney · External Since: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 21

Thanks for that, Sebastian. Using that aptitude command indicated only
libncurses5
libncursesw5
on my system. I will have to go and find the -dbg and -dev forms of
those files - where ever they may be. Clearly I am under the influence
of the 'new distribution' problem - well, new to me - with its
particular ways of doing things. Thanks.

Ross

Sebastian 'lunar' Wiesner wrote:
> Ross Maloney <rmatycorp RemoveThis @iinet.net.au> typed
>
>
>>I have installed Xubuntu 6.10 on a PC. As a test of that environment
>>I have attempted to compile VIM 7.0 from sources downloaded from
>>www.vim.org. When I run ./configure, the process terminates with:
>>checking for tgetent()... configure: error: NOT FOUND!
>> You need to install a terminal library: for example ncurses.
>> Or specify the name of the library with --with-tlib.
>
>
> Well, it says to install a terminal library like ncurses. A quick search
> on my Ubuntu system gives me following results for this library:
>
> [lunar@nargond]-[13:40:01] >> ~
> --> aptitude search -F %p libncurses
> [...]
> libncurses4
> libncurses5
> libncurses5-dbg
> libncurses5-dev
> libncursesw5
> libncursesw5-dbg
> libncursesw5-dev
>
> Did you try installing one of the two development packages?
>

John Hasler · External Since: Mar 25, 2004 Posts: 1337

Ross Maloney writes:
> I will have to go and find the -dbg and -dev forms of those files - where
> ever they may be.

In the Ubuntu archive, of course. 'apt-get install libncurses5-dev' will
take care of it. You may also want libgpmg1-dev and build-essential.
--
John Hasler
john DeleteThis @dhh.gt.org
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI USA

Bill Marcum · External Since: Dec 18, 2006 Posts: 293

On Mon, 01 Jan 2007 08:18:07 -0600, John Hasler
<john RemoveThis @dhh.gt.org> wrote:
>
>
> Ross Maloney writes:
>> I will have to go and find the -dbg and -dev forms of those files - where
>> ever they may be.
>
> In the Ubuntu archive, of course. 'apt-get install libncurses5-dev' will
> take care of it. You may also want libgpmg1-dev and build-essential.

'apt-get build-dep vim' to get whatever packages are required to compile
vim.

--
QOTD:
"I tried buying a goat instead of a lawn tractor; had to return
it though. Couldn't figure out a way to connect the snow blower."