Where should I save my files before making the install? [closed]

Apologies for the perhaps silly question. Say that I have a tarball that doesn't come with a ./configuration script, if I download the file in the temp Download folder and then I make the make --install, will the file:

a) compiled and moved somewhere so that I can delete the temp folder b) compiled and linked to the temp folder?

Assuming b), what's the best location to move these applications? Thanks

Solution 1:

A complete tarball of source code typically can be unpacked anywhere. In the created folder, the compilation can be performed with normal user rights. The "install" command, which must be run as "root", will install the compiled binaries in the appropriate system locations.

Where and whether you keep the tarball or the extracted tarball is entirely up to you. You can organize this somewhere in your home folder as you see fit or remove them.