RPM files in Ubuntu

I downloaded the RPM file for a music writing software called Rosegarden but I heard that because Ubuntu is based on Debian, you have to use a program called Alien to compile them for Ubuntu.

Being new to Ubuntu's terminal and the whole source file thing, I'm having a bit of trouble installing Alien which is a tarball. In the install file it says to type the commands "perl Makefile.PL; make; make install" which is what I did, successfully creating the makefile but it says it doesn't recognize the command "make." I was going to work on it some more when I get home tonight, but I figured I'd go ahead and ask here to see if I couldn't get an answer before I spend too much time on it tonight.

I'm gonna see if I can't get my internet working tonight as well now that I do have Ubuntu back installed after my Symphony experience.

 

Have you tried using synaptics/apt-get to install it?

 

I tried using the apt-get command but it wasn't available and I figured it was because I haven't figured out how to get online with it yet.

 

That would be why. You need to get online, and get your updates. apt is a great system, but you really need to be on the internet to get the most of it. The apt repositories should have almost anything you need. Including Rosegarden. Don't bother with RPM's. It's just bad practice.

 

Okay, Guess I won't full with that then and work tonight on trying to get the stupid thing online.