Setting up a Linux system for building GHC

If you're on a recent Linux system, then you should be able to get a working build environment by installing the following packages using your system's package manager.

Fedora

• glibc-devel
• libedit-devel
• ncurses-devel
• gmp-devel
• autoconf
• automake
• libtool
• gcc
• make
• perl
• python
• ghc
• happy
• alex

For building the documentataion: (User's Guide and Cabal guide):

• docbook-utils
• docbook-utils-pdf
• docbook-style-xsl

other packages that are useful for development:

• strace
• patch
• libcurl-devel and zlib-devel (for building darcs)

Debian-based systems (e.g. Debian, Ubuntu)

• glibc-dev
• libedit-dev
• ncurses-dev
• gmp-dev
• autoconf
• automake
• libtool
• gcc
• make
• perl
• python
• ghc
• happy
• alex

For building the documentataion: (User's Guide and Cabal guide):

• docbook-utils
• docbook-utils-pdf
• docbook-style-xsl

other packages that are useful for development:

• strace
• patch
• libcurl-dev and zlib-dev (for building darcs)