Improved INSTALL file

[Charles Landau]

The attached new version of INSTALL makes a small improvement: it adds
the line
make install
to help the impatient (such as me) get the software installed.
The original is from gmp-3.1.1.

                          INSTALLING GNU MP
                          =================


These instructions are only for the impatient.  Others should read the install
instructions in the manual, gmp.info.  Use

        info -f ./gmp.info

or in emacs

        C-u C-h i gmp.info


Here are some brief instructions on how to install GMP, and some examples to
help you get started using GMP.

First, you need to compile, and optionally install, GMP.  Since you're
impatient, try this:

        ./configure; make
        make install

If that fails, or you care about the performance of GMP, you need to read the
full instructions in the chapter "Installing GMP", in the manual.

Next, try some small test programs, for example the ones below.

In GMP programs, all variables need to be initialized before they are
assigned, and cleared out before program flow leaves the scope in which they
were declared.  Here is an example program that reads two numbers from the
command line, multiplies them, and prints the result to stdout.


    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <gmp.h>         /* All GMP programs need to include gmp.h */

    main (int argc, char **argv)
    {
      mpz_t a, b, p;

      if (argc != 3)
        { printf ("Usage: %s <number> <number>\n", argv[0]); exit (1); }

      /* Initialize variables */
      mpz_init (a);
      mpz_init (b);
      mpz_init (p);

      /* Assign a and b from base 10 strings in argv */
      mpz_set_str (a, argv[1], 10);
      mpz_set_str (b, argv[2], 10);

      /* Multiply a and b and put the result in p */
      mpz_mul (p, a, b);

      /* Print p in base 10 */
      mpz_out_str (stdout, 10, p);
      fputc ('\n', stdout);

      /* Clear out variables */
      mpz_clear (a);
      mpz_clear (b);
      mpz_clear (p);
      exit (0);
    }


This might look tedious, with all the initializing and clearing.  Fortunately
some of these operations can be combined, and other operations can often be
avoided.  An experienced GMP user might write:


    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <gmp.h>

    main (int argc, char **argv)
    {
      mpz_t a, b, p;

      if (argc != 3)
        { printf ("Usage: %s <number> <number>\n", argv[0]); exit (1); }

      /* Initialize and assign a and b from base 10 strings in argv */
      mpz_init_set_str (a, argv[1], 10);
      mpz_init_set_str (b, argv[2], 10);
      /* Initialize p */
      mpz_init (p);

      /* Multiply a and b and put the result in p */
      mpz_mul (p, a, b);

      /* Print p in base 10 */
      mpz_out_str (stdout, 10, p);
      fputc ('\n', stdout);

      /* Since we're about to exit, no need to clear out variables */
      exit (0);
    }


Now you have to compile your test program, and link it with the GMP library.
Assuming your working directory is still the gmp source directory, and your
source file is called example.c, enter:

        gcc -g -I. example.c .libs/libgmp.a

After installing, the command becomes: "gcc -g example.c -lgmp".  Also, GMP is
libtool based so you can use that to link if you want.

Now try to run the example:

        ./a.out 98365871231256752134 319378318340103345227
        31415926535897932384618573336104570964418

The functions used here all operate on signed integers, and have names
starting with "mpz_".  There are many more such functions than used in these
examples.  See the chapter "Integer Functions" in the manual, for a complete
list.

There are two other main classes of functions in GMP.  They operate on
rational numbers and floating-point numbers, respectively.  The chapters
"Rational Number Functions", and "Floating-point Functions" document these
classes.

To run a set of tests, do "make check".  This will take a while.

To create the printable documentation from the texinfo source, type "make
gmp.dvi" or "make gmp.ps".  This requires various "tex" commands.

To install the library, do "make install" (then you can use -lgmp instead of
.libs/libgmp.a).

If you decide to use GMP, it is a good idea you at least read the chapter "GMP
Basics" in the manual.

Some known build problems are noted in the "Installing GMP" chapter of
the manual.  Please report other problems to address@hidden



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