"The first step in compiling from source is issuing
sudo apt-get build-dep package_name
"where package_name is the name of whatever package it is you
are planning on compiling.
"The sudo at the beginning of this step is important, as it
gives you the necessary permissions to perform the apt-get part of
the command. Issuing the apt-get build-dep command prompts apt-get
to install binaries for whatever is required to build the package
you specify, from things as simple as basic as the GCC compiler to
as complicated as the Gtk developer headers, and any other library
the program you are compiling depends on."