How to install D on Linux as non-root?

[Brad Roberts]

Andrei Alexandrescu (See Website For Email) wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> 
> The D installation instructions for Linux assume root privileges. I 
> didn't manage to install it as non-root, and I need to. Could anyone 
> here provide instructions? Then hopefully Walter will paste them onto 
> the installation page.
> 
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Andrei

1) unzip the dmd.zip file somewhere, for example:
   a) cd ~
   b) unzip dmd.zip  (assumes dmd.zip is in current dir)
2) chmod u+x ~/dmd/bin/{dmd,dumpobj,obj2asm,rdmd}
3) edit ~/dmd/bin/dmd.conf
   DFLAGS=-I%@P%/../src/phobos -L-L%@P%/../../dmd/lib

Personally, I don't like putting things like this in my home dir like 
that, but for the sake of keeping it simple that's what I've done here. 
  If you prefer to put it elsewhere, then alter the paths above to suit.

Maybe a better installation procedure would be

1) installpath=~/d   (path to put the binaries)
2) sourcepath=/tmp   (path that has dmd.zip)
3) cd $installpath
4) unzip $sourcepath/dmd.zip
5) chmod u+x $installpath/dmd/bin/{dmd,dumpobj,obj2asm,rdmd}
6) edit $installpath/dmd/bin/dmd.conf
   DFLAGS=-I%@P%/../src/phobos -L-L%@P%/../../dmd/lib

Walter,
   If you changed the default dmd.conf file to look like that, then no 
one would have to edit it at all.  If you switched to something other 
than .zip that supports permission bits, such as a tarball, then step 2 
could be eliminated.

Later,
Brad