Installing BRL-CAD

This blog explains how to install BRL-CAD latest release into your home directory in an easy way.

STEP 1: 
Installing Developer Tools

sudo apt-get install build-essential make cmake
sudo apt-get install sed byacc flex xsltproc
sudo apt-get install libncursesw5-dev libfontconfig-dev 
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-dev
sudo apt-get install libx11-dev libxi-dev libxt-dev libxau-dev libxext-dev libxmu-dev libxmu-headers

STEP 2: 
Download BRL-CAD

svn checkout svn://svn.code.sf.net/p/brlcad/code/brlcad/trunk brlcad

This may take longer time, depending on your internet speed.

STEP 3:
Dive into the source

cd brlcad

STEP 4:
Configuring from source 

mkdir .build
cd .build
cmake .. -DBRLCAD_BUNDLED_LIBS=ON

STEP 5:
Compiling the source

make
make test

STEP 6:
Installing the source

sudo make install

To verify , check

ls -la /usr/brlcad
/usr/brlcad/*/bin/mged

STEP 7: 
Quick Test:
You don't have to install, though, and can just run binaries that are in the brlcad/.build/bin directory.

bin/benchmark
bin/mged

Congrats ! You have just installed BRL-CAD from source.

For more information on use of specific option for a specific functionality, refer README and INSTALL files in the cloned source code.

Note: I use Ubuntu distro of Linux and the commands for installation may change a bit depending on the distro you use.

You may also wish to join  brl-cad mailing list  and IRC to get involved with BRL-CAD development. No matter what background you come from, you always have something to contribute and be a part of this awesome community.

Hope to see you getting involved. :)

References: http://brlcad.org/wiki/Compiling