Make menuconfig

Question

Hey, I´m new to archlinux and I´m having some problem when it comes to configuring the kernel.
When I go to /usr/src/linux-2.6.29-ARCH/ and type make menuconfig, this massage comes up:
*** Unable to find the ncurses libraries or the
*** required header files.
*** 'make menuconfig' requires the ncurses libraries.
*** Install ncurses (ncurses-devel) and try again.
make[1]: *** [scripts/kconfig/dochecklxdialog] Error 1
make: *** [menuconfig] Error 2
I already have core/ncurses 5.7-2.1 (base) but it still won´t let me configure the kernel.
Thanks for any response.

Answer 1

Hi Iz0r,
compiling kernel (and every other package) in arch is done with makepkg command.
To use makepkg, you must have PKGBUILD script. In this script you specify package name, version, etc.
The best way to compile kernel is to download PKGBUILD (and other needed files) from ABS.
If you have yaourt installed, you can do yaourt -G kernel26, if you want to use abs switch to /var/abs/core/kernel26. Both ways will show you PKGBUILD, config, configx64 and other files needed to build.
To configure kernel with menuconfig open PKGBUILD and find line
#make menuconfig # CLI menu for configuration
and uncomment this line.
You can also use make xconfig (which uses Qt3 menus). Choose only one of them.
Additionally you can change pkgname=kernel26 to your need (e.g. pkgname=kernel26-izor) so you end up with kernel26-izor package, and you can have this kernel alogside with the oficial arch stock kernel (just edit grub menu then).
This is the most simple way (and the best) to compile your own kernel. But why do you need it? Perhaps it would be better to say us the reason for this. Or is it just learning?
P.S. Don't forget that removing modules from kernel you need to boot can make your system unbootable. Therefore i suggest to change pkgname (so the arch kernel will survive on your system unless your new kernel will work).