Install the essential programs needed to compile Samba 4:

sudo aptitude install git build-essential libattr1-dev libblkid-dev libgnutls-dev libreadline5-dev python-dev autoconf python-dnspython gdb

Obtain Samba from the Samba “git” repository (the current build is alpha12):

git clone git://git.samba.org/samba.git samba4-alpha; cd samba4-alpha

While it’s downloading, go make a cup of coffee. It will take pretty long to download.

In the future, should you need to update the repository, you simply need to run:

git pull

from the “samba4-alpha” directory.

After git has finished pulling in all the files, you will need to create a “configure” script ,as only released versions of Samba will include the script:

cd source4; ./autogen.sh

If all goes well, the “configure” script will have been created, and you can now run:

./configure

or

./configure.developer

The latter is preferred by the Samba4 wiki as it provides more debugging information and includes some built-in tests.

Following that, compile Samba4 and test the build:

make; make quicktest

You should get an “ALL OK” message at the end of the “make quicktest” step. If you do not, you will need to troubleshoot your build.

Lastly, install your build of Samba4:

sudo make install

If, however, you wish to log it with dpkg for easy removal and management, you can choose to use “checkinstall” instead:

sudo aptitude install checkinstall; sudo checkinstall