Compiling problem ./configure

What package? Can't you install it with Synaptic?

If you can't that look for a README or INSTALL file in the folder where you unpacked the files -- not all the packages install/compile the same way, README is a good place to start.

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Thanks for the quick response.
The program isnt available for synaptic so I'm trying the old-fashioned way.
I'm trying to follow instructions in the read-me and install which are within the package:
`cd' to the directory containing the package's source code and type
`./configure' to configure the package for your system."
I'm wondering if Mepis includes everyting we need to compile?

./configure script comes with the files (if it's mentioned in README), if Mepis lacks something when you run ./configure you'll get messages about what is missing
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Well I just hadn't cd'd deep enough so now I've got as far as:
"onfigure: error: We need a working libXext to proceed. Since configure
can't find it itself, we stop here assuming that make wouldn't find
them either."
I see in Synaptic libxext6 is installed.

There should be a libxext-dev to install. Whenever it complains about a missing package look for a package-dev to install. The package name may not be exact but look for something similar with the -dev ending to install. Then run ./configure again.

Thanks for your replies.
Now I've installed libxext-dev_6.9.0.dfsg.1-6_i386.deb
but had to upgrade to libxext6_6.9.0.dfsg.1-6_i386.deb
in order to get it to install.
Ran ./configure again, with same results.
I see there are several options to select program to download from debian. This machine is AMD sempron 3100.
I selected unstable, I386. Was that correct choice?
Or perhaps some other problem?