I just downloaded the sourcefiles from svn and start to read de README
file. But it seems that there is no instructions for install from
sources.

So, I'll suppose that install from sources is the same as install the tarball.

But another problem. README.en say that I should install POpen4. I try
to find in my debian/lenny box:

# apt-cache search popen
libpstreams-dev - a C++ iostream interface to POSIX process I/O
# apt-cache show libpstreams-dev
...
Description: a C++ iostream interface to POSIX process I/O
PStreams allows you to run another program from your C++ application and to
transfer data between the two programs, similar to shell pipelines. The
PStreams class works like a wrapper for the the POSIX.2 functions popen(3) and
pclose(3) (although it doesn't actually use them), using a C++ iostreams
interface, instead of C's stdio library. Thus, PStreams makes it possible to
run an external program and handle its stdin, stdout, and stderr just like you
would handle any other C++ iostream.
Tag: devel::library, role::devel-lib

there is no reference to ruby. just C++. Is this the right package?

----

The tarball contains just the source code, pretty much like a fresh repo fetch.
Technically, installing from the tarball ''is'' installing from the source code.

Line 76 in the file you mention (README.en) says

(tar) POpen4 0.1.1 ('''available as Ruby Gem''': POpen4)

It is not in bold letters in the original text, but it is there: POpen4 is a Ruby
Gem and you'll have to install it as usual for gems
(<code>gem install POpen4</code>). The info is there, but maybe it needs to me
made a little more clear (I suppose that it is even more obscure to non-Ruby
people). Any suggestions?

-- Thiago Arrais