hi
RPMs are not the default package format of UNIX like operating systems (Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD...). You can use RPMs only in RedHat and RedHat based systems. The default package format is .tgz or .tar.gz files. You can find tarballs of most of the programs in Linux. That's why I recommend you to use tarballs. So, you will not encounter any difficulties if you use any other UNIX like system.
Using tarballs is not very complicated.
Just download the pachage and unpack it! Here is a general procedure...
1. assume I have downloaded my_package.tar.gz
2. tar zxvf my_package.tar.gz (for more information "man tar")
most probably a directory called "my_package" will be created.
3. read README or INSTALL files (found almost in all packages)
4. shell>./configure
shell> make
shell> make install
the last option may change depending on a specific purposes but the general procedure likes above. But, DO NOT forget to read README or INSTALL files....
We Do Love Linux