****target not specified,make not found

hi
i am new to linux
but i have learnt commands

i am in problem of compiling source code of any software such as vlc for installing

for installing vlc from source code in backtrack4

first i have used tar xvf vlc.0.0.1
then ./configure command inside vlc.0.0.1 folder created on untar

then i go to command make

but it always give the error

***target not specified ,make not found

i am stuck,please help me i am in very need

please plaese
thanks in advance

sudo apt-get install vlc vlc-plugin-esd mozilla-plugin-vlc

why not give another distro a try, learn more, then come back to backtrack.