One great solution is download the package that contains the missing file (usually a header file, .h extension). First look for the file with link below, note the package name and apt-get that package.

Search for the missing file here:

http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages

Scroll down to “search contents”

Or go here:

http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages#search_contents

Put the file name.

For example: xattr.h (I got this once during a failed compilation)

Then Look for your file and note the package and apt get it

Example:

The search for xattr.h came up with this:

..snip.. alot more was there in the list

ALSO can use apt-file to find the missing files:

# first download apt-file
apt-get update
apt-get install apt-file

# now update apt-file
apt-file update

# now look for your file, make sure to get the casing correct
apt-file search Python.h

# output will list the package and the full path of the file
# proceed to installing the package of choice
# which to choose out of the many? use logic

The top entry was enough, I just needed to install libattr1-dev

apt-get install libattr1-dev

Then I restarted the compilation with make clean and went on with make and make install