Usually this is to `unzip <file>`, then if it's source code ( C or C++ in particular ) enter the folder where the contents extracted to, and run `make` and then run `make install` if there are no errors.

This is very general. There are many things you can usually configure first, but that is the usual generic procedure for most applications. If it's JAVA or another language though, it will be different.

If it's not source code but it's a binary file, just unzip it, make sure the binary is executable, then execute it.

Obviously, be sure the executable is trustworthy.

  > I am on linux mint and do not have root.
  > I am new to terminal ...

So what do you know, what experience do you have, and what are you trying to achieve?

How much of this are you familiar with?

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Linux_For_Newbies/Command_Line

Without knowing the package you're trying to install, and then going away to install it myself and noting all the steps in minute detail, any assistance will have to be generic, and will depend on how much you already know.

Why are you on Mint, and yet not have root access?

For reference, there's also this:

http://linuxnewbieguide.org/

I just have a basic install of mint, and it uses sudo as root. My past experience is installing programs in the repository using software manager or using synaptic. Everything I have used to create a program used a .tar or .deb file system. One thing I have been trying to install is http://foundation.zurb.com/develop/download.html, thanks

So why are you asking here instead of following the directions and contacting them via the support page:

http://foundation.zurb.com/support/support.html

Can I also suggest that you read this:

https://www.mikeash.com/getting_answers.html

And I'm confused by what you mean when you say "it uses sudo as root". You can login as root by using:

    sudo su

and then giving your password. Warning, this is extremely dangerous! As root you can completely screw your system. However, if it's your own install you can easily login as root.

OK, I've gone and had a look. Here:

  Create a directory for Zurb
  Change directory to the place you created
  Download the zipfile to somewhere
  Unzip the file
  Open the index.html file that was just created.

I am looking over mikeash.com Getting Answers. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

See also my answer here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9268772

That seems all that's necessary to "install" Zurb, although I don't have time to do more than a quick skim. There is an entire page on their web site on how to get support:

http://foundation.zurb.com/support/support.html

That's all I have time for now - good luck.

It depends on the programming language the project is done in.

Read the README in the repository (most have some)

For auto-tools (C) programs, usually:

./configure --prefix=$HOME/some-thing

make

make install

your program should then be in $HOME/some-thing/bin/some-program