@dcaliste, merci for your helpful tips. I got into the VM alright and started the compilation. However, I hit another roadblock. With the two packages, okb-keyboard and okb-engine I couldn't figure out where to put them. Apparently the compilation of the former fails because it needs the latter one. But I couldn't compile that on its own, either.

In particular, I unpacked both archives into separate directories. While trying to compile okb-keyboard, it told me it needed the .tgz in the rpm directory - easily done. However, then it required okb-engine, but just adding the .tgz to the same rpm directory didn't work.

I realize this is basic stuff and I am hoping I'm making any kind of sense. What a way to show you all of my ignorance.