I have been going through the usual gyrations trying to get inkscape to compile and run on my Slacware 11 Linux system. It can be done I am told, but I got weary of downloading and recompiling this piece of software and that, mostly libraries. One of them (the Deity knows which one) managed to destroy my font loading system and I had to restart with a fresh partition and fresh install.
However I have discovered a shortcut. The Slax selfloading CDR distro has a series of optional modules including Inkscape versions 43, 44 and 44.1. Through a series of steps I was able to create a Slax 5.18 cdr that has Inkscape 44.1 on it. And it works! (With Slax 6 Beta the compression scheme changed so that it did not play nicely with Inkscape.) When I need to use Inkscape I can boot the cdr and use it there. Clumsy, but better than no Inkscape at all.
Someday when I have no customers pressing on me I will try once again to go down the frustrating path of installing Inkscape natively. I'll start with a separate clean partition, so I don't destroy anything critical to my day to day work.