GNU patch and readline

Hello all,

I'm trying to install the GNU readline library to get NeST (a neural network simulation tool) running on my MacBook (which is running Leopard). Some help-sites mentioned that to get the GNU readline library to run, I would need to patch it using GNU patch.

I've tried installing GNU patch, but it asks me for my host. As I'm still very new at Linux and the Terminal, I haven't the faintest idea what it's asking for. Can anyone help me with this, or possibly know of a different solution to my GNU readline installation problem?

Thanks,

David