I can think of many reasons as to why anyone would want to install Firefox from binary source instead of using Debian's Iceweasel...
Maybe a website actually requires the user agent Firefox, maybe you think foxes are sexy; or maybe, just maybe! You suffer of an irrational fear of weasels! (I'm not judging! Promise!)
But it's because of the reasons that I can't think of that this HowTo was born.
Anyways, the only assumption I make here is that you have a working Internet Connection and that Iceweasel is not installed. Because of that pretty much all the code and explanations are aimed towards new users.
Ok. Let's do it!
Open a console and log in as root. Enter root's password when asked:
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su
Firefox depends on libstdc++5. Install it by running this command:
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apt-get install libstdc++5
Next, you can either type the codes manually, or just copy and paste to avoid typos... It's really up to you (This is not a typing lesson after all):
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cd /opt
wget ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/2.0.0.9/linux-i686/en-US/firefox-2.0.0.9.tar.gz
tar -xvf firefox-2.0.0.9.tar.gz
ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox
rm -rf /opt/firefox/plugins/ && ln -s /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/ /opt/firefox/plugins
- - The 1st line changes your location to /opt. I like it there becuase it doesn't interfer with the Debian's defaults.
- The 2nd line downloads the latest Firefox's code. If you need a lenguage different then US English, go to ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/2.0.0.7/linux-i686/ and change the en-US line with your language code.
- The 3rd line untars the code to /opt/firefox/
- The next line creates a link at /usr/bin so you can start Firefox from any console just by typing firefox
- Next one removes the plugin folder and replaces it with a link to the Debian's pluggins. This is so we don't have to update links when adding, removing or upgrading plugins.
Note:
When a new Firefox version is released, all you have to do is enter as root and type:
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rm -rf /opt/firefox*
rm /usr/bin/firefox
That will remove all traces of the current install. After that all you have to do is follow this procedure, but modified with the new source..
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Changelog:
v 0.1
- 1st release. Firefox Version 2.0.0.6. 08-23-2007. GPL.
v 0.2
- Updated to Firefox Version 2.0.0.7. 09-24-2007
- Added libstdc++5 dependency
v 0.3
- Updated to Firefox Version 2.0.0.8. 10-19-2007
v 0.4
- Updated to Firefox Version 2.0.0.9. 11-12-2009
I likes the 'bleeding edge'
