How to install the "real" Firefox on Debian Squeeze

[realnubnut]

1. Download latest firefox from: http://www.mozilla.com

2. Copy downloaded file to /opt

3. Extract

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# tar -jxvf firefox-x.x.xx.tar.bz2

4. Change permissions

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# chown -R root:users /opt/firefox
# chmod 750 /opt/firefox

note: your user should be a member of the group "users"

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# usermod -a -G users username

5. Create symbolic link

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# ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

6. Delete firefox-x.x.xx.tar.bz2 from /opt

7. Done

8. To install a new version:

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# rm -rf /opt/firefox*
# rm /usr/bin/firefox

then repeat previous steps


Add a shortcut menu:
1. Create firefox.desktop file

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# touch /usr/share/applications/firefox.desktop

2. Edit firefox.desktop (nano is used in this example, any editor will do):

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# nano /usr/share/applications/firefox.desktop

contents of firefox.desktop:

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[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Mozilla Firefox
Comment=Browse the World Wide Web
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Exec=/usr/bin/firefox %U
Icon=/opt/firefox/icons/mozicon128.png
StartupNotify=true
Categories=Network;WebBrowser;

[eric1959]

There is one big drawback : firefox from mozilla website is not configured with --enable-system-cairo , so fonts are not rendered in a proper way...
Better : http://debian-bits-and-snips.blogspot.c ... ueeze.html
or : http://debian-bits-and-snips.blogspot.c ... -4-rc.html

[stevepusser]

Another big drawback that was not noted is that Firefox build is 32-bit x86 only, and requires additional ia32lib packages to work correctly on a 64-bit amd64 machine. (or other tricks, such as a 32-bit kernel or 32-bit chroot) Other architectures are out of luck with Mozilla packages---Debian builds native versions of Iceweasel for many different architectures.

[kedaha]

Another big drawback that was not noted is that Firefox build is 32-bit x86 only, and requires additional ia32lib packages to work correctly on a 64-bit amd64 machine. (or other tricks, such as a 32-bit kernel or 32-bit chroot) Other architectures are out of luck with Mozilla packages---Debian builds native versions of Iceweasel for many different architectures.

Yes, why use FF when one can use Iceweasel? However, a quick way to install Firefox 64-bits from LMDE is by using gdebi or by adding the repository to the sources.list as I posted here. There are no conflicting dependency issues, IMO, and FF4 is sure to be added there any time soon.

[cynwulf]

You can get a newer Iceweasel 4.0 from the experimental repo or from the mozilla.debian.net backports repo for squeeze.

http://mozilla.debian.net/
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianExperimental

[bohu]

Firefox and IceWeasel both have been dead slow since I switched to Debian. This is not all bad because it has led me to try other browsers.

[ComputerBob]

Firefox and IceWeasel both have been dead slow since I switched to Debian. This is not all bad because it has led me to try other browsers.

See if this speeds them up:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61797

[realnubnut]

I see all these guys who are very pushy for iceweasel but the question that comes to mind is how come this situation does not translate to more contributors for the iceweasel project? Since time immemorial Mike Hommey is the lone fox behind iceweasel. This is the reason why iceweasel is slow in catching up with firefox releases.

What is this mozilla.debian.net? Who is behind this project? Will this just add another layer of confusion?

Mike Hommey quote: "But I do hope Wheezy will get Firefox back"

By the way we are talking about Debian Squeeze here, a stable release.

[cynwulf]

What is this mozilla.debian.net? Who is behind this project? Will this just add another layer of confusion?

Read the page or this
Mike Hommey
No

By the way we are talking about Debian Squeeze here, a stable release.

Yes... what is your point?

[realnubnut]

What is this mozilla.debian.net? Who is behind this project? Will this just add another layer of confusion?

Read the page or this
Mike Hommey
No

Good to know it's Mike Hommey not some anon team/guy who likes running his mouth.

By the way we are talking about Debian Squeeze here, a stable release.

Yes... what is your point?

If you don't see the point, then I guess I have none. But if it could be of any help, it has something to do with experimenting.

[cynwulf]

Good to know it's Mike Hommey not some anon team/guy who likes running his mouth.

Ok...

If you don't see the point, then I guess I have none. But if it could be of any help, it has something to do with experimenting.

O.... k....

[craigevil]

Download, extract, create a desktop shortcut, done.

Or just use Iceweasel.


apt-cache policy iceweasel
iceweasel:
Installed: 4.0-3
Candidate: 4.0-3
Version table:
*** 4.0-3 0
1 http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ experimental/main i386 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
4.0~rc1-1 0
500 http://mozilla.debian.net/ experimental/iceweasel-4.0 i386 Packages
3.5.18-1 0
500 http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ unstable/main i386 Packages

[shrinivas]

I have done exactly as described here.
Still,clicking on the icon 'Firefox" opens a new instance of Iceweasel 3.5.16 !

I recently installed Debian 32-bit OS.
Regards and thanks,
Shrinivas

[eric1959]

opens a new instance of Iceweasel 3.5.16

Did you close Iceweasel 3.5.16 first.....?

[cynwulf]

That's normal, it will run the one in /usr/bin - you need to get run of that and change it to a symlink to the firefox you install in opt.

There is a howto somewhere that explains how to replace Iceweasel or you can just purge it - I think that does the trick...