Installing Librewolf flatpak & use as default browser

[galaxysurfer]

Hi,

I thought I would make a how-to for those that want to add this program with the least amount of hassle.

1. Go to https://librewolf-community.gitlab.io/install/ to grab the latest flatpak. Unfortunately it needs to be manually updated for now until the package is officially added to flathub repo, then you will be able to update through mxpi flatpak repo tab.

From terminal

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cd home/user/Downloads/LibreWolf-86.0.1-1.x86_64.flatpak

* edit with your exact locations & version name

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sudo flatpak install home/user/Downloads/LibreWolf-86.0.1-1.x86_64.flatpak

now check to see that librewolf was added

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flatpak list

2. Now to make your librewolf flatpak as preferred browser

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sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-www-browser x-www-browser /var/lib/flatpak/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/x86_64/master/*xyz/export/bin/io.gitlab.librewolf-community 200
sudo update-alternatives --set x-www-browser /var/lib/flatpak/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/x86_64/master/*xyz/export/bin/io.gitlab.librewolf-community[/

*xyz will need to insert your actual linked export/bin/ location here

now check your settings in update-alternatives

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sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

to verify which browser is default. It will be the one with * beside it.

now go to Preferred Applications gui & point it at x-www-browser so librewolf will open ( or if you have multi profiles, the profile manager will open)

Happy Browsing with Librewolf!

To update just repeat step 1

Remember to uninstall the older version after

[andyprough]

Very useful, thank you!

[wdscharff]

Why not as an AppImage? Download it, make it executable (you can also do this with the file manager), done.
It is also offered on the same download page.
AppImages load, unlike *flatpacks no additional runtimes on the system and are, in my opinion, easier to handle.
I use both, but if I have the choice between AppImage and Flatpack, I prefer AppImage.

[galaxysurfer]

I like the default sandboxing aspect. I tried both flatpak & appimage & for me at this point flatpak worked more the way I desire. That is the great thing about Linux, you have freedom to choose your own path!

Here is helpful link I found that explains the differences between the formats.

https://linuxhint.com/snap_vs_flatpak_vs_appimage/

[wdscharff]

I use what works, which are both AppImages and Flatpaks . I prefer AppImages.
I know the differences, but I prefer AppImages, which is also related to their size ... which is again related to my backup concept. For example, my snapshots contain my complete /home (except pictures/music/videos).
With AppImages around 13GB, with Flatpaks I got >20GB.
That doesn't fit on 16gb sticks anymore :)
Yes, that's the nice thing about Linux, everyone has the choice to use (mostly) what suits him best.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Girafenaine]

Hello,

Thanks for sharing this interesting browser project.

I read about and I have tried it since 3 weeks and it seems good. I have used palemoon for years and still like it, but some displaying issues sometimes, and less up-to-date plugins available.

Two more things about privacy :
- I use LibreWolf AppImage, with firejail as a "container". I use this command : "firejail --appimage --profile=librewolf ~/.local/bin LibreWolf-87.0-1.x86_64.AppImage"
(you need to force the profile to be used, because firejail uses the name of the command to know which profile to use, and it does not recognize "LibreWolf-87.0-1.x86_64.AppImage")
- Librewolf including Firefox' anti-tracking abilities (still under development), with some great plugins to prevent too much tracking and securities issues (especially uBlock Origin or uMatrix to block third parties script, and auto delete cookies to destroy cookies as soon as tab are closed), that seems a good deal.

An interesting website to experiment and read about online tracking (and be afraid about how unique your PC can be even for a far-far-away robot dealing with terabits of data) : https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/

[galaxysurfer]

Update

Flatpak is now available in flathub so no longer have to manually update it.

[LionelZaylan]

Why not as an AppImage? Download it, make it executable (you can also do this with the file manager), done.
It is also offered on the same download page.
AppImages load, unlike *flatpacks no additional runtimes on the system and are, in my opinion, easier to handle.
I use both, but if I have the choice between AppImage and Flatpack, I prefer AppImage.

You can also run the appimage inside a sandbox.
You can run it in firejail ( possibly with custom firejail profiles )
You can also run it in bubblewrap.
ArchWiki excellently documents how to sandbox firefox with bubblewrap ( may also be useful for librewolf , as it is heavily based on firefox )
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Bubblewrap#Firefox

[Sigi]

Update

Flatpak is now available in flathub so no longer have to manually update it.

Thanks for this!

[andrewjoseph]

Instead of LibreWolf, I use a sandboxed temporary firefox (with profile in RAM and cleared on exit) with some user.js changes too.

I use it for my normal browsing , and I have separately sandboxed (non-temporary) profiles for other things that require cookies (Email, forums etc.,)

I think a temporary profile in RAM (via mktemp -d , with /tmp on tmpfs) can do much more than hardening non-temporary profiles ( by design, temporary profiles can't store cookies, persistent cookies etc., )

Sorry, that was off-topic.