How to run firefox from unpack

[aus9]

How to run firefox from unpack.

Note this breaks the pristine state concept.

Why
Each time there is a new release, assuming its a security update, normal distros have to give you a big download.
But with my method, actually I did not invent it, but if its a point release you are downloading only the  diff.
Naturally when there is a integer release  eg 75.something to 76.0, that is a full download
Firefox will do the updates depending on your preferences as because you have write powers to your home dir, no need to rebuild a TCE as you did not create one in the first place.

How to setup
Go to
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release

choose your language and download it

unpack it into your home directory

Optional for XFCE Gnome users you could create a desktop launcher but I am too lazy to
as I tend to stay on openbox.

Check the system requirements
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/75.0/system-requirements/

The main thing is I run on Xorg, Xorg-7.7.tcz is in by boot list with dbus running thru my bootlocal.sh

Next I create a ~/.local/bin exe called fox with contents

#!/bin/sh
LIST="gtk3 libasound dbus-glib cairo gamin speexdsp \
adwaita-icon-theme hicolor-icon-theme gdk-pixbuf2 speexdsp"
for Z in $LIST
    do
    tce-load -i $Z
done

[ -h /usr/local/bin/firefox ] || sudo ln -s /home/tc/firefox/firefox /usr/local/bin/firefox
[ -h /lib64 ] || sudo ln -s /lib /lib64

exec /usr/local/bin/firefox

Make it executable

Code: [Select]

chmod 755 ~/.local/bin/fox
If I need to watch youtube in FF then I am forced to load and run pulseaudio but there are other ways
of playing youtube not discussed here.

Optional add any plugins you need such as uBlock Origin

You may notice I had to choose a local bin exe name different from firefox.

Depending on which boot lists you use or abuse.....some of the TCEs could be put in your boot list.

[aus9]

I forgot to mention, if you would like to try this method out, remove any firefox from your boot list and do a full reboot.

2) If you do not want to have dbus starting in your bootlocal.sh then add this line before executing firefox

[ -f /var/run/dbus/pid ] || sudo /usr/local/etc/init.d/dbus start

[aus9]

I finally got around to "autostart" firefox from unpack. Note that I do not have any TCEs loading called firefox so any home bit could be called anything but I try to not use firefox as an executable name.

~/.local/bin/fox now reads as

#!/bin/sh
[ -h /usr/local/bin/firefox ] || sudo ln -s /home/tc/firefox/firefox /usr/local/bin/firefox
[ -h /lib64 ] || sudo ln -s /lib /lib64
exec /usr/local/bin/firefox

ensure its executable with

Code: [Select]

chmod 755 ~/.local/bin/fox
contents of ~/.X.d/firefox

~/.local/bin/fox

this file does not need to be executable so its a 644 for me

I also need a dep file, this dep is added to my boot list

Code: [Select]

tce-load -i squashfs-tools
cd /tmp
mkdir fox-dep
mksquashfs fox-dep/ fox-dep.tcz # this is deliberately an empty TCE
md5sum fox-dep.tcz > fox-dep.tcz.md5.txt
echo 'gtk3.tcz
libasound.tcz
dbus-glib.tcz
cairo.tcz
gamin.tcz
speexdsp.tcz
adwaita-icon-theme.tcz
hicolor-icon-theme.tcz
gdk-pixbuf2.tcz
speexdsp.tcz 
rest.tcz ' > fox-dep.tcz.dep
Note that I do not normally need pulseaudio as I do not normally need sound in FF

Test it with a full reboot works OK so far.

[aus9]

oops old habits .....
no need to create md5 text file, as I do not want to see an error message when I run Apps update.