How to download waterfox from github?

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Hello guys

I have downloaded the newest Waterfox (tar.bz) from the official site (Waterfox site).  I extracted it and found that the waterfox file was x-sharedlib. I did figure out way of execute it (by making a launcher and pint it at teh file), however it did add a few process to my computer. It didn’t seem right and according to one reddit thread on installing waterfox said x-sharedlib was supposed to be for library, not an executible. So I ended those process and deleted the Waterfox.

I then got curious and decided to try to download it from Github, so I see if it was in fact supposed to be x-sharelib. Only that the download time was unknown and I even got up to 300 MB before I cancelled the download. If it helps you, I went to the release then click on the tags and there was tar and I clicked on it.

Did I do something wrong?

Thank you

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Waterfox is available in the Mint Software Manager, via Flatpak. You don’t have to download it and install it manually.

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Should I have posted this thread on the support forum for browser instead?

I have posted this question in Mint section because it has to do with Linux Mint and Tar file, as well how the use newest Waterfox on my computer.

I apologize if it should be in the Browser section of support forum

Have a great day to you guys

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This is the right place for your question, no problem with that.

Where are you seeing the x-sharedlib description? Did it not work when you tried to run it?

I just downloaded and extracted the tarball (tar.bz2) file, and everything looks fine.  It runs with no problem from the ‘waterfox’ executable.

FWIW, I get my Waterfox from the Hawkeye repo on OpenSUSE’s servers. This link is good for all Linux distros (just pick the one you need). For Mint, you would use the Ubuntu icon. That way, you can add the repo to your sources and have it updated like any other package in Mint.

If you prefer to do it manually, though, the tarball from Waterfox works fine for me.

 

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon 6.2
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/32GB & GTX1660ti, Kubuntu 24.04
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, Kubuntu 24.04 (and Win 11)

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I am seeing x-sharelib in the properties of what is supposed to be executible file for Waterfox. I could not run it when I click on it. However I could make a launcher for it but it spawn several processes that remain even when closed the waterfox. I had to end those processes. I got it from the Official Waterfox site https://www.waterfox.net/download/.

I have Waterfox-classic and dealt with it before, which is the reason I am a bit familiar with Tar. It worked fine. It is also easy to delete without needing to use the software manager.

I must admit to be a bit nervous about trying Hawkeye Repo.

Thank you for your reply:)

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That is where I got the tarball that I tried. I just double clicked on “waterfox” in the extracted folder and it started up normally. Does that not work? What happens if you try that, exactly?

What were the process names that were left over?

More specific information is needed to be able to help figure this out.

As for the Hawkeye repo… it’s run by one of the mods at the official Waterfox Reddit (Venghan). JFYI!

Removing software via the manager is easier than navigating through the file system and deleting the folder (subdirectory) with a file manager. That does not create the various .desktop files to work seamlessly with the desktop environment, nor does it handle any dependencies there may be.

The appimage is always an option, but I personally would only use those or Flatpaks if there is no other format available.

 

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon 6.2
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/32GB & GTX1660ti, Kubuntu 24.04
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, Kubuntu 24.04 (and Win 11)

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That is interesting. When I clicked on the file, it just say unknown program and it asks me what program to open it with. The only way I could open it was set up a launcher on desktop and pointed address at waterfox.

The process, by my memory, was something like psxsg and xsd-password and other xsd/xsg. Like I said, I ended those process and I tried to look them up, only to get no information. I am leery of trying it again.

When I tried to find more inform on this subject, I found a reddit thread (from 2022) where a poster asked how to install waterfox and he found the file with the same property I have described (application/x-sharedlib). Another poster replied that it was not supposed to be used as application, only as a library.

 

Oh it is easier with software manager? I am still a newbie with Linux. I am just worried about something to the root, whereas installing it via Tar seemed to keep it contained and not touching the root.

Thank you for informing me Have a great day!

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Oh, I have forgotten to add that there was also another process called sh. It went away on it owns when I ended one of other process.

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You don’t need to compile Waterfox from source via Github, it’s literally the most difficult way and really only intended for developers or those interested in tinkering with the code. There’s plenty of easier ways. SB9K’s post is on the money here.

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Ah, that explains it.

Thank you for letting me know

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Thank you for your advices

I looked around about the strangeness with Tar and the property of Waterfox and then I realized it may be simply because my computer is Mint 19.1.  The site of Waterfox said it needs 2.17 glibc and the Github said 20.08 Ubuntu. My computer has fullfilled the requirement for glibc, which may be why I could run it by pointing the launcher at the file and use it if I don’t mind the extra processes from library. However, Mint 19.1 is 18.00s thus, I believe that may be why my computer read it as application/x-shared and can’t launch it if I click on it.

That is my best guest. What do you think?

Have a great day!

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