In the world of Ubuntu, the transition from traditional .deb packages to snap packages has been a topic of much debate. One such example is the popular web browser, Firefox. As of Ubuntu 22.04, the default installation method for Firefox is via snap. However, there are still ways to install Firefox as a traditional .deb package. In this article, we will explore how to install Firefox without snap in Ubuntu 22.04.
Yes, it is possible to install Firefox without snap in Ubuntu 22.04 by using the Firefox PPA or official .deb builds.
Using Firefox PPA
The Personal Package Archive (PPA) maintained by the Mozilla team provides an easy way to install Firefox as a .deb package. Here’s how to do it:
- Add the Firefox PPA to your system: Run the following command in the terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppaThe sudo command allows you to run commands with administrative privileges. add-apt-repository is a script which adds an APT repository to your system. ppa:mozillateam/ppa is the PPA that we want to add.
- Update your package list: Run the following command:
sudo apt updateThe apt update command retrieves new lists of packages from the PPA you’ve just added.
- Install Firefox: Finally, run the following command:
sudo apt install firefoxThe apt install command installs the specified package, in this case, Firefox.
Using Official .deb Builds
If you prefer to use the latest official .deb builds of Firefox, there is a PPA repository with official Ubuntu packages released originally for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal) and updated automatically as soon as a new version is released. You can find the repository here.
Using Firefox ESR
For those who prefer the Extended Support Release (ESR) version of Firefox, you can install it via .deb from the Mozilla PPA. Here’s how:
- Add the Mozilla PPA to your system: Run the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa- Update your package list: Run the following command:
sudo apt update- Install Firefox ESR: Finally, run the following command:
sudo apt install firefox-esrThe firefox-esr package provides the ESR version of Firefox.
Conclusion
While the transition to snap packages provides certain advantages, there are still valid reasons to prefer traditional .deb packages. The methods outlined in this article allow you to install Firefox as a .deb package in Ubuntu 22.04. Remember to undo any changes made to your system if you decide to switch back to the snap version or upgrade to a newer version of Ubuntu.
Yes, you can install Firefox without snap in Ubuntu 22.04. There are alternative methods to install Firefox as a traditional .deb package.
PPA stands for Personal Package Archive. It is a software repository that allows users to easily install and update packages on Ubuntu-based systems. PPAs are typically maintained by individuals or teams and provide packages that are not available in the official Ubuntu repositories.
To add a PPA to your system, you can use the add-apt-repository command followed by the PPA URL. For example: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa. This command will add the Mozilla team’s PPA to your system.
Firefox is the regular release version of the web browser, while Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release) is a version specifically designed for organizations and enterprises that prioritize stability and long-term support. Firefox ESR receives security updates and bug fixes, but major feature updates are less frequent compared to the regular release version.
If you decide to switch back to the snap version of Firefox or upgrade to a newer version of Ubuntu, you can remove the .deb package installation by running the command sudo apt remove firefox or sudo apt remove firefox-esr depending on the version you installed. This will remove the installed package and revert your system to the default version provided by the package manager.
