Easily install applications from within Firefox with Appnr

There are so many ways to install applications in Linux. There's Synaptic, apt-get, dpkg, Ubuntu Software Center, and many more.  In Ubuntu (or a Debian derivative) you can even install from your browser with the help of GDebi. But did you know there is another way to install with the help of the Firefox browser? That's right. Sure any browser can be configured to launch an external application, but wouldn't it be nice to be able to do all of this from within the browser itself? Well, with the help of Appnr.com (and a little bit of configuration magic) you can do just that. Let's take a look at just how to set up a Ubuntu desktop Linux distribution to install applications directly from within Firefox.

What you need

First, you will need a working Firefox browser. That is simple as nearly every distribution ships with Firefox. Next you will need to install the application apturl. To install this you can either find it from within Synaptic (NOTE: You will not find this within the Ubuntu Software Center) or you can install it from the command line. Let's install from the command line:

1. Open up a terminal window.
2. Issue the command sudo apt-get install apturl.
3. Type your sudo password and hit Enter.
4. Accept any necessary dependencies.
5. Let the installation complete.

Now you are ready for a little Firefox configuration magic.

Configuring Firefox

If you've never worked with the about:config piece in Firefox, you are about to. The about:config page is a way to configure numerous hidden options in Firefox. This also allows you to create new configuration options. To get to this page open up Firefox and enter about:config in the address bar. You will be warned about the dangers of messing with this configuration and you will have to accept by clicking a button to continue on. Once within about:config you will see numerous strings that can be edited (see Figure 1).

What you have to do is create a new string. To do this right click anywhere on the page and select New > String. In the resulting window (see Figure 2) enter the following string:

network.protocol-handler.app.apt

Click OK and a new window will appear pre-filled with the string:

/usr/bin/apturl

OK that string to complete the new configuration. Now you have to add one more string. Right-click the about:config page, select New > String, and enter the following:

network.protocol-handler.app.apt+http

OK that and then OK the pre-filled in string for the value.

You are now ready to give it a try.

Installing

From Firefox, go to the site http://appnr.com and locate an application to install. You will notice, when you mouse over an application, an Install button will appear. Click on that application's Install button and you will prompted for your sudo password. Once you authenticate to sudo the application will install without having to open an external application. Although the same things are going on in the background, it is just one step quicker than the standard GDebi install from within Firefox. And anything to make Linux easier is a plus.

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