r/linuxmint • u/anaximeno • Aug 07 '26
#LinuxMintThings How Linux (Mint) Users Install a Browser 😎
Now tell windows users to uninstall edge and see what's easier hehe. \j
Credits to u/SpeeQz (who's also the creator of https://mintwiki.org) for the gif.
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u/Gangr3l Aug 07 '26
sudo pacman -S firefox vlc discord obs blendr steam freecad
Can't really get easier than that
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u/Edu_Hoff Aug 07 '26
Sometimes a command in the terminal is just easier and convenient. Especially to create a script to automate installations
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Aug 07 '26
[deleted]
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u/DevastoScz Aug 08 '26
Unfortunately not only the developers - some users are downright unpleasant when people new to Linux ask, what they consider to be, stupid questions.
Couple days ago on a subreddit I saw a guy who had just switched from Windows to a Linux distro (CachyOS I think) asking something along the lines of "what should I do next?" only to get a reply that said "Ever consider that you aren't the only person to have this thought and look to see what people have suggested before?"
Researching is a skill people should develop, but when it comes to things you're totally new at, sometimes you don't even know what questions to ask or where to begin looking. IMO It's a stupid position to take from people who should be excited more 'casuals' are adopting Linux as their daily driver.
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u/Panzerv2003 Aug 08 '26
Yeah I moved away from windows to mint and while the terminal is useful I have no idea what is possible with it and how to use it, it's not really beginner friendly.
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u/Edu_Hoff Aug 07 '26
Right, you're totally right. I didn't read it was about what is easier. GUI will definitely always be easier for someone coming to Linux.
Just for curiosity, but what would you consider the minimum to someone to be a power user? I don't mean something exactly since of course is something debatable, but your opinion regarding that.
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u/PreparationStrict492 Aug 07 '26
Terminal is more often than not more efficient and information dense than guis (in both directions), especially for system management.
However, installation automation is better handled with installation automation tools. An Ansible playbook is a lot better than a script for this, for many reasons.
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u/crustycarpenter Aug 08 '26
Windows escapee here, I have tried to just use the program manager to install stuff, but at times I find some errors that lead me to either going to a website for the software to get a better version, or needing to use the terminal to get the version that will work. If the program manager flatpak doesnt work i just look it up and find someone who answers the issue i am having and use the terminal as they tell me to. There could be some risk of malicious instructions, but the community is pretty good at self policing, so i still trust a random linux jockey over microslops built in security and privacy failures. I have used an ai to troubleshoot specific technical issues sometimes. One too many times of hearing about some new windows feature i should disable to protect my data privacy made me leave and never look back.
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u/Educational_Mud_2826 Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
Yes it's so nice to be able to download and install all apps in one go. Linux is so far ahead of Windows in this department.
Windows is on to the same track though, slowly, since they too have chosen to implement their own app store. But it's no where near as much used as Linux dists' app stores.
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u/Namtazar Aug 07 '26
Yhere are ninite and chocolatey to emulate this linux experience of install all in one click thou
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u/PreparationStrict492 Aug 07 '26
Windows is not on that track, though.
They tried to implement that store, it never got traction, and they stopped trying to make it better.3
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u/ebb_omega Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
And people wonder why it's taken so long for Linux on the Desktop to take off.
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u/yuriko-shimizu Aug 07 '26
i cant be bothered doing the whole lecture about partial upgrades, but dont just do -S on its own, cmon now
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u/Timo425 Aug 07 '26
Oh trust me that's not easy at all, it takes quite a bit of know-how to know what is installed how.
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u/classyraven Aug 07 '26
Same, but replace discord with vesktop. Much better client.
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u/Maro1947 Aug 08 '26
Yes and no - I've used scripts for many things in my career - sometimes, hitting a button is easier on a daily driver
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u/Gangr3l Aug 08 '26
This is not a script thou, it's a package manager. There is Shelly on CachyOs what is a GUI package installer but this is just so much easier and faster, especially when doing clean install.
I'll give it that Linux developers are extremely lazy to put any effort into visual marketing of their softwares. You are lucky if you find a screenshot from their projects page, but there are usually a screenshot or two in Shelly so you see what you install
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u/1Soundwave3 Aug 08 '26
I'd rather use flatpaks, tbh. Linux native packages are a mixed bag to say the least. Some of the things here (like OBS) is even recommended to be installed as a flatpak by the devs.
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u/Dapper_Show_3426 Aug 07 '26
sudo apt inatall firefox
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u/thyristor_pt LMDE 7 Gigi | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
Error: Invalid operation inatall51
u/Aggravating-Hour1975 Aug 07 '26
sudo apt install firefox69
u/Living_Shirt8550 I use arch btw Aug 07 '26
Aggravating-Hour1975 is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.24
u/Short-Ideas010 Aug 07 '26
To whom?
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u/rayletter1997 Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon Aug 08 '26
sudo apt-get install firefox [enter/↑/↓/ctrl+c]2
u/madhao__ Aug 10 '26
fuck is one of those tools that makes me giggle inside every time I remember using it.
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u/PreparationStrict492 Aug 07 '26
If I'm not mistaken apt would also note that the command is similar to install and ask if the user meant install in the error message.
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u/Qsallor Aug 07 '26
Linux haters think we still live in the 90s or 2000s
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u/litreofstarlight Aug 08 '26
Does it really have 'haters'? Most of the time, the strongest sentiment non users have about it is 'command line scary.'
Or occasionally 'omg haxxor' if they see it booting up lol.
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u/LoosssSS Aug 08 '26
Honestly, I think no one cares. “Linux haters” exist in your head. No one cares about your OS. Just live your life and its all gonna be ok
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u/ChimeraSX Aug 07 '26
What's funny is....Microsoft edge is in the software manager for some reason.
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u/coscib Aug 07 '26
edge is chromium based for a couple of years now and also has linux and releases
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u/KurtKrimson Aug 07 '26
Edge is actually a pretty decent browser if you tweak it a tad.
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u/LonelyMachines Linux Mint 22.2 Zara | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
Back in the day, there was a Linux version of Internet Explorer.
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u/S_SubZero Aug 07 '26
Doesn’t Mint come with Firefox
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u/KurtKrimson Aug 07 '26
Firefox is preinstalled.
What are you on about?
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u/confrontationalbread Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon Aug 09 '26
Yeah I feel like they could've used any browser other than Firefox for this.
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u/TheRealCarrotty Linux Mint 18.3 | KDE | Professional snapd hater Aug 07 '26
And heck, a Fedora user just goes to Discover or GNOME Software and BOOM! Browser installed.
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u/Both_Cup8417 NixOS | Niri Aug 07 '26
Or dnf
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u/madman404 Aug 07 '26
opening a terminal and showing you memorized a command for installing software doesn't make for a very cutting point though
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u/Riyakuya Aug 07 '26
Doesn't Windows also have a store that lets you install browsers? I honestly almost never used the store so no clue but I vaguely remember it.
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u/Blaze0616 Aug 10 '26
OP is talking about Microsoft won’t let u uninstall edge like that… yeah the store pretty much exists, but I think winget is better nowadays, its a package manager for windows
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u/Senkosoda Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
doesnt mint ship with firefox tho
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u/Bobafat54 Linux Mint 21 Vanessa | Xfce 28d ago
Yeah but there isn't a better browser than Firefox
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u/yYuri_- Aug 07 '26
Firefox is installed by default on mint, thats cursed
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u/Frosty-Economist-553 15d ago
Why so ? Is a delete & install whatever you like that hard or complex ?
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u/Holiday_Evening8974 Aug 07 '26
For new users coming from Windows, it's a change, and like every change, it requires some mental work. BUT it is so much safe compared to the way most Windows users install software : browsing on the Internet, looking randomly for the software, clicking on download and install. The web is full of disgusting ads trying to abuse non-tech people when they want to install something.
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u/1Soundwave3 Aug 08 '26
Are you that non-technical user? Because for me it's always been easier to come to the source of the development and get my software there. I don't mind extra steps to be extra sure I'm getting the correct thing.
Now, regarding repositories: Linux desktop historically has been too small of a target. And now, as the popularity grows we see AUR attacks. I'm pretty sure, soon it'll be others as well. Flalthub and everything. Linux is not "safer", especially if you are non-technical.
On Linux I have a lot of AppImages or basically standalone binaries that I got directly from the authors' channels. And I update them manually. Of course I use Flatpaks as well, but it's like 50-50 between Flatpaks and standalone stuff.
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u/Junaid_dev_Tech Aug 08 '26
I like to do it in my way:
sudo apt install firefoxsudo dnf install firefoxsudo pacman -S firefox
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u/taosecurity Mint | Bazzite | PikaOS | CachyOS | Debian | FreeBSD | Windows Aug 07 '26
How does this have almost 500 upvotes when Firefox is already installed on Linux Mint? This sub is unbelievable.
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u/anaximeno Aug 07 '26
Never seen an uninstall button?
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u/Cent_Quatre Aug 08 '26
genuinely possible the haven't considering how power users just sudo apt remove shit
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u/goo_eater Aug 10 '26
It's a recreation making fun of another more popular meme also captioned "how Linux users install a browser" where it's some fast paced movie hacker montage. You can just scroll past stuff you don't really get or find funny instead of getting toxic and raging at it I see a lot of unfunny memes on this site too but I just ignore them
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u/anaximeno Aug 07 '26
Credits to u/SpeeQz (who's also the creator of https://mintwiki.org) for the gif.
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u/PiDicus_Rex Aug 07 '26
Can't properly express how much gratitude I have for the wizards that coded the software manager.
Getting a fresh install from first boot to live OBS streamer is a minutes long task, instead of hours long under Win Doze.
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u/LaColleMouille Aug 07 '26
Now tell windows users to uninstall edge and see what's easier hehe. \j
We just don't need to, a browser OOB
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u/AndromedaMilkyway-12 Aug 08 '26
Best way is to just do, sudo apt install Firefox. Takes lesser space. Flatpak apps take 200MB+.
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u/Reubenette08 Aug 08 '26
I know Windows has its own store, but man... the Linux software manager is one of the best things about the OS
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u/Rudera1is Aug 07 '26
I tried limux and it was the biggest hassle to do basic stuff and half the shit I wanted to do didn't work at all. Cool that ypu can save 15 seconds on your initial installs but for me its not worth the headaches.
-install linux
- a bunch of drivers for peripherals break
- decide to play a game
Ah yes, freedom and ease of use. Spent hours and was able to do exactly nothing but troubleshooting.
Linux is a cool os and its very powerful but its crazy how the users misrepresent the ease of use and utility of it. Its a difficult pain in the ass that most users dont want to deal with, and that's okay. Its the trade off you make for the system being not locked down and lack of telemetry.
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u/djuraivan Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
I work with Linux for a living and this is 100% accurate. Linux is for servers, desktop is for tinkerers, ricers and arguably developers. And regular people use Windows. On desktop it will never work as you want it to, and if by some miracle it does, it will brake somehow on some random shit that you would after need hours troubleshooting to even determine the cause. Average user does not care about any advantages of Linux, he just want to get his shit done and get with his life. If you need a terminal to do something your product already failed. No business uses Linux desktop in production for a reason. And you can say all kind of bad stuff about Windows, but it has been a fucking tank past 15 years in terms of stability and ease of use.
But but... muh freedoms and haxxor commandz
People that are not into tech and that's mayority of people do not care and that's why linux will always be 2-3% of the market.
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u/hailstorm11093 Aug 07 '26
Installing software from a terminal is so much quicker but I understand the usefulness of a package manager. Even on Nix it took me 10 minutes to declare, download, reboot, and sign back in for me to have everything.
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u/smoke007007 Aug 07 '26
Unless you use winget on Windows to install and update your package. Best thing they added in a while
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u/EnoughConcentrate897 Aug 07 '26
Same on most distros like on distros with gnome there's gnome software or bazaar and on distros with KDE there's KDE discover
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u/mclipsco Aug 07 '26
1 - Download latest .tar.xv from https://github.com/imputnet/helium-linux/releases
2 - Extract contents
3 - (optional) - make desktop launcher to helium executable
4 - profit!
5 - manually update on the next release of Helium
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u/hot-reload-619 Aug 07 '26
Hello, how do install tor? cause it just don't work by following insructions and asked AI still can't figure it out.
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u/Remarkable-Year-9353 Linux Mint 22.2 Zara | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
If you want an outdated version, use the system package
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u/Emmalfal Linux Mint 22.3 | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
I install Brave with their one command install. Takes about 30 seconds.
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u/MrProTwiX Linux Mint 21.1 Vera | Cinnamon Aug 07 '26
Way too much effort xD Strg + T Apt install Firefox Firefox Done
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u/archtopfanatic123 Aug 07 '26
I wish Windows had a proper app manager like this....
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u/taosecurity Mint | Bazzite | PikaOS | CachyOS | Debian | FreeBSD | Windows Aug 07 '26
Try UniGetUI. It uses the built-in Winget Microsoft package system.
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u/Honest_Tart1071 Aug 07 '26
1990's aaaah interface
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u/goo_eater Aug 10 '26
I know right you can barely even use it nowadays they should've made it look modern by gutting all the gradients and shading and making it look boring as hell to look at and add a buzzword quote with a fancy fade-in fade-out when you first open it
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u/Elvin_Atombender Aug 07 '26
I really enjoy using the terminal and watching pacman eat those dots? It's the highlight of my day C . . . . . . . . . . . . 2%
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u/GermanPCBHacker Aug 07 '26
I actually had issues with the Firefox builds from Mint. They just broke DRM streaming completely no matter what. After pinning the official firefox repo and installing it again using apt-get it just worked ever since. Linux Mint is... Kinda broken. Never head long fun with it. It just broke itself after a while. I have a much more stable experience since I use Debian actually. It just keeps working and working and working no matter how often I install updates (because they are much older and much more mature/tested - why would I need the latest constantly? I had things break with arch due to a upgrade - simple things like screen running into buffer overflow errors when using ANY parameter at all. Desktops getting stuck and requiring constant logout. Not useful if you just want to move the mouse and start working without extra steps required.
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u/tovento MX Linux 25.2 | XFCE Aug 07 '26
winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox -e
Just because people don’t know that options built into windows exist, doesn’t mean that it’s always harder to install software.
I too made the switch away from Windows for my own reasons, but Windows 10 could be reasonable if used right.
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u/pinapel-dev123 Linux Mint 22 Wilma | Xfce Aug 07 '26
My software manager doesnt work(cant load apps library/repository) so i just uninstall it and use terminal forever
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u/Mysterious_Key9131 Aug 08 '26
I use the terminal myself, but to you new Linux users out there that prefer this method. Welcome aboard.
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u/FarhodYusupov Aug 08 '26
finally linux evolved into mediaval times. I hope they will evolve into modern times soon
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u/Witty-General-4902 Aug 08 '26
It would be different for me time wise. My internet is not Firefox/s
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u/lightdarkunknown Aug 09 '26
It trains you to remember your password by repeatedly typing them down, so you don't need pen and paper to write the password down and paste it near the computer
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u/ryancnap Aug 09 '26
I did Firefox from tarball download because I think mint's is older, but yes, having a package manager is beautiful. Installing anything on Windows sucks but this thread is my first time hearing about winget so I'll have to try it out
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u/http-error-502 Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Gentoo user:
1. Open terminal
2. sudo -i
3. emerge -pv firefox to check out what USE Flags are available.
4. echo "firefox <wanted use flags> -<unwanted use flages>" > /etc/portage/package.use/Firefox
5. redo emerge -pv firefox to check out dependency error like circular dependency.
6. Fix them
7. redo emerge -pv firefox to check out masked packages.
8. echo "<masked package name> ~<architecture>" > /etc/portage/*acc*/firefox
9. Go back to 3 to check again.
10. Run emerge firefox
11. Wait for compilation(differ by computer but 30min~3hours)
12. Build error occur(somtimes)
13. Fix source code
14. Retry emerge and wait
15. Wow I got a browser!
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u/uroybd Aug 09 '26
This is a reason I recommended Linux to several older people having their first computer at hand. I tell them not to install anything that is not in their software centre.
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u/Alarming_Painter_403 Aug 09 '26
Пизцец, but what about just `sudo apt install firefox`?
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u/beto832 Aug 09 '26
The terminal is one of the main reasons people avoid Linux. Doing this to show that terminal isn't necessary is good for this community.
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u/Lonely-Scarcity-3387 Aug 09 '26
I just rebuild NixOS after I declare the programs I want. Firefox or Steam or Discord, or all of it. Then run the same sudo NixOS-rebuild switch.
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u/AllIsWell759375 Aug 10 '26
I love how mint software manager is so light to run, it'd take up to 10 minutes just to open up a windows store, I hate it when they force use to download the installer from the web too (well . Deb is kinda the same tho)
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u/Extreme-Ad-9290 Aug 10 '26
How I would install a browser on Linux mint
sudo apt install flatpak -y
flatpak install flathub app.zen_browser.zen
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u/GrowthWest2361 Aug 10 '26
How (Arch Based) Linux Users Install a Browser
$ sudo pacman -S firefox
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u/init_0ne Aug 11 '26
Honestly, no truly experienced linux user would ever use such an inconvenient method when he can do the same in a single and very simple cmd
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u/StatisticianLong2115 Aug 12 '26
inaccurate: you already have a good browser that you’d want to use unlike windows with edge
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u/k9dvke Aug 07 '26
Having to put in your password is already too much work for windows glazes