How to Install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

In web browsers, Falkon emerges as a compelling choice for Ubuntu users. This guide will detail how to install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa LTS. Built on the robust QtWebEngine rendering engine and integrated with KDE technology, Falkon offers speed, efficiency, and customization.

Key Features of Falkon

• Speed and Efficiency: Falkon is optimized for rapid page loading and minimal resource usage.
• User-Friendly Interface: A clean, intuitive design makes navigation and usage straightforward.
• Extensibility: The browser’s architecture allows for the addition of various plugins, enhancing its native capabilities.
• Privacy Features: Falkon has built-in tools for ad-blocking and tracking protection, offering a secure browsing environment.
• Cross-Platform Availability: Falkon is not limited to Ubuntu; it’s available on multiple operating systems, adding to its versatility.

For those who value a browser that combines speed, user-friendliness, and privacy, Falkon is worth considering. The following guide will walk you through the installation process on Ubuntu, enabling you to experience this efficient browser firsthand.

Install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via APT

In this section, we’ll explore how to install the Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 using the Advanced Package Tool (APT). Ubuntu and other Debian-based distributions use APT as their default package management system. This system streamlines the management of software packages and their dependencies on your system.

Step 1: Refresh and Upgrade Ubuntu System Packages Before Falkon Installation

The first step in our journey is to ensure our system packages are up-to-date. This involves two tasks – refreshing our local software list and upgrading our system’s existing software.

Open your Terminal application and input the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Upon entering these commands and hitting Enter, your system might prompt you for your password as you’re trying to execute commands with sudo. Post entering the password, if there are any updates to install, your system will ask for a confirmation. Hit Y and Enter to proceed.

Step 2: Install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via APT Command

After ensuring your system is up-to-date, it’s time to install Falkon. Ubuntu’s repositories include a vast range of software that Ubuntu officially supports and maintains. Falkon is included in these repositories, making its installation a one-command affair.

The command we’ll use here is sudo apt install falkon.

Here’s what this command means:

• install: This sub-command tells apt to install a new package.
• falkon: This is the name of the package we want to install.

In your Terminal application, input the following command:

sudo apt install falkon

APT will calculate Falkon’s required dependencies and request your confirmation to install them. Simply press Y and Enter to proceed. Next, APT will download and install the necessary packages on your system.

Install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via Snap

Snap is a software deployment system and package management framework that Canonical, the developers of Ubuntu, developed. They designed it to simplify the installation and maintenance of software across various Linux distributions. This section will guide you on how to install the Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 using the Snap package manager.

Step 1: Verifying Snap’s Presence in Your System

Canonical includes Snap with most Ubuntu distributions by default. However, it might not come pre-installed in some cases, or someone might have removed it manually. If that happens, you can reinstall Snap on your system using the following command:

sudo apt install snapd -y

This command triggers the installation of the Snap Daemon (snapd) on your system. Snap Daemon is a background service responsible for managing and maintaining Snap packages on your system.

Step 2: Enable Classic Snap Support for Falkon on Ubuntu

Some Snap packages require ‘classic’ confinement, a feature that allows a Snap package to interact with system resources, much like traditional software. To ensure broad compatibility and smooth functioning of these packages, we create a symbolic link (symlink) by executing the following command:

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Executing the above command forms a symlink between /var/lib/snapd/snap and /snap, thereby enabling classic Snap support on your system.

Step 3: Installing the Core Snap

Installing the ‘ core ‘ Snap is essential before we commence with the Falkon browser installation. This core Snap is a foundation for other Snaps, offering necessary libraries and services they depend on. This precautionary step aids in avoiding potential conflicts or issues that might surface in the future. To install the core Snap, input the following command:

sudo snap install core

Step 4: Install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via Snap Command

Having fulfilled all the prerequisites, we’re ready to install the Falkon browser. Run the following command to execute the installation:

sudo snap install falkon

Install Falkon Browser on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak is a universal package management system designed for Linux. While it has some similarities with Snap, Flatpak stands out because of its unique sandboxing feature. This feature creates a secure, isolated environment for applications, separating them from the rest of the system. This separation boosts system security and reduces the chance of software conflicts. This section will guide you through installing the Falkon browser using Flatpak and Flathub.

Step 1: Enable Flathub Repository for Falkon Browser Ubuntu

Our first action in installing Falkon using Flatpak is enabling the Flathub repository. Flathub serves as a trusted distribution platform for Flatpak applications. Like an online app store, it grants access to an extensive array of applications ready for installation.

To incorporate the Flathub repository into your system’s configuration, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Upon execution of the above command, the Flathub repository integrates smoothly into your Flatpak configuration. This integration broadens your access to many applications, including the Falkon browser.

Step 2: Install Falkon on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via Flatpak Command

With the Flathub repository successfully integrated into your system, the subsequent step involves the installation of the Falkon browser. This procedure utilizes the flatpak install command. The specific command for installing the Falkon browser is as follows:

flatpak install flathub org.kde.falkon -y

This command initiates the download and installation of the Falkon browser from the Flathub repository, ensuring that you secure the latest stable version of the application.

It’s crucial to point out that if your system does not currently support Flatpak, it needs to be installed prior to this. For a comprehensive guide on how to install the most recent supported version of Flatpak on Ubuntu, we recommend visiting our detailed guide on installing Flatpak.

Starting Falkon Browser on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

After successfully installing the Falkon Browser on your Ubuntu system, you can launch the application. You can start Falkon using the command-line interface (CLI) or the graphical user interface (GUI).

CLI Methods to Launch Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

The command-line interface is an essential tool in the Linux environment. This tool makes it easier to start applications like the Falkon Browser. Depending on your chosen installation method—APT, Snap, or Flatpak—the sections below outline how to launch Falkon Browser with specific command sets.

APT Falkon Browser Launch Command on Ubuntu

falkon

Flatpak Falkon Browser Launch Command on Ubuntu

snap run falkon

Snap Falkon Browser Launch Command on Ubuntu

flatpak run org.kde.falkon

This command sets Falkon Browser in motion, provided the installation is successful.

GUI Method to Launch Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

For individuals inclined towards a more visual orientation, Ubuntu’s graphical user interface (GUI) presents an alternative avenue to launch the Falkon Browser. Here’s the detailed, step-by-step procedure:

• First off, you will need to access the Activities menu. This is conveniently located at the upper-left corner of your desktop screen.
• Secondly, select the ‘Show Applications’ icon. This is the dot grid icon positioned at the lower end of the Activities overlay.
• Following this, search for Falkon Browser. You can manually peruse through your applications or employ the search bar for a quicker find.
• To conclude, start the Falkon Browser by clicking the Falkon icon. This action commences the browser, readying it for your browsing tasks.

Tips on Getting Started with Falkon Browser on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Entering the world of Falkon Browser on Ubuntu Linux holds its charm. While the basic functions are fairly intuitive, several nuances and features can elevate your browsing experience to the next level. Here, we’ll delve into a few tips, tricks, and customization recommendations to help you effectively navigate and personalize your Falkon Browser.

Understanding Falkon’s Features on Ubuntu

Falkon has the potential to be a great web browser and a viable alternative to Firefox and Chromium on the Linux desktop. Here are some of its key features:

• Simple User Interface: Falkon has a user-friendly interface that enhances the browsing experience. The UI is modern and does not make users feel like they are using an outdated browser.
• AdBlock Extension: Falkon has an inbuilt AdBlock extension that helps eliminate website advertisements. This extension can be customized according to user preferences.
• DuckDuckGo Default Search Engine: Falkon defaults to DuckDuckGo, a privacy-oriented search engine. This can be a plus point for users concerned about their online privacy.
• Session Manager: Falkon provides a session manager that can be used to restore a specific recent session. This feature can be handy if the browser accidentally closes or crashes.
• Extension Support: Falkon supports a limited set of extensions. Extensions from the Chrome/Firefox add-on marketplace cannot be added. There are some particular Falkon-only extensions available on store.kde.org. These are the only extensions Falkon can use; browser extensions made for Chromium and Firefox will not work with Falkon.
• Theme Support: Falkon lets users customize the browser’s appearance to some extent. Users can try out different themes to change the look of the browser.

Customizing Falkon on Ubuntu

Falkon allows some degree of customization. Here are a few customization tips:

• JavaScript Settings: Falkon allows users to turn off JavaScript globally. However, the interface has no button for toggling JavaScript on or off per site.
• Do Not Track Header: Falkon supports sending a Do Not Track header to the websites you visit. By default, this feature is not enabled but can be activated under Preferences ▸ Privacy ▸ Send Do Not Track headers to servers.
• AdBlock Settings: Falkon’s AdBlock extension has two filter lists: “EasyList” and “NoCoin”. Only the base Easylist is included, other EasyList filters like “EasyList Cookie List” must be added manually. Users can add and subscribe to other filter lists by adding a URL to a list they want. Furthermore, users can write and add their own custom AdBlock rules. However, adding custom rules can be cumbersome and not very user-friendly.

Potential Issues and Solutions with Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

• Zoom Setting: Falkon has a known issue related to the Zoom setting. If a user zooms in on a site, because the text is too small, opening a new tab or window from that site, will display the text in its original size. However, Falkon does allow users to set a global zoom setting for all sites. For instance, setting this to 200% makes most sites look all right on a 4k display.
• Mousewheel Issue: There is an issue where the mouse wheel randomly stops working while browsing. This issue seems to depend on the complexity of the site being visited. However, scrolling with the scrollbar or keyboard arrows will still work when this occurs.

Additional Tips with Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

• Manage Your Bookmarks and Passwords: Falkon allows you to add bookmarks for your favorite sites and manage your passwords efficiently. This can make your browsing experience smoother and more personalized.
• Use Python-based Plugins: Falkon’s git version (3.1.99) supports plugins, including Python-based plugins. However, using these extensions might be challenging as they require Shiboken2 and PySide2, which many distributions do not include. Therefore, your experience with these extensions may vary.

Additional Falkon Browser Commands For Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

This section emphasizes the execution of command-line operations for updating and uninstalling this Internet browsing application. We will discuss commands specific to various package managers, including APT, Snap, and Flatpak.

Update Falkon Browser on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Keeping your software applications current is paramount in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Consistent updates introduce new features and provide vital security patches and performance enhancements. Hence, gaining familiarity with different package manager commands to update the Falkon Browser becomes an important skill.

APT Update Method For Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

The Advanced Package Tool (APT) is a popular package management utility in Ubuntu. To update the Falkon Browser with APT, follow two steps. First, refresh the package list to show the latest versions of all packages. Next, start the upgrade command to apply the updates. Here are the commands for these operations:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade falkon

Snap Update Method For Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

Snap, a software packaging and deployment system formulated by Canonical, offers a straightforward way to update the Falkon Browser. Use the command It’sw to accomplish this:

sudo snap refresh falkon

It’s worth noting that if you install Falkon Browser as a snap package, it updates automatically. Snaps refresh daily in the background.

Flatpak Update Method For Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

Flatpak is a utility offering software deployment, package management, and application virtualization on Linux environments. To conduct a Falkon Browser update via Flatpak, use the command given below:

sudo flatpak update org.kde.falkon

Remove Falkon Browser on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

There might be circumstances when you need to remove Falkon Browser from your Ubuntu Linux system. The forthcoming subsections will clarify the process required to execute this operation.

APT Remove Command Method For Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

To uninstall Falkon Browser using APT, execute the command below:

sudo apt remove falkon

Snap Remove Command Method For Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

Removing Falkon Browser using Snap is as straightforward as issuing the following command:

sudo snap remove falkon

Flatpak Remove Command Method For Falkon Browser on Ubuntu

Lastly, to uninstall Falkon Browser using Flatpak, use the command below:

sudo flatpak uninstall org.kde.falkon

To conclude, managing the Falkon Browser on your Ubuntu Linux platform involves a series of commands specific to the package manager used for installation.

Closing Thoughts

We’ve journeyed through the intricacies of managing the Falkon Browser on an Ubuntu Linux platform, touching upon its installation, launch mechanisms, and essential commands for updating and uninstalling. Harnessing the power of this knowledge, you can now efficiently navigate the Falkon Browser and fully exploit its capabilities to suit your browsing needs on Ubuntu Linux. This foundational understanding paves the way for more advanced exploration and customization of Falkon, truly elevating your web browsing experience on your Ubuntu desktop.