How to Install Opera Browser on Debian 12/11/10

Opera browser is a feature-rich, secure, and innovative web browser that offers an excellent alternative to the default Firefox ESR version that comes pre-installed on Debian systems. Debian users may prefer installing Opera for a variety of reasons. This introduction will outline the key differences between Opera and Firefox ESR, clarifying why Opera might be the preferred choice for Debian users.

Why Debian Users May Prefer Opera Browser

1. Speed and Performance: Opera is designed for faster browsing and optimized performance. It includes features like native ad-blocking and data compression, which speed up page loading times and reduce bandwidth usage compared to Firefox ESR.
2. Innovative Features: Opera boasts a suite of unique features not found in Firefox ESR, such as a built-in VPN, integrated messengers, Crypto Wallet, and advanced tab management with Workspaces, making it a great choice for users seeking a more versatile browsing experience.
3. Customizable Interface: Opera offers a highly customizable interface with support for themes, allowing users to personalize their browser’s appearance and tailor it to their preferences. This is in contrast to the more limited customization options available in Firefox ESR.
4. Frequent Updates: Opera provides more frequent updates compared to Firefox ESR, ensuring that users have access to the latest features, security improvements, and performance enhancements. This is especially relevant for users who desire cutting-edge functionality and the most up-to-date browsing experience.
5. Multiple Installation Channels: Opera offers three different installation channels to choose from: stable, beta, and developer (nightly) versions. This flexibility allows users to select the version that best suits their needs, whether they want a rock-solid stable build or a bleeding-edge nightly build to explore the latest features and improvements.
6. Chromium-Based: Opera is built on the Chromium engine, which means it shares a similar rendering engine to Google Chrome. This can lead to better compatibility with modern web technologies and a smoother overall browsing experience compared to Firefox ESR.

In conclusion, Opera browser offers a wealth of features and improvements over the default Firefox ESR version that ships with Debian. With a focus on speed, performance, innovation, and customization, it’s no wonder many Debian users are choosing Opera as their alternative browser. This guide will demonstrate how to install Opera browser on your Debian 12 Bookworm, Debian 11 Bullseye, or Debian 10 Buster system with three variations of browser installations to choose from: stable, beta, or developer (nightly) version.

Section 1: Import Opera Repository

Step 1: Update Debian System

Before you begin, ensuring your Debian system is up-to-date is crucial. This helps avoid any potential issues during the installation process. To update your system, execute the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

The apt update command retrieves package information from the configured sources, while apt upgrade installs the latest versions of all packages currently installed on your system.

If the upgrade process indicates that a reboot is necessary, do so before proceeding.

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Next, you’ll need to install some dependencies to facilitate the Opera installation. Run the following command:

sudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https curl ca-certificates -y

This command installs the required packages:

• software-properties-common: Provides an abstraction of the used apt repositories, simplifying repository management.
• apt-transport-https: Enables the use of repositories accessed via the HTTPS protocol.
• curl: A command-line tool for transferring data with URLs.
• ca-certificates: Contains the CA certificates needed for package verification.

These are common and safe software packages found on nearly all Linux distributions.

Step 3: Import Opera Repository

Before importing the Opera repository, you’ll need to import the GPG key to verify the authenticity of the installed packages. This ensures you’re installing genuine packages from the official source. Use the following command to import the GPG key:

curl -fSsL https://deb.opera.com/archive.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/opera.gpg > /dev/null

This command downloads the GPG key using curl, processes it with gpg --dearmor, and saves it to the /usr/share/keyrings/opera.gpg file.

Next, import the Opera repository with the following command:

echo deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/opera.gpg] https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list

This command creates a new repository file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list with the appropriate content pointing to the Opera repository.

Step 4: Update Packages List

Now that the Opera repository has been added update the package list to include the newly added repository:

sudo apt update

This command ensures your system is aware of the latest packages available from the Opera repository, allowing you to install the desired version of the Opera browser.

Section 2: Install Opera Browser

Step 1: Install Opera Browser Stable

Once you have imported the repository, you can install the Opera browser.

As you have already updated the repository list in the previous section, you can directly install the stable version of Opera with the following command:

sudo apt install opera-stable

During the installation, you may be prompted to configure Opera to allow for more recent version upgrades. It is important to select “NO” and press the “ENTER KEY” to finish the installation. Choosing “YES” may lead to multiple conflicts during future updates. If you encounter issues due to this, refer to the troubleshooting section at the end of the tutorial.

Keep in mind that this prompt will appear for each version (stable, beta, and developer) you install. Always select “NO” to avoid issues with importing the source.list multiple times.

Example of selecting <No> to include new sources.list for Opera browser on Debian:

Step 2: Install Opera Browser Beta (optional)

If you prefer to use the beta version of Opera, which includes features still being tested and refined, you can install it using the following command:

sudo apt install opera-beta

Please note that the beta version may not always be ahead of the stable version, depending on Opera’s release cycle. This means you could end up with an older client, so exercise caution when using the beta version.

Step 3: Install Opera Browser Developer (optional)

For those interested in trying out the bleeding-edge features and improvements, the developer version of Opera is available. To install the developer version, run the following command:

sudo apt install opera-developer

Keep in mind that the developer version is considered experimental and may be unstable or contain bugs. It is not recommended for daily use or in critical environments.

Section 3: Launch Opera Browser

With the installation complete, you can now launch the Opera browser. There are several methods to run Opera, depending on your preferences and the version you have installed.

Step 1: Launch Opera from the Terminal

You can start Opera directly from the terminal by using the appropriate command for the version you installed:

For the stable version:

opera

For the beta version:

opera-beta

For the developer version:

opera-developer

While launching Opera from the terminal is an option, it might not be the most practical approach for everyday desktop users.

Step 2: Launch Opera from the Desktop

For a more user-friendly way to start Opera, you can launch it from your desktop environment. Depending on the version you installed, follow the path below:

1. Click on Activities in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select Show Applications (usually represented by a grid icon) at the bottom of the sidebar.
3. Search for “Opera” in the search bar or locate the Opera icon for the version you want to launch (Stable, Beta, or Developer).
4. Click on the appropriate Opera {version} icon to start the browser.

This method provides a more intuitive and convenient way to access the Opera browser on your Debian system.

Example of Opera Browser application icons on Debian Linux:

Section 4: Getting Started with Opera Browser on Debian

In this section, we’ll explore some useful tips and tricks to help you get started with Opera Browser on Debian Linux. These recommendations will cover general tips, customizations, and other helpful pointers to enhance your browsing experience.

General Tips

1. Enable VPN for enhanced privacy

Opera comes with a built-in VPN service, providing an extra layer of privacy and security while browsing. To enable the VPN:

• Click on the Menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
• Toggle the Enable VPN switch to enable the VPN service.

2. Save your favorite sites with Speed Dial

Speed Dial allows you to quickly access your favorite websites from the new tab page. To add a site to Speed Dial:

• Open a new tab.
• Click the “+” icon in the Speed Dial section.
• Enter the URL of the website and click Add.

Customizations

1. Change the theme

Personalize your Opera browser with custom themes. To change the theme:

• Click on the Menu button.
• Go to Settings > Appearance.
• Choose from the available themes, or click Get more themes to explore additional options.

2. Customize the sidebar

Opera’s sidebar provides quick access to essential features like bookmarks, history, and extensions. To customize the sidebar:

• Right-click on the sidebar.
• Select Sidebar Setup.
• Choose which features you’d like to display on the sidebar.

Other Tips

1. Install extensions

Enhance your browsing experience with Opera extensions. To install extensions:

• Click on the Menu button.
• Go to Extensions > Get Extensions.
• Browse or search for extensions, and click Add to Opera to install.

2. Import bookmarks from another browser

Easily transfer bookmarks from another browser to Opera. To import bookmarks:

• Click on the Menu button.
• Go to Bookmarks > Import Bookmarks and Settings.
• Select your current browser from the dropdown menu, choose what you’d like to import, and click Import.

With these tips and customizations, you’ll be well-equipped to make the most of your Opera browser on Debian Linux.

Example of Opera Browser once opened on Debian Linux:

Section 5: Additional Commands & Tips

In this section, we’ll cover how to update and remove the Opera Browser and clean up related files and repositories. These commands help you maintain and manage your Opera Browser installation on Debian Linux.

Update Opera Browser

While most desktop users rely on automatic updates or auto-update notifications, it’s essential to know how to update the Opera Browser manually using the terminal. To check for updates, first, update your system’s package list:

sudo apt update

If an update is available, use the upgrade option:

sudo apt upgrade

Alternatively, you can upgrade only the Opera Browser package if an update is available. Replace {version} with -stable, -beta, or -developer, depending on the version you have installed:

sudo apt upgrade opera-{version}

How to Remove Opera Browser

To remove the Opera Browser, execute the appropriate terminal command based on the version you want to uninstall:

Remove Opera Browser Stable

sudo apt remove opera-stable

Remove Opera Browser Beta

sudo apt remove opera-beta

Remove Opera Browser Nightly

sudo apt remove opera-developer

This command will also remove any unused dependencies associated with the removed version.

Clean Up Opera Repository and GPG Key

If you no longer plan to install or use the Opera Browser on your system, it’s a good idea to remove the Opera Repository and GPG key. To delete the Opera Repository, execute:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list

Finally, delete the GPG key.

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/opera.gpg

Section 6: Troubleshooting Multiple Sources.list Issues

If you’ve installed multiple versions of the Opera Browser (stable, beta, and developer) on your Debian system, you might encounter issues with the apt update command due to conflicts. Each installation creates a new sources list in your /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ directory. This section will show you how to resolve these conflicts and manage the sources lists.

Step 1: Remove Extra Sources Lists

To fix the issue, remove the extra sources lists and keep only the original one:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera*

If you accidentally delete all the sources lists, you can re-add the Opera repository by copying the import directory code from this tutorial:

echo deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/opera.gpg] https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list

Step 2: Update Package List

After resolving the sources list issue, remember to run an APT update to refresh the package list:

sudo apt update

With these steps, you should have fixed the conflicts, and you will still receive updates for all three versions of the Opera Browser from a single sources list instead of having multiple sources lists.

Conclusion: Installing Opera Browser on Debian Linux

To summarize, installing the Opera Browser on Debian Linux is a straightforward process that involves updating your system packages, importing the Opera repository and GPG key, and installing the desired browser version (stable, beta, or developer). By following this guide, you have learned how to install Opera Browser on your Debian system and manage and troubleshoot any potential issues that may arise during the process.

Overall, the Opera Browser lets you enjoy a fast, secure, and feature-rich browsing experience, making it an excellent alternative to the default Firefox ESR version on Debian Linux.

Additional Resources and Links

• Opera Browser Official Website: The official website for Opera Browser, where you can find information about the browser’s features, benefits, and download options.
• Opera Help Center: The official help center for Opera Browser, containing detailed guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips.
• Debian Official Website: The official Debian Linux project website, where you can find information about the Debian distribution, its features, and download options.
• Debian Wiki: The official Debian Wiki is a comprehensive resource containing a wealth of information about Debian Linux, including installation guides, package management, and system administration.