Google Chrome works, but linux builds will be out soon

Written by Nick Koch

Friday, 05 September 2008 23:07

I tested Google Chrome the day it came out, but decided not to write a post about it because it is an application that will be supported natively. However, Romeo Adrian Cioaba wrote a nice howto about it so read up on it after the break.

A few days ago Google launched a new web browser Google Chrome, that has some interesting features which might give FF 3, Safari and IE8 a run for their money. Although not yet for Linux, I've put together (following some ubuntu fourms posts) a detailed tutorial to help you Install Google Chrome on Linux using wine >= 1.1.3.

1. install wine (follow the official instructions http://www.winehq.org/site/download-deb)

2. make sure wine >= 1.1.3 is installed by entering the following in the terminal
$ wine --version

3. Download winetricks and install it

    $ wget http://www.kegel.com/wine/winetricks

    $ sudo cp winetricks /usr/sbin

4. Install some dependencies for Chrome (Flash is not mandatory but will allow you to play youtube videos :-))
winetricks riched20 riched30 flash
4.1 Install allfonts (this is optional)
    $ winetricks allfonts

5. Download the Chrome installer
    $ wget http://gpdl.google.com/chrome/install/149.27/chrome_installer.exe

6. Install Chrome (just follow the onscreen instructions and make sure you create a desktop icon)
    $ wine chrome_installer.exe

7. After the install is finished, you won't be able to use Chrome as it needs a bit more hacking. Just close it and opent with your favorite editor the Google Chrome.desktop icon created on your Desktop. Make sure your add "--new-http --in-process-plugins", without the quotes at the end of this line:

    Exec=env WINEPREFIX="/home/mimir/.wine" wine "C:\\windows\\profiles\\mimir\\Local Settings\\Application Data\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\chrome.exe"

to make it look like this:

    Exec=env WINEPREFIX="/home/mimir/.wine" wine "C:\\windows\\profiles\\mimir\\Local Settings\\Application Data\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\chrome.exe" --new-http --in-process-plugins

Save the file!

NOTE: mimir is my username, you will have something like /home/yourusername/.wine

8. Go to desktop and start Google Chrome

Checking some youtube videos :)

For those who are not able to find the Google Chrome.desktop icon on their Desktop, i have attached a copy of mine here. Just save the attached file on your desktop, and edit it using your favorite text editor. Only things you need to replace is my username (mimir) with your own.

HTTPS Note: it seems that the https is not working due to the fact that wine is missing TSL/SSL features, the dlls that should handle that being just stubs at the moment. If you have any information regarding this, please share.

Resources:
Wine appdb page for Chrome
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=908493

Source:
http://www.myscienceisbetter.info