Ubuntu – Firefox “clone” for Ubuntu

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In Windows I use, beside the main Firefox installation, one or even two "Firefox clones" for different purposes (specifically oriented addons and configurations, light configuration without addons, configuration for a different user, etc).

For example, in Windows, Pale Moon, Cometbird and Wyzo are FF clones (but they do not have Linux support). Basically, Flock browser would also qualify, and it had support for Linux: but it was discontinued.

A "Firefox clone" is a term that I adopted from the use in Windows, the meaning of which includes these two elements:

(1). is a browser that is identical (based on Mozilla Firefox) or very similar and has large/full support for FF extensions, configuration, profiles. = can use FF extensions etc.

(2). runs independently from Firefox, can be opened at the same time with Firefox = does not share FF extensions etc.]

(That is, a FF clone would be to Firefox what Google Chrome and SRWare Iron are to Chromium – almost identical, but able to run separately in parallel.)

[Seamonkey, has support for Linux, but (although it can use a lot of FF extensions): themes are not working, the interface is in general different and rather primitive. It has the merit of keeping the pace with FF 4+ (in contrast with Swiftweasel, for example.)]

Are there such more browsers available in Ubuntu?

(As for comments asking why I "really" need these "clones", I am just used to doing that, I like two separate Firefox-like browsers: isn't pleasure, just like curiosity, a good reason for an action?)

Edit after using multiple accounts: after testing for a while this solution that has prevailed here (was most up-voted) of using multiple accounts I have to say that it may involve certain problems in cases where other separate customizations/advanced uses are implemented. (For example, using scripts to search internet for selected text may open new unwanted profiles instead of the default one; or using firefox "openwith" addon to try and open a link with a new ff profile would give a report that the profile is not accessible.) A complete separate browser for a parallel use may be in such cases more useful. (In this respect, Seamonkey deserves to be taken into account. )

Edit considering the definitive answer: although answers proposing the use of multiple accounts were most voted, I will prefer an answer that proposes a separate browser, for two reasons: 1. that is what the question asks for in the first place, and 2. multiple accounts may involve some problems, like those mentioned above.

Best Answer

Now, Pale Moon is available for Linux. More on this, here.

In addition to the previously mentioned Iceweasel, there's also IceCat, Swiftfox and Swiftweasel.

(If you're feeling adventurous, there's also Conkeror, which is basically Firefox for people who hate using a mouse.)

Flock was discontinued.

Finally, if you want, literally another Firefox installation, you could just download the binary package and install it to another location.

Edit for setting as the definitive answer:

As indicated, the intended browsers should satisfy two conditions: (1) support Firefox addons and plugins, and (2) run separately from Firefox, without interference.

Icecat fully satisfies these demands. More details in this complementary answer.

Swiftweasel also satisfies the demands, but in relation with an outdated version of Firefox.

Seamonkey has a limited support for themes but the most important extensions are supported (more here.)

For details and updates keep an eye on this complementary answer.

How to set up different Firefox profiles for the same Ubuntu user and the same Firefox installation

Excerpt of the command-line options from man firefox:

-ProfileManager
   Start the profilemanager. Use this to choose the profile you would like to
   run firefox with. You will need to also use -no-remote if there is already
   a running firefox instance.

-P profile
   Start firefox with the profile named profile. Will start the profile
   manager if a valid profile name is not specified. You will need to also
   use -no-remote if there is already a running firefox instance.

So you just need to start Firefox with one of those parameters by either using a terminal, the Alt+F2 HUD, from the launcher icon's context menu after editing its configuration file, which I will describe below.

Set up a new profile:

Launch Firefox's ProfileManager from the terminal or with Alt+F2:
```
firefox -ProfileManager
```
Rename your current profile default to profile1 (or whatever you like, you don't even have to rename it, but I will do in this guide for clarification - you just have to replace profile1 with your exact name wherever it occurs!) by clicking on Rename Profile....
Create a new profile with the wizard by clicking on Create Profile.... It will show you an info window first, read it and click Next. The second window will ask you to enter a name for the profile, enter profile2 here (or replace it wherever it occurs in this guide with exactly what you entered instead). I would recommend you not to change the folder where the profile will be stored in, unless you have a good reason to do so. Click Finish.
Exit the ProfileManager.

Set up your launcher icon to access those profiles from the context menu:

Copy the original launcher file (which is owned by root, used system-wide and will get replaced with the next update) to your home folder:
```
cp /usr/share/applications/firefox.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop
```

Edit the copy e.g. with either Gedit (GUI) or Nano (terminal):

gedit ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop
nano ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop

Search for the line:
```
Actions=NewWindow;NewPrivateWindow;
```
and add new context menu action identifiers like this (example names, but only used within the file, you won't see them anywhere else):
```
Actions=NewWindow;NewPrivateWindow;Profile1;Profile2;ProfileManager;
```
Insert the code snippet below at the end of the file, you may vary the Name= value and add as many translations as you want (example for German [de] is given). The Exec=firefox -P ... lines have to contain the exact (case-sensitive) name of the profiles you created in the profile manager! The -no-remote flag allows multiple firefox profiles to run at the same time. Also the last word in the lines [Desktop Action ...] has to exactly match the keys you added to the Actions= line above.
```
[Desktop Action Profile1]
Name=Run Firefox with profile 1
Name[de]=Firefox mit Profil 1 starten
Exec=firefox -P profile1 -no-remote
OnlyShowIn=Unity;

[Desktop Action Profile2]
Name=Run Firefox with profile 2
Name[de]=Firefox mit Profil 2 starten
Exec=firefox -P profile2 -no-remote
OnlyShowIn=Unity;

[Desktop Action ProfileManager]
Name=Open Firefox profile manager
Name[de]=Firefox Profilmanager öffnen
Exec=firefox -ProfileManager -no-remote
OnlyShowIn=Unity;
```
Now if you want to specify a permanent default profile for when you left-click the launcher icon (otherwise the profile you last used through the ProfileManager with the respective checkbox ticked gets launched), you also have to edit the main Exec= line. It's the topmost and should look like this:
```
Exec=firefox %u
```
Edit it to look like the one below, maybe replacing profile1 with the correct default profile name you wish.
```
Exec=firefox -P profile1 %u
```
You have to reboot (maybe logging out and back in is also enough?) before the system realizes that you want to override the system-wide firefox.desktop file and use your personal and customized one. Or you can use the command
```
desktop-file-install --dir=~/.local/share/applications ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop
```
to re-initiate the launcher file. After that, enjoy your multiple profiles!

Are there such more browsers available in Ubuntu?

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – How to use two Firefox profiles

How to set up different Firefox profiles for the same Ubuntu user and the same Firefox installation

Set up a new profile:

Set up your launcher icon to access those profiles from the context menu:

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