Google Chrome linux dev relase on opensuse 11.1 with Flash (and possibly other plugins) enabled

NOTE: I have only tested the below procedure with the 32 bit version. The symlinks may be very different with the 64 bit version. But the basic procedure should be the same. Good Luck.

This post is a compilation of info from different sources. I am tired of how slow Firefox is in Linux, and want to run the dev edition of Chrome and take the risks. Unfortunately, it does not support Flash or any other plugins out of the box which is a dealbreaker for many.

1. Convert .deb to .rpm

Use Yast to install the package alien if it is not already installed.

sudo yast2 --install alien

Download the latest developer channel version of Google Chrome for linux. Beware, it is named unstable for a reason. I am taking a risk, but remember that neither Google nor I is/am responsible for all mishaps you may suffer from this download.

http://dev.chromium.org/getting-involved/dev-channel#TOC-Linux

Download the debian file for 32 bit or 64 bit version as befits your system. Now, in the folder you have downloaded this, do:

alien -r google-chrome-unstable_current_xxxxxxxxxxxxx.deb

where xxxxxxxxxxxx represents your OS word length etc (32 bit or 64 bit. This should generate an rpm file with a similar name but here the xxxxxxxxxx contains the version of Chrome as well as your OS Word Length.

google-chrome-unstable_current_xxxxxxxxxxxxx.rpm

in the same folder.

2. Install Google Chrome

Now install this using rpm but specify not to look for dependencies:

sudo rpm -Uhv --nodeps ./google-chrome-unstable-xxxxxxxxxxxx.rpm

This will install Chrome but now you have to give it an environment it can work in by making symlinks to all those deps it will look for.

3. Set up dependencies

ln -s /usr/lib/libnspr4.so /usr/lib/libnspr4.so.0d
ln -s /usr/lib/libplc4.so /usr/lib/libplc4.so.0d
ln -s /usr/lib/libplds4.so /usr/lib/libplds4.so.0d
ln -s /usr/lib/libssl3.so /usr/lib/libssl3.so.1d
ln -s /usr/lib/libsmime3.so /usr/lib/libsmime3.so.1d
ln -s /usr/lib/libnssutil3.so /usr/lib/libnssutil3.so.1d
ln -s /usr/lib/libnss3.so /usr/lib/libnss3.so.1d

4. Enable plugins

First, go to /opt/google/chrome and make a folder called plugins

sudo mkdir /opt/google/chrome/plugins

Now, make a symlink within this folder to one of the plugins you use in Firefox. In my case, this will be the flash player, and since this is one of the most looked-for ones, I will show where I found it, and how I made a symlink

ln -s /usr/lib/browser-plugins/libflashplayer.so /opt/google/chrome/plugins/

Several guides online show a different location for the flash plugin within /usr/lib like flash-install or something, but this is where I found it on three 32 bit systems.

Now, do Alt-F2 (command window) and enter

google-chrome --enable-plugins

Let me acknowledge my sources here:

1. http://forums.opensuse.org/network-internet/417956-howto-install-google-chrome-developer-edition-opensuse.html

2. http://jeanderuelle.blogspot.com/2009/07/enable-flash-on-google-chrome-linux-dev.html

3. http://webupd8.blogspot.com/2009/08/google-chrome-for-linux-adds-plug-ins.html


I know I am not adding much to the conversation, but I thought the whole thing ought to be there in a single place. Let me mention that beyond the Chrome dev channel release not being suitable for general use, it also does not support Ctrl-Enter for .com and stuff like that, I think deliberately to disable general consumer use. Another annoying thing about Google Chrome (all versions) is how it refuses to do an 'I'm feeling lucky' search if you just enter obvious direct link search queries into its unibox like 'wikipedia eel'. Try that out in the firefox address bar. (Yeah you guessed it, it is not just an address bar.)

What hurts me most - when innocent people die.

These incidents from the past few years linger in my memory.

• Brazilian plumber gunned down by London police who suspected him of being a terrorist. Of course, with the brown skin, he fit the bill.: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4713753.stm
• Kelsey Smith, who got abducted, raped and killed, as she was getting out of Target in Overland Park. A search was on for her for couple of days. This was a girl in the prime of her life, whose life was stolen because of one person who went insane: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Kelsey_Smith
• Four Indian Students hit and killed by an off-duty policewoman who might have been going the wrong way and was possibly inebriated. This one just burnt me to no end. One person sticking to the rules could have had four people in the prime of their youth left on this earth to live the life they could have. http://citizensalliance.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/nri-four-indian-students-killed-in-accident/
• Failed to yield at a stop signal : This one took two lives, close to home. How can someone fail to stop at a red light? How can someone risk and sacrifice their life, and a stranger's? http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=176284&catid=40
• An off duty police officer chasing a criminal who broke into his car was suspected to be a criminal armed with a gun and shot dead by fellow officer. In New York. How many ways could fate have been different to save him? Oh, of course, the dead off-duty officer was black, and the accused officer was white. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/29/content_11454508.htm
• Wichita, Kansas provider of late term abortions, and by all accounts, a compassionate and efficient physician, Dr. Tiller, shot dead by someone who took the time to drive down from Merriam, KS, and Kansas City suburb. He was shot dead while he was performing the Church by a "pro-life" activist. http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/31/abortion-provider-dr-tiller-shot-dead-at-wichita-church/
• Can't find the link for this, but this was in the first few months I was working for Sprint Nextel. Someone driving on I-35 had a cardiac arrest, and his vehicle, now out of control crossed to the opposite direction, resulting in a 3-vehicle bonfire. No survivors. Nobody to blame in this one though. Except the master up there, or probability, whatever suits your religious convictions.
  

August 1 - The Jackal - Obama

August 1 is a malayalam movie based on The day of the jackal - by Frederick Forsyth. The parallel drawn from France's President Charles De Gaulle, is Kerala Prime minister, K.G. Ramachandran. The former a real character, while the latter a fictional character.

But with the effective oratory style, his own method of confident governance, and of eliminating waste, he is Barack Obama. An unexpected similarity that I found was the smoking.

But something I hope does not happen is the plot where enemies to him from his own party arrange a contract killer to take him down. As KGR's policies, and efficient moves thwart the ways of several, the contract is born. And even as the contract initiators have been arrested, the contactless killer is still on his path to target. It is only the intelligent security officer who chases the trail and finally saves KGR at the final moment.

The parallels are stunning.

Heroes of USA

Heroes are celebrated here. The captain who landed his plane in the Hudson and made sure all passengers were saved before he stepped off.

The captain of the ship who gave himself up to save his 19 crewmembers.

The Navy Seals who shot dead the pirates to save the captain.

My salutes go to all. There couldn't be a more appropriate time for uplifting messages for the nation.

Imagine a new OS

As good looking and smooth as Vista but as fast as XP?

That is Windows 7. Why would a company that is capable of doing this release something like Vista. Windows 7 is going to make vista disappear like a bad dream. And everyone is going to refer to Vista like they refer to Windows ME. With hatred, pity and sympathy.