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Recommendations for compiling firefox

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  • Last reply by Paul

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Dear friends at mozilla.org,

Thank you for your excellent browser, which I've used almost from its first versions.

I'd like to compile its source code, which I've downloaded from your website, into a working browser. I've spent several days, and get only as far as not-terribly-helpful error messages, that indicate strongly that I'm using versions of tools and libraries that the source code doesn't like.

I'm using

 linux kernel 6.1.0-13-686-pae (from Debian)
 gcc 13.2.0-9
 perl 5.36.0
 python 3.11.7

It's sufficiently important for me to compile firefox that I'd install a fresh linux system for this purpose. Could you possibly recommend to me what linux distribution I could install, and versions of compilation tools, header files, libraries, etc. that are known to work for compiling firefox? I'd be glad to report back to you my results, to help others who'd like to compile firefox.

In case you're wondering, I'm perfectly competent in installing software, including compiling anything. I'm an M.I.T. graduate, and have been a professional computer programmer for most of the half-century of my working life.

Thank you kindly for any response that you have time to send to me.

Very truly yours,

Lyman Opie [email address]

Dear friends at mozilla.org, Thank you for your excellent browser, which I've used almost from its first versions. I'd like to compile its source code, which I've downloaded from your website, into a working browser. I've spent several days, and get only as far as not-terribly-helpful error messages, that indicate strongly that I'm using versions of tools and libraries that the source code doesn't like. I'm using linux kernel 6.1.0-13-686-pae (from Debian) gcc 13.2.0-9 perl 5.36.0 python 3.11.7 It's sufficiently important for me to compile firefox that I'd install a fresh linux system for this purpose. Could you possibly recommend to me what linux distribution I could install, and versions of compilation tools, header files, libraries, etc. that are known to work for compiling firefox? I'd be glad to report back to you my results, to help others who'd like to compile firefox. In case you're wondering, I'm perfectly competent in installing software, including compiling anything. I'm an M.I.T. graduate, and have been a professional computer programmer for most of the half-century of my working life. Thank you kindly for any response that you have time to send to me. Very truly yours, Lyman Opie [email address]

Modified by Paul

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Hi Lyman

I am going to remove your email address from your question for your privacy and security as this is an open forum.

You can read how to build Firefox of Linux at:

https://firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org/setup/linux_build.html