Ubuntu doesn't let you run Tor Browser by clicking on it

added component::applications/tor bundles/installation owner::mttp priority::medium reporter::Caius resolution::fixed status::closed type::defect labels

Trac:
Owner: chiiph to erinn
Component: Vidalia to Tor bundles/installation

This issue happens on Ubuntu and Ubuntu-Gnome but not Xubuntu or Kubuntu. Ubuntu has these *.desktop files that create 'launchers' for applications. An application needs a launcher for it to be the default application for a filetype. Bash doesn't have one. That's why you can't run shell scripts in Ubuntu from the desktop.

One workaround is to add a bash launcher in the ~/.local/share/applications directory. Call it 'bash.desktop'.

Basically it should look something like this:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=Bash
Icon=bash
Exec=/bin/bash %U
Terminal=false
Path=/bin/bash

After you've made the file, run

chmod +x bash.desktop

to make the file executable.

There is also an entirely non-command line solution that involves installing another program. Get the program Main Menu from the Ubuntu Software Center. It's name on the command line is 'alacarte'. When this program is open click the 'New Item' button and a window will appear. Enter these options:

Type: Application Name: Bash Command: /bin/bash %U

Then hit OK. Now you can open shell scripts (like start-tor-browser) by clicking on them.

Alternatively, if you are using the 3.* Tor Browser Bundle series, you can just run

sh ./start-tor-browser

and be done with it.

Trac:
Status: new to needs_review

I have submitted a bug report to the Unity development team regarding this issue: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ayatana-design/+bug/1198598

Trac:
Summary: Tor Browser not launching to Ubuntu doesn't let you run Tor Browser by clicking on it

Alas, I don't think we should be instructing Ubuntu users on how to totally disable Ubuntu's "I won't run a script if you click-click it" feature. It's there to protect them. Instead, we should be teaching them how to make an exception just for TBB. If there's an easy way to do that, that is.

Trac:
Cc: N/A to mikeperry

Trac:
Cc: mikeperry to mikeperry, matthew.a.pagan@gmail.com

Replying to arma:

Instead, we should be teaching them how to make an exception just for TBB.

Another (somewhat gruesome?) way to get around this would be to rewrite the whole start-tor-browser script in C (but not python it appears, as *.py files, like *.sh files, open in gedit when they're double-clicked).

Trac:
Cc: mikeperry, matthew.a.pagan@gmail.com to mikeperry, matthew.a.pagan@gmail.com, mcs, brade

Actually, see also #9173 (closed). We may want to drop RelativeLink entirely and just have Firefox execute directly on all platforms.

mcs/brade: You probably want to keep that in mind for your bundle reorganization+updater work. If you think it is also worthwhile to remove this wrapper script to make the updater simpler, you can do that as part of your updater contract item.

Alternatively, if you are using the 3.* Tor Browser Bundle series, you can just run {{{ sh ./start-tor-browser }}} and be done with it.

Are there any objections to me closing this ticket if I add this information to our FAQ?

Replying to mttp:

Alternatively, if you are using the 3.* Tor Browser Bundle series, you can just run {{{ sh ./start-tor-browser }}} and be done with it.

Are there any objections to me closing this ticket if I add this information to our FAQ?

Sounds good to me.

https://www.torproject.org/docs/faq.html.en#Ubuntu is up. Feel free to reopen this ticket if you think this FAQ entry is inadequate.

Trac:
Owner: erinn to mttp
Status: needs_review to assigned

Trac:
Status: assigned to closed
Resolution: N/A to fixed

closed

mentioned in issue #9114 (closed)

mentioned in issue #9173 (closed)

Ubuntu doesn't let you run Tor Browser by clicking on it

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