Installing Google Gears on Arch Linux

Date September 21, 2009 by Isaac

Because of branding issues Arch Linux (and many other distros) must use the current Firefox code name instead of calling it Firefox. The latest as of this writing is "Shiretoko," which corresponds to Firefox 3.5. So, it's really the same browser, just a different name. Anyway, Google Gears refuses to install on Shiretoko because it detects it as Shiretoko and not Firefox. To get around this problem is very easy.

Open the about:config dialog in Shiretoko. Then, edit the general.useragent.extra.firefox key to have the value of Firefox/3.5.x (Firefox/3.5.3 as of this writing). Now, Gears will install just fine.

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