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Native Version Of Opera browser for FreeBSD

Posted by Hemos on from the get-it-working dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Norway based Opera Software finally released a native FreeBSD version of its fast, standard based browser yesterday. The browser has been available in the ports tree as an app running in Linux binary environment. Opera 6.1 is the first version released for FreeBSD, it has the same set of features as the Linux version."

10 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. This along with Pheonix... by questionlp · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think a native release of Opera 6.x for FreeBSD and the recent announcement of Pheonix would add two nice lighter weight [graphical] web browsers to FreeBSD. I've been using Mozilla 1.0 and 1.1 under FreeBSD (along with the Java 1.3.1 JDK, using both the regular and the Linux ports of JDK 1.3.1) and it runs fine... with the exception that it can get quite sluggish.

    Running the Linux version of Opera 6 on FreeBSD is faster than the native build of Mozilla, but getting the plug-ins to work has been a bit of a hit and miss.

    Now what would be great would be a native version of the Macromedia Flash plug-in for FreeBSD :)

    1. Re:This along with Pheonix... by LizardKing · · Score: 3, Informative

      If you're finding Mozilla sluggish, and haven't compiled it from source, then perhaps you want to look into rolling your own distribution. I've just built the latest nightly release on my NetBSD box, using "-O2 -march=i686" as the optimisation flags. It runs *very* snappily on my 1.2Ghz Celeron laptop, and is still usable on my 233Mhz desktop machine.

      Chris

    2. Re:This along with Pheonix... by evilviper · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Pheonix isn't nearly ready yet... but if you want lightweight, go for Dillo!

      Personally, I could care less about Opera plugins, what I hate is how often it's crashing. If it wasn't for the fact that it saves all URLs, I'd be too concerned about crases to use it at all.

      As for Flash, I won't take it even if was available. And by the way, the GPLed Flash player works natively with Mozilla (check the ports), although there's a lot of instability there. I suppose a decent browser like Opera might fare better than Mozilla.

      My qualms with Opera:
      * Lowsy printing (often garbled and overlaping text)
      and
      * It's based on QT, so interoperability with my GTK programs has been a strugle (Copy and paste into Abiword doesn't work)
      * Terribly lowsy interface. Even with it's billions of options, Mozilla's preferences are easier to work with than Opera's.
      * Unfortunate method for handling tabs. When closing a tab, instead of going to the tab left or right, it jumps through them in the most recently used order. Bah!

      That said, if it proves to be stable, I'll be quickly handing over the cash to register it. I really hope they distribute a version for OpenBSD as well (it should only need a recompile).

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    3. Re:This along with Pheonix... by evilviper · · Score: 2

      Dillo is getting very close. In fact, with the 3rd party pathces, you can add a history list, SSL via stunnel, basic js support, etc. In fact, this comment was submitted using Dillo.

      I'll be the first to admit that it can't replace a full-featured browser, but it is incredibly fast, and only missing a handful of important features at this point.

      I must say, I've had much better luck with Opera than you have. Someimes it will crash ouickly for apparenly no reason, but for the most part, I can heavily surf for hours. And when it does crash, typically only about 1 out of 10 sites is not remembered.

      Preferences dialog sucks, but it's not something you need to work with often, so I've put up with it.

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    4. Re:This along with Pheonix... by evilviper · · Score: 2

      For anyone wondering... I tried the FreeBSD version of Opera, and it's just as unstable as the Linux version.

      Due to Opera's instability, clipboard problems, lowsy interface (prefs, tabs, bookmarks), lack of an HTML editor (for quick edits before printing) and it's grossly insuffecient printing capabilities, I'm back to using the slow-as-molasses Mozilla.

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  2. This is great news by dcstimm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have always been a big fan of freebsd. I am currently using it on my server. I think this is long over due. Most apps are being released for windows a linux and they forget about freebsd users. Like Nvidia drivers, UT2003, quake3, DOOM III (when it comes out). And alot lot more. They still havent released the src yet for phoenix 0.1 (I could always check it out of the cvs) so we wont see it on freebsd for quite awhile.

    The reason linux gets so much more attention than freebsd is because of Tux the penguin. I know this might sound stupid but Tux makes people want to switch over. And once they see nvidia drivers and native games in linux they are hooked. Then once they get used to linux and want a real chalange they check out freebsd.

    Most people that are curious about Unix will try linux first because people say its more user friendly. Mandrake and Redhat are super easy to install. I think for bsd to get as much market share as linux they need to do the same thing. Of course we will have freebsd (they way it is) for servers but wouldnt it be nice to see a gui installer for it?

    Oh well Until then freebsd users will always have to wait for software.

    --
    keanmarine.com
    1. Re:This is great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      bsd is for people that love unix. Linux is for people that hate windows.

    2. Re:This is great news by Arandir · · Score: 2

      I don't have the time right now to do an exhaustive survey of Linux reportage, so let me just submit some anecdotal evidence as to why Linux is more and more becoming the Anti-Windows instead of the Pro-Unix operating system.

      1) The number of Register articles and Slashdot posts that begin with the words "If Linux is to replace Windows then..."

      2) The bile expended by Linux users in attacking Microsoft. Your local cableco and telco are monopolies as well, but no one is calling for the public execution of their CEOs.

      From my perspective, Linux users are obsessed with Windows. Please note that this has nothing to do with Linux the operating system. It's merely my observation of postings by Linux users and articles by the Linux press.

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
  3. dying? by drDugan · · Score: 2

    can someone please explain why people keep trolling that _instert_OS_here_ is dying?
    I thought when clicked here I'd see it again -- and sure enough, another 'BSD is Dead'
    troll.

    WHY?

  4. Go Buy A License by Local+Loop · · Score: 2

    Thanks to Opera Software for recognizing this need. I've requested a FreeBSD port via their web form and am thrilled to see that they listen to their customers.

    Now, everybody go buy a license to support this excellent work.