README.md
· 1.6 KiB · Markdown
Raw
# Zen Browser Debian
This repository contains unofficial deb packages of the [zen browser](https://zen-browser.app/). As well as
instructions on how to build the deb packages from the official tarballs.
It is basically an attempt to reverse engineer the provided install script
for the zen browser, found at the link below, for the purpose of creating deb packages.
[https://updates.zen-browser.app/install.sh](https://updates.zen-browser.app/install.sh)
## Steps to recreate
1. Clone this repository and enter the folder
```bash
git clone https://github.com/sh4r10/zen-browser-debian.git && cd zen-browser-debian
```
2. Get the latest official tarball for the zen-browser from [here](https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases).
```bash
wget https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/latest/download/zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz
```
3. Look through the variables at the top of the create-zen-deb.sh script, you
should only really need to change the version and possibly the tarball name
```bash
PACKAGE_NAME="zen-browser"
VERSION="1.11.2b"
ARCH="amd64"
TARBALL="zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz"
BUILD_DIR="${PACKAGE_NAME}_${VERSION}"
INSTALL_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/opt/zen"
BIN_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/bin"
DESKTOP_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/share/applications"
```
4. Run the script
```bash
./create-zen-deb.sh
```
If everything goes to plan, you should now have .deb file in your folder. This
can then be installed with dpkg or uploaded to an apt repo.
```
dpkg -i name-of-file.deb
```
You can also download an already built deb file from the releases section and
install it in the same way.
Zen Browser Debian
This repository contains unofficial deb packages of the zen browser. As well as instructions on how to build the deb packages from the official tarballs.
It is basically an attempt to reverse engineer the provided install script for the zen browser, found at the link below, for the purpose of creating deb packages. https://updates.zen-browser.app/install.sh
Steps to recreate
- Clone this repository and enter the folder
git clone https://github.com/sh4r10/zen-browser-debian.git && cd zen-browser-debian
- Get the latest official tarball for the zen-browser from here.
wget https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/latest/download/zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz
- Look through the variables at the top of the create-zen-deb.sh script, you should only really need to change the version and possibly the tarball name
PACKAGE_NAME="zen-browser"
VERSION="1.11.2b"
ARCH="amd64"
TARBALL="zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz"
BUILD_DIR="${PACKAGE_NAME}_${VERSION}"
INSTALL_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/opt/zen"
BIN_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/bin"
DESKTOP_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/share/applications"
- Run the script
./create-zen-deb.sh
If everything goes to plan, you should now have .deb file in your folder. This can then be installed with dpkg or uploaded to an apt repo.
dpkg -i name-of-file.deb
You can also download an already built deb file from the releases section and install it in the same way.
create-zen-deb.sh
· 3.1 KiB · Bash
Raw
#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail
# Check the TARBALL has been downloaded.
TARBALL="zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz"
if [ ! -e "${TARBALL}" ]; then
echo "error: $0: Did not find the required tarball."
echo
echo "Please get the offical tarball '${TARBALL}' from"
echo
echo " https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases"
echo
exit 1
fi
# === CONFIG ===
PACKAGE_NAME="zen-browser"
VERSION=$(tar -xJf ${TARBALL} --to-stdout zen/application.ini | grep '^Version=' | cut -d'=' -f2)
ARCH="amd64"
BUILD_DIR="${PACKAGE_NAME}_${VERSION}"
INSTALL_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/opt/zen"
BIN_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/bin"
DESKTOP_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/share/applications"
ICON_BASE="$BUILD_DIR/usr/share/icons/hicolor"
# === CLEAN UP OLD BUILDS ===
rm -rf "$BUILD_DIR"
mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR" "$BIN_DIR" "$DESKTOP_DIR"
# === EXTRACT THE TARBALL ===
echo "Extracting tarball..."
tar -xf "$TARBALL"
mv zen/* "$INSTALL_DIR"
# === CREATE EXECUTABLE WRAPPER ===
echo "Creating wrapper script..."
cat <<EOF > "$BIN_DIR/zen"
#!/bin/bash
/opt/zen/zen "\$@"
EOF
chmod +x "$BIN_DIR/zen"
# === INSTALL ICONS ===
echo "Copying icons..."
for size in 16 32 48 64 128; do
mkdir -p "$ICON_BASE/${size}x${size}/apps"
cp "$INSTALL_DIR/browser/chrome/icons/default/default${size}.png" \
"$ICON_BASE/${size}x${size}/apps/zen.png"
done
# === CREATE .desktop FILE ===
echo "Creating .desktop file..."
cat <<EOF > "$DESKTOP_DIR/zen.desktop"
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Zen Browser
Comment=Experience tranquillity while browsing the web without people tracking you!
Keywords=web;browser;internet
Exec=/opt/zen/zen %u
Icon=zen
Terminal=false
StartupNotify=true
StartupWMClass=zen
NoDisplay=false
Type=Application
MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml;text/mml;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https;
Categories=Network;WebBrowser;
Actions=new-window;new-private-window;profile-manager-window;
[Desktop Action new-window]
Name=Open a New Window
Exec=/opt/zen/zen --new-window %u
[Desktop Action new-private-window]
Name=Open a New Private Window
Exec=/opt/zen/zen --private-window %u
[Desktop Action profile-manager-window]
Name=Open the Profile Manager
Exec=/opt/zen/zen --ProfileManager
EOF
# === CREATE DEBIAN CONTROL FILE ===
echo "Creating control file..."
mkdir -p "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN"
cat <<EOF > "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN/control"
Package: $PACKAGE_NAME
Version: $VERSION
Section: web
Priority: optional
Architecture: $ARCH
Maintainer: Shariq Shahbaz <iamsh4r10@gmail.com>
Description: Zen Browser - A privacy-focused browser that helps you browse in peace.
EOF
# === POSTINST TO UPDATE ICON CACHE ===
cat <<'EOF' > "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN/postinst"
#!/bin/bash
set -e
if command -v gtk-update-icon-cache &>/dev/null; then
gtk-update-icon-cache -f /usr/share/icons/hicolor
fi
EOF
chmod +x "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN/postinst"
# Avoid dpkg-build failing due to control directory not
# having other rX permissions.
chmod -R a+rX $BUILD_DIR
# === BUILD THE DEB PACKAGE ===
echo "Building .deb package..."
dpkg-deb --build --root-owner-group "$BUILD_DIR"
# === FINAL CLEANUP ===
echo "Final cleanup..."
rm -rf zen "$BUILD_DIR"
echo "Done! Output: ${BUILD_DIR}.deb"
| 1 | #!/bin/bash |
| 2 | set -euo pipefail |
| 3 | |
| 4 | # Check the TARBALL has been downloaded. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | TARBALL="zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz" |
| 7 | |
| 8 | if [ ! -e "${TARBALL}" ]; then |
| 9 | echo "error: $0: Did not find the required tarball." |
| 10 | echo |
| 11 | echo "Please get the offical tarball '${TARBALL}' from" |
| 12 | echo |
| 13 | echo " https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases" |
| 14 | echo |
| 15 | exit 1 |
| 16 | fi |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | # === CONFIG === |
| 20 | PACKAGE_NAME="zen-browser" |
| 21 | VERSION=$(tar -xJf ${TARBALL} --to-stdout zen/application.ini | grep '^Version=' | cut -d'=' -f2) |
| 22 | ARCH="amd64" |
| 23 | BUILD_DIR="${PACKAGE_NAME}_${VERSION}" |
| 24 | INSTALL_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/opt/zen" |
| 25 | BIN_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/bin" |
| 26 | DESKTOP_DIR="$BUILD_DIR/usr/local/share/applications" |
| 27 | ICON_BASE="$BUILD_DIR/usr/share/icons/hicolor" |
| 28 | |
| 29 | # === CLEAN UP OLD BUILDS === |
| 30 | rm -rf "$BUILD_DIR" |
| 31 | mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR" "$BIN_DIR" "$DESKTOP_DIR" |
| 32 | |
| 33 | # === EXTRACT THE TARBALL === |
| 34 | echo "Extracting tarball..." |
| 35 | tar -xf "$TARBALL" |
| 36 | mv zen/* "$INSTALL_DIR" |
| 37 | |
| 38 | # === CREATE EXECUTABLE WRAPPER === |
| 39 | echo "Creating wrapper script..." |
| 40 | cat <<EOF > "$BIN_DIR/zen" |
| 41 | #!/bin/bash |
| 42 | /opt/zen/zen "\$@" |
| 43 | EOF |
| 44 | chmod +x "$BIN_DIR/zen" |
| 45 | |
| 46 | # === INSTALL ICONS === |
| 47 | echo "Copying icons..." |
| 48 | for size in 16 32 48 64 128; do |
| 49 | mkdir -p "$ICON_BASE/${size}x${size}/apps" |
| 50 | cp "$INSTALL_DIR/browser/chrome/icons/default/default${size}.png" \ |
| 51 | "$ICON_BASE/${size}x${size}/apps/zen.png" |
| 52 | done |
| 53 | |
| 54 | # === CREATE .desktop FILE === |
| 55 | echo "Creating .desktop file..." |
| 56 | cat <<EOF > "$DESKTOP_DIR/zen.desktop" |
| 57 | [Desktop Entry] |
| 58 | Name=Zen Browser |
| 59 | Comment=Experience tranquillity while browsing the web without people tracking you! |
| 60 | Keywords=web;browser;internet |
| 61 | Exec=/opt/zen/zen %u |
| 62 | Icon=zen |
| 63 | Terminal=false |
| 64 | StartupNotify=true |
| 65 | StartupWMClass=zen |
| 66 | NoDisplay=false |
| 67 | Type=Application |
| 68 | MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml;text/mml;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https; |
| 69 | Categories=Network;WebBrowser; |
| 70 | Actions=new-window;new-private-window;profile-manager-window; |
| 71 | |
| 72 | [Desktop Action new-window] |
| 73 | Name=Open a New Window |
| 74 | Exec=/opt/zen/zen --new-window %u |
| 75 | |
| 76 | [Desktop Action new-private-window] |
| 77 | Name=Open a New Private Window |
| 78 | Exec=/opt/zen/zen --private-window %u |
| 79 | |
| 80 | [Desktop Action profile-manager-window] |
| 81 | Name=Open the Profile Manager |
| 82 | Exec=/opt/zen/zen --ProfileManager |
| 83 | EOF |
| 84 | |
| 85 | # === CREATE DEBIAN CONTROL FILE === |
| 86 | echo "Creating control file..." |
| 87 | mkdir -p "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN" |
| 88 | cat <<EOF > "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN/control" |
| 89 | Package: $PACKAGE_NAME |
| 90 | Version: $VERSION |
| 91 | Section: web |
| 92 | Priority: optional |
| 93 | Architecture: $ARCH |
| 94 | Maintainer: Shariq Shahbaz <iamsh4r10@gmail.com> |
| 95 | Description: Zen Browser - A privacy-focused browser that helps you browse in peace. |
| 96 | EOF |
| 97 | |
| 98 | # === POSTINST TO UPDATE ICON CACHE === |
| 99 | cat <<'EOF' > "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN/postinst" |
| 100 | #!/bin/bash |
| 101 | set -e |
| 102 | if command -v gtk-update-icon-cache &>/dev/null; then |
| 103 | gtk-update-icon-cache -f /usr/share/icons/hicolor |
| 104 | fi |
| 105 | EOF |
| 106 | chmod +x "$BUILD_DIR/DEBIAN/postinst" |
| 107 | |
| 108 | # Avoid dpkg-build failing due to control directory not |
| 109 | # having other rX permissions. |
| 110 | |
| 111 | chmod -R a+rX $BUILD_DIR |
| 112 | |
| 113 | # === BUILD THE DEB PACKAGE === |
| 114 | echo "Building .deb package..." |
| 115 | dpkg-deb --build --root-owner-group "$BUILD_DIR" |
| 116 | |
| 117 | # === FINAL CLEANUP === |
| 118 | echo "Final cleanup..." |
| 119 | rm -rf zen "$BUILD_DIR" |
| 120 | |
| 121 | echo "Done! Output: ${BUILD_DIR}.deb" |
| 122 |
get-zen-install-deb.sh
· 1.0 KiB · Bash
Raw
#!/bin/bash
#
# Time-stamp: <Tuesday 2025-07-29 08:40:45 +1000 Graham Williams>
#
# Download the current distribution of zen for Linux, create the .deb
# and then install the .deb.
set -euo pipefail
# Make a dated backup of any previously downloaded distribution file.
if [ -e zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz ]; then
mv zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz.$(date +'%Y%m%d')
fi
# Download the latest release of zen.
wget --quiet --show-progress \
https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/latest/download/zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz \
-O zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz
# wget --quiet --show-progress \
# https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/download/twilight/zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz \
# -O zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz
# Extract the version from the downloaded file.
VERSION=$(tar -xJf zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz --to-stdout zen/application.ini | grep '^Version=' | cut -d'=' -f2)
# Create the .deb package.
bash create-zen-deb.sh
# Install the .deb package locally.
sudo dpkg -i zen-browser_${VERSION}.deb
| 1 | #!/bin/bash |
| 2 | # |
| 3 | # Time-stamp: <Tuesday 2025-07-29 08:40:45 +1000 Graham Williams> |
| 4 | # |
| 5 | # Download the current distribution of zen for Linux, create the .deb |
| 6 | # and then install the .deb. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | set -euo pipefail |
| 9 | |
| 10 | # Make a dated backup of any previously downloaded distribution file. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | if [ -e zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz ]; then |
| 13 | mv zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz.$(date +'%Y%m%d') |
| 14 | fi |
| 15 | |
| 16 | # Download the latest release of zen. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | wget --quiet --show-progress \ |
| 19 | https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/latest/download/zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz \ |
| 20 | -O zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz |
| 21 | |
| 22 | # wget --quiet --show-progress \ |
| 23 | # https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/download/twilight/zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz \ |
| 24 | # -O zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz |
| 25 | |
| 26 | # Extract the version from the downloaded file. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | VERSION=$(tar -xJf zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz --to-stdout zen/application.ini | grep '^Version=' | cut -d'=' -f2) |
| 29 | |
| 30 | # Create the .deb package. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | bash create-zen-deb.sh |
| 33 | |
| 34 | # Install the .deb package locally. |
| 35 | |
| 36 | sudo dpkg -i zen-browser_${VERSION}.deb |
| 37 |