Can't get past connector instalation when using Snap or Flatpak Firefox #76

rurre · 2021-11-06T17:37:55Z

Description

I've installed the extension and followed the steps as descibed on packagecloud.
The installation page is stuck on the connector installation step. I've tried restarting firefox and my computer a bunch of times.

The native program seems to be installed as it's present in /usr/libexec/firefoxpwa-connector

Additional Information

The console is full of this error
Error: Attempt to postMessage on disconnected port install.3dc3fb36.js:1:2929
d moz-extension://7d3cc388-3706-4753-bff4-c27840b220d7/setup/install.3dc3fb36.js:1
a moz-extension://7d3cc388-3706-4753-bff4-c27840b220d7/setup/install.3dc3fb36.js:1
moz-extension://7d3cc388-3706-4753-bff4-c27840b220d7/setup/install.3dc3fb36.js:1

Checking the debugger you there's also this error at the start

Promise rejected after context unloaded: Actor 'Conduits' destroyed before query 'NativeMessage' was resolved
manage.6dd94ff2.js:1
d moz-extension://7d3cc388-3706-4753-bff4-c27840b220d7/sites/manage.6dd94ff2.js:1

Environment

Operating system: Ubuntu 21.10
System architecture: x64
Desktop environment: Gnome 40.4.0
Installation method: DEB
FirefoxPWA extension version: 1.2.1
FirefoxPWA native version: 1.2.1
Firefox version: 94.0.1

filips123 · 2021-11-06T21:08:29Z

Actually I think Linux on ARM isn't supported yet, because compiling the program currently relies on hardcoded Firefox download URL and I haven't found an official one for Linux on ARM. However, it's interesting that package was still installed. Can you check if firefoxpwa-connector is x86 executable or for ARM?

I plan to make automated Firefox runtime installation optional, so I will be able to build and publish ARM packages, but users will have to manually follow additional instructions to download Firefox (or do something similar as #67).

rurre · 2021-11-06T22:01:25Z

Reading that back again I realize I've actually gotten it wrong.

It's actually x64 not arm64. Whoops

filips123 · 2021-11-07T15:12:56Z

Considering you are on Ubuntu 21.10, you are probably using the Snap version of Firefox. You can check this by going to Firefox Menu -> Help -> About Firefox and check if Snap is mentioned there.

The problem is that Ubuntu 21.10 by default uses Firefox Snap which is sandboxed and cannot access native programs. This breaks all extensions that use Native Messaging API, including FirefoxPWA and some more popular like GNOME Shell integration and KeePassXC-Browser (keepassxreboot/keepassxc-browser#1426). This cannot be fixed until Native Messaging API gets support to work in sandboxed browsers (Snap and Flatpak).

The workaround for you is to uninstall the Snap version of Firefox and install the classical DEB package as described here. But doing this will unfortunately reset all your Firefox data.

Update: Starting with Ubuntu 22.04, this will no longer work. The new workaround is in this comment.

Unfortunately, I cannot do anything to fix this. The only thing I will do in the future version is to add a warning that FirefoxPWA cannot work using Firefox Snap.

rurre · 2021-11-08T12:48:39Z

That's exactly the case. I'm using the preinstalled snap version.

I think a warning would indeed be sufficient as I tried getting this to work for quite some time and haven't seen this issue mentioned by anyone else.

black7375 · 2021-11-09T00:46:42Z

It would be good to mention it here.
https://github.com/filips123/FirefoxPWA#current-limitations

filips123 · 2021-11-09T15:13:56Z

I added this to the current limitations and to the description on Firefox Add-ons Store.

filips123 · 2022-04-18T17:43:18Z

Starting with Ubuntu 22.04, the normal Firefox DEB package is replaced with a "transitional package" that just installs Snap Firefox. This means simply uninstalling Snap Firefox and installing it from APT will no longer work (since APT will also install Snap version).

The new workaround is to add the official Firefox Next PPA (which still provides proper DEB packages, at least for now) and install Firefox from there. See this for more details.

czlucius · 2022-04-30T01:56:01Z

Hi there
Mozilla also provides another way to install the stable version from the source tar zip file available from their website.

There are instructions here:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux#w_install-firefox-from-mozilla-builds-for-advanced-users

And the download can be obtained here:
https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/linux

Thanks

michael-markl · 2022-08-13T14:45:33Z

Is there any hope that this will work in the near future?
The problem with the native messaging through the snap container has been resolved with the keepassxc extension (see here; I can personally confirm this.

filips123 · 2022-08-13T16:38:50Z

I think it should also work with PWAsForFirefox.

loxK · 2022-08-14T02:08:59Z

I think it should also work with PWAsForFirefox.

It doesn't. How to debug ?

filips123 · 2022-08-14T08:20:37Z

I'm not completely sure, I thought that the fix would work with all programs/extensions that use native messaging out-of-the-box. I think you can run Firefox with MOZ_LOG=NativeMessagingPortal:5 snap run firefox to get all native messaging-related logs and errors.

michael-markl · 2022-08-14T12:07:05Z

I get the following messages when I run MOZ_LOG=NativeMessagingPortal:5 snap run firefox and open the pwa extension:

[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal will be used
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal is available
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal creating session with handle suffix firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal session created with handle /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal starting firefoxpwa, requested by [email protected] in session /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal native application start requested in session /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437, pending response for /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_153/firefox/86682925
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal got response signal for /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_153/firefox/86682925 in session /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal native application start canceled by user in session /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal session /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437 was closed by the portal
[Parent 32690: Main Thread]: D/NativeMessagingPortal cannot close session /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/session/1_153/firefox_firefoxpwa_1802303437, unknown handle

Does this help with debugging?

merlijn-sebrechts · 2022-09-14T21:04:14Z

IT WORKS!

The issue of @michael-markl is that, for some reason, the permission is disabled by default. The full steps to enable it are below:

Stop Firefox
Update to firefox beta
```
snap refresh firefox --beta
```

Grant permissions for firefox

flatpak permission-set webextensions firefoxpwa snap.firefox yes

After this, restart firefox and the extension works!

michael-markl · 2022-09-15T18:00:58Z

@galgalesh Thanks for the hint! This did in fact work for me as well !

brennoflavio · 2022-12-12T15:04:25Z

Native messaging is on firefox snap stable now, so the extension works as expected on default Ubuntu installations without any tweaks.

Maybe update the readme to remove snap and Ubuntu mentions while keeping Flatpaks for now?

https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/call-for-testing-native-messaging-support-in-the-firefox-snap/31055/34

filips123 · 2022-12-14T19:05:29Z

Thanks for notifying me, I've updated the readme.

ItsRogueRen · 2023-02-25T05:51:37Z

Are there any updates on the flatpak side of things? I've been using this for Discord on my desktop but want to do the same on my Steam Deck (PWA lets me do stuff like Stylus for CSS theming without mods)

filips123 · 2023-02-25T09:28:15Z

I think not. The PR to add native messaging portal (flatpak/xdg-desktop-portal#705) still hasn't been merged.

ItsRogueRen · 2023-02-25T14:50:26Z

I think not. The PR to add native messaging portal (flatpak/xdg-desktop-portal#705) still hasn't been merged.

It does look active though, so it seems its just a matter of time

rurre added the bug Something isn't working label Nov 6, 2021

rurre closed this as completed Nov 8, 2021

filips123 changed the title ~~Can't get past connector instalation, console spammed with 'Error: Attempt to postMessage on disconnected port'~~ Can't get past connector instalation when using Snap or Flatpak Firefox Nov 9, 2021

realgrm mentioned this issue Apr 1, 2022

Flatpak version request - firefoxpwa - native app #142

Open

filips123 mentioned this issue May 26, 2023

Extension cannot detect the native connector on Ubuntu 23.04 #325

Closed

atomjack mentioned this issue Oct 23, 2023

Setup Incomplete, Installation of the DEB file doesnt work. null-dev/firefox-profile-switcher#91

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Can't get past connector instalation when using Snap or Flatpak Firefox #76

Can't get past connector instalation when using Snap or Flatpak Firefox #76

rurre commented Nov 6, 2021 •

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filips123 commented Nov 6, 2021

rurre commented Nov 6, 2021

filips123 commented Nov 7, 2021 •

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rurre commented Nov 8, 2021

black7375 commented Nov 9, 2021

filips123 commented Nov 9, 2021

filips123 commented Apr 18, 2022

czlucius commented Apr 30, 2022

michael-markl commented Aug 13, 2022 •

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filips123 commented Aug 13, 2022

loxK commented Aug 14, 2022

filips123 commented Aug 14, 2022

michael-markl commented Aug 14, 2022

merlijn-sebrechts commented Sep 14, 2022

michael-markl commented Sep 15, 2022

brennoflavio commented Dec 12, 2022

filips123 commented Dec 14, 2022

ItsRogueRen commented Feb 25, 2023

filips123 commented Feb 25, 2023

ItsRogueRen commented Feb 25, 2023

Can't get past connector instalation when using Snap or Flatpak Firefox #76

Can't get past connector instalation when using Snap or Flatpak Firefox #76

Comments

rurre commented Nov 6, 2021 • edited Loading

Description

Additional Information

Environment

filips123 commented Nov 6, 2021

rurre commented Nov 6, 2021

filips123 commented Nov 7, 2021 • edited Loading

rurre commented Nov 8, 2021

black7375 commented Nov 9, 2021

filips123 commented Nov 9, 2021

filips123 commented Apr 18, 2022

czlucius commented Apr 30, 2022

michael-markl commented Aug 13, 2022 • edited Loading

filips123 commented Aug 13, 2022

loxK commented Aug 14, 2022

filips123 commented Aug 14, 2022

michael-markl commented Aug 14, 2022

merlijn-sebrechts commented Sep 14, 2022

michael-markl commented Sep 15, 2022

brennoflavio commented Dec 12, 2022

filips123 commented Dec 14, 2022

ItsRogueRen commented Feb 25, 2023

filips123 commented Feb 25, 2023

ItsRogueRen commented Feb 25, 2023

rurre commented Nov 6, 2021 •

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filips123 commented Nov 7, 2021 •

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michael-markl commented Aug 13, 2022 •

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