Chromium Web Browser on Rasbian on Raspberry pi B+

[Seane0226]

I dont know if this is supported for my type of raspberry pi, but i got a raspberry pi last christmas and am no trying to figure out how to install the web browser "Chromium" which is a version of chrome (my personal favourite web browser) on raspbian.

If i can get any help on that, it would be much appreciated, but until then i have decided to keep the space free on my Raspberry pi until i know i am able or unable to get the web browser i want on it.

[Rive]

I use chromium as my browser on the pi3

I'll get the code that I use.

[Rive]

Best results if you set gpu memory to 256.

Chrome is built from the Chromium source code.

Chromium 48.0.2564.82 (stable Jan 2016 release)
http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.co ... te_20.html

Code: Select all

wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87113035/chromium-browser-l10n_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_all.deb
wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87113035/chromium-browser_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb
wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87113035/chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb
sudo dpkg -i chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb
sudo dpkg -i chromium-browser-l10n_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_all.deb chromium-browser_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb

[kusti8]

Best results if you set gpu memory to 256.

Chrome is built from the Chromium source code.

Chromium 48.0.2564.82 (stable Jan 2016 release)
http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.co ... te_20.html

Code: Select all

wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87113035/chromium-browser-l10n_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_all.deb
wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87113035/chromium-browser_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb
wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87113035/chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb
sudo dpkg -i chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb
sudo dpkg -i chromium-browser-l10n_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_all.deb chromium-browser_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb

1) That isn't the stable release, current the issue with v49 has been fixed and you are giving out of date instructions that
2) Won't work because the packages are all compiled for ARMv7 and the B+ has an ARMv6 processor. Sorry, but there's no way without a Pi2 or Pi3.

[Rive]

1) That isn't the stable release, current the issue with v49 has been fixed and you are giving out of date instructions...

According to Chrome team it is a stable release version, maybe not the newest version, but stable nonetheless. Good enough for me.
Source: http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.co ... te_20.html

Are we gonna have this exact same discussion everytime?

I do not plan to update chromium every month. The version you are pushing (49) is no longer up to date or current anyways (v50 just released), and as of a few days ago the chromium bug issue with the right click was still not resolved with dist-upgrade. I plan to stick with what works, and suggest that others may want to do the same. I plan to stay 2-3 months behind the stable linux/ubuntu chromium releases, and let others deal with any issues or bugs.

Estimated* Stable Dates

*These dates are subject to change without advance notice and provided here only for rough planning purposes. New bugs, security incidents, holiday schedules, partner dependencies and process changes can all affect these dates and move it in either direction. The date only estimates the week of 1st stable push of a release – it does not imply that all end points will be updated by this week.

Release Estimated Week of Stable
49 Mar 8th, 2016
50 Apr 19th, 2016
51 May 31st, 2016
52 July 26th, 2016
53 September 6th, 2016

linux stable 50.0.2661.94 50.0.2661.86 04/28/16 04/20/16

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The Chrome team is delighted to announce the promotion of Chrome 48 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Chrome 48.0.2564.82 contains a number of fixes and improvements -- a list of changes is available in the log. Watch out for upcoming Chrome and Chromium blog posts about new features and big efforts delivered in 48.

Same version as used by the pi3 (as of March 2016)

Version 48.0.2564.82 Built on Ubuntu 15.04, running on Raspbian 8.0

Code: Select all

wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/3p6n0s750r9mw9v/chromium-browser-l10n_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_all.deb?dl=0
wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/25ktoci2s8427yo/chromium-browser_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb?dl=0
wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/dqe8sercjo5fxyv/chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb?dl=0
sudo dpkg -i chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_armhf.deb?dl=0
sudo dpkg -i chromium-browser-l10n_48.0.2564.82-0ubuntu0.15.04.1.1193_all.deb?dl=0

[gkreidl]

@Rive:
You should first read a post before you answer. The OP clearly asked for chromium on RPi B+. Your answer is completely wrong because the Ubuntu version of chromium is compiled for ARMv7 and won't run on a RPi B+, as kusti8 has pointed out.

Both chromium version install methods (old from dropbox and new from a repository) have been provided by kusti8. In fact, he could remove the dropbox downloads any time now, as the repository he provides offers a much better solution. You may be happy with version 48, but advising other people to use an old deprecated installation method is not a good idea.

Your other advise to set GPU memory to 256 MB is also wrong. Chromium doesn't use the GPU at all. 64 MB GPU memory is good enough or 128 MB, if you want to play full HD video with omxplayer. More GPU RAM is only needed, if you use special software that uses full HD video and 3D functions at the same time (kodi, for example, requires at least 160 MB). Browsers use a lot of processor RAM, especially when opening multiple web pages and it's not a good idea to reduce the processor RAM.

[Rive]

@Rive:
You should first read a post before you answer. The OP clearly asked for chromium on RPi B+. Your answer is completely wrong because the Ubuntu version of chromium is compiled for ARMv7 and won't run on a RPi B+, as kusti8 has pointed out.

Both chromium version install methods (old from dropbox and new from a repository) have been provided by kusti8. In fact, he could remove the dropbox downloads any time now, as the repository he provides offers a much better solution. You may be happy with version 48, but advising other people to use an old deprecated installation method is not a good idea.

Your other advise to set GPU memory to 256 MB is also wrong. Chromium doesn't use the GPU at all. 64 MB GPU memory is good enough or 128 MB, if you want to play full HD video with omxplayer. More GPU RAM is only needed, if you use special software that uses full HD video and 3D functions at the same time (kodi, for example, requires at least 160 MB). Browsers use a lot of processor RAM, especially when opening multiple web pages and it's not a good idea to reduce the processor RAM.

Good Point. I'll download the files and upload them myself. Thanks for the heads up.

As for the memory, I disagree. I have tested it with 256MB versus 64MB, and I can definitely see a difference in functionality of the Chromium browser dependent on the "gpu_mem=" allocation. I use this browser exclusively, and I am very aware of what I can, and cannot do with it.

For example: v48 Chromium Youtube is flawless: https://youtu.be/EvDg2yiyd1w

[gkreidl]

I dont know if this is supported for my type of raspberry pi, but i got a raspberry pi last christmas and am no trying to figure out how to install the web browser "Chromium" which is a version of chrome (my personal favourite web browser) on raspbian.

If i can get any help on that, it would be much appreciated, but until then i have decided to keep the space free on my Raspberry pi until i know i am able or unable to get the web browser i want on it.

Chromium is not available for Raspbian Jessie. The Ubuntu versions offered in Rive's answer doesn't work on a RPi B+.

It may be possible to manually install the old Wheezy version, but it requires some more older Wheezy packages. I know that it still worked for me after upgrading from Wheezy to Jessie (on a working system). The old Wheezy chromium version (and a few other packages on which it depends) were not removed during the upgrade.
But I do not really recommend such a solution.

[gkreidl]

Good Point. I'll download the files myself and upload them to Google drive for those who want them. Thanks for the heads up.

Why? Do you want to start a competition with kusti8? He has invested a lot of work and resources to make Chromium available for Jessie (RPi 2/3) and to care for recent updates, too.

As for the memory, I disagree. I have tested it with 256MB versus 64MB, and I can definitely see a difference in functionality of the Chromium browser dependent on the "gpu_mem=" allocation. I use this browser exclusively, and I am very aware of what I can, and cannot do with it.

For example: v48 Chromium Youtube: https://youtu.be/EvDg2yiyd1w

It's wrong nevertheless. Using more than 128 MB GPU RAM (which is the default now, AFAIK) is counter productive for any applications using lots of RAM. The system will start swapping and will slow down. Check it with the "free" command after using it for a while.

[Rive]

Why? Do you want to start a competition with kusti8? He has invested a lot of work and resources to make Chromium available for Jessie (RPi 2/3) and to care for recent updates, too.

It's wrong nevertheless. Using more than 128 MB GPU RAM (which is the default now, AFAIK) is counter productive for any applications using lots of RAM. The system will start swapping and will slow down. Check it with the "free" command after using it for a while.

I am not competing with anyone. I want that version of Chromium In event I ever need to reinstall from scratch in future. I don't want it disappearing. Now I have it when needed.


As for 128 MB I have never had any issues with sdram swapping or slow downs. I check it all the time using task manager 256 MB is optimal for my overclock and usage.

[kusti8]

Why? Do you want to start a competition with kusti8? He has invested a lot of work and resources to make Chromium available for Jessie (RPi 2/3) and to care for recent updates, too.

It's wrong nevertheless. Using more than 128 MB GPU RAM (which is the default now, AFAIK) is counter productive for any applications using lots of RAM. The system will start swapping and will slow down. Check it with the "free" command after using it for a while.

I am not competing with anyone. I want that version of Chromium In event I ever need to reinstall from scratch in future. I don't want it disappearing. Now I have it when needed.


As for 128 MB I have never had any issues with sdram swapping or slow downs. I check it all the time using task manager 256 MB is optimal for my overclock and usage.

As I've said before, that version is still available from the repo. If you want that version, fine, but don't encourage beginners who know nothing to download an older version when they have no reason to. So far I've only had one other person request v48 and that was just to eliminate a problem (and it turned out it wasn't with Chromium). The new repo way to install (have you even went to see how it works now) provides a way to install any version so far like you would with apt.

But PLEASE, don't recommend old instructions to beginners. A simple link to my guide is fine.

[fruitoftheloom]

I dont know if this is supported for my type of raspberry pi, but i got a raspberry pi last christmas and am no trying to figure out how to install the web browser "Chromium" which is a version of chrome (my personal favourite web browser) on raspbian.

If i can get any help on that, it would be much appreciated, but until then i have decided to keep the space free on my Raspberry pi until i know i am able or unable to get the web browser i want on it.

The ARMv6 based Raspberry Pi's, like your B+ do not support Chromium Web Browser, if you want an alternative to the included Epiphany Browser then IceWeasel (Firefox) may suffice.

Your only option is to install the End of Life Raspbian Wheezy Operating System which has a crippled Chromium Web Browser version 22 !!


The above arguments about Chromium are related to the the version of Chromium for the RPi 2B & 3B Models