CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javalinux
z -
z -

Reputation: 7178

Workaround for no default browser on Linux?

I am trying to use Desktop.browse() to invoke a URL, this works fine on Windows machines or on Linux machines with a default browser configured. However, it throws an IOException exception when no default browser is found on Linux. What are some of the ways to work around this? I suppose I can attempt to launch Firefox and assume its there but I do not want to make that assumption.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 2062

Answers (6)

Matthew Flaschen
Matthew Flaschen

Reputation: 284927

It looks like Desktop.browse() ultimately calls XDesktopPeer.browse() on *ix. That method is implemented by calling gnome_url_show. That probably works fine in some cases, but xdg-open is the cross-platform solution, as others have noted.

Arguably, this is a bug in Sun Java. Bug 6490730, "Desktop throws IOException instead of showing URL or sending mail", (reported November 2006) seems relevant

Upvotes: 2

dfa
dfa

Reputation: 116382

try xdg-open or just try with konqueror (default on KDE, but not supported by Desktop API) and firefox.

Try also kmclient exec url. 

if (Desktop.isDesktopSupported()) {
   desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
   // blah blah
} else {
   // try to launch xdg-open
   // or try launching other browsers?
}

Upvotes: 3

Paul Fisher
Paul Fisher

Reputation: 9666

Try to execute xdg-open http://the/url first if you're going to implement one of the "cycle through a bunch of browsers". That should open the default browser if for some reason Java can't find it. (It does seem likely that this is what Java does anyway.)

Upvotes: 1

Alex Martelli
Alex Martelli

Reputation: 882181

You can try various browsers in some order -- firefox, opera, etc, etc; also keep an editable configuration file which lets the user set a browser, remember there the one you found, etc.

Upvotes: 2

CookieOfFortune
CookieOfFortune

Reputation: 13984

You can allow the user to enter the command they want to launch their browser, and then save that command so it will use that command everytime.

Upvotes: 9

Jared
Jared

Reputation: 26149

I don't think there's much you could do beyond:

  1. Check in common locations for common browsers (firefox, mozilla, etc.)
  2. Iterate the PATH environment variable looking for common browser executables.
  3. Ask the user in configuration.

Additionally, there is a whole section of the SWT FAQ dedicated to discovering the appropriate version of firefox to use on a particular system (keep reading the questions starting with the one linked above.)

Upvotes: 7

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