Summary

The web content provides instructions for enabling swipe gestures in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox on Linux systems running the Wayland display server.

Abstract

The article outlines the process for activating swipe gestures for browser history navigation in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox on Linux with Wayland. For the Chrome browser, users must ensure it's running on Wayland by modifying the launch parameters and editing the desktop entry to include specific flags. For Firefox, the process involves setting an environment variable to enable Wayland support and then restarting the browser to utilize the built-in gesture navigation from Firefox 105 onwards. The guide emphasizes the efficiency and intuitiveness of gesture-based navigation, enhancing the browsing experience on modern Linux setups.

Opinions

The author suggests that enabling swipe gestures can significantly improve browsing efficiency.
The guide implies that using Wayland with Chrome and Firefox is a modern approach to Linux desktop environments.
The article assumes that users will benefit from the added convenience of gesture navigation once they have set up their environment accordingly.
The instructions are presented as a straightforward way to leverage the full potential of the user's hardware and software capabilities for a more intuitive browsing experience.

Enabling Swipe Gestures in Chrome and Firefox on Linux with Wayland

Swipe gestures can greatly enhance your browsing efficiency by allowing easy navigation through your browser history. Below is how you can enable these gestures in both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox when running on Linux with the Wayland display server.

Google Chrome

Step 1: Ensure Chrome is Running on Wayland

Before enabling gesture-based navigation, first make sure that Chrome is using Wayland for its graphical output.

Modify Chrome’s Launch Parameters: Add specific parameters to Chrome’s launch command to enable Wayland support:

Copy the existing desktop entry for Chrome to your local directory:

cp /usr/share/applications/google-chrome.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/

Open the copied file in a text editor

nano ~/.local/share/applications/google-chrome.desktop

Add the Wayland flags to the Exec= lines:

Exec=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable %U --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform --ozone-platform=wayland

Save your changes and restart Chrome from this launcher.

Verify Wayland Usage: After starting Chrome, navigate to chrome://gpu to check that “Native GpuMemoryBuffers” are being used under “Graphics Feature Status,” confirming Wayland support.

Step 2: Enable Touchpad Overscroll History Navigation

Now, enable the gesture navigation feature in Chrome:

Edit the previously modified .desktop entry again, appending another feature flag:
Exec=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable %U --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform,TouchpadOverscrollHistoryNavigation --ozone-platform=wayland
Restart Chrome for the changes to take effect.

Mozilla Firefox

Enabling Wayland and Gesture Support in Firefox:

With Firefox 106 and above, you can directly enable swipe gestures for navigation without additional tools or extensions if you are using Wayland.

Set the Environment Variable: Ensure Firefox is running on Wayland by setting the MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND environment variable.
For a single user, add this to your .profile:
echo "export MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1" >> ~/.profile
Alternatively, modify the Firefox desktop entry:
cp /usr/share/applications/firefox.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/ nano ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop
Modify the Exec= line:
Exec=env MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1 firefox %u
Restart Firefox from the modified launcher or log out and then log back in to apply the changes.
Enable Gesture Navigation: From Firefox 105 onwards, you can use horizontal swipes with two finger to navigate back and forward in your browsing history. Test the gestures to ensure they are working as expected.

Conclusion

Enabling gesture navigation in Chrome and Firefox on Linux using Wayland enhances your browsing experience by allowing quick and intuitive history navigation. This guide helps you set up your environment correctly to take advantage of these features, leveraging the full potential of your modern Linux setup.