FunOS

If you’re looking for a web browser that offers a traditional Firefox-style interface, supports legacy add-ons, and avoids unnecessary UI changes, Basilisk might be exactly what you need. Built on the Unified XUL Platform (UXP) and using the Goanna engine (a fork of Gecko), Basilisk is a stable and privacy-respecting browser that runs well on lightweight Linux distributions like FunOS. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install and uninstall Basilisk on FunOS.

What is Basilisk?

Basilisk is a free and open-source XUL-based web browser that retains the familiar interface of Firefox before Mozilla’s shift to the Quantum engine and WebExtensions-only model. Originally developed by the Pale Moon team and now maintained by an independent group, Basilisk aims to provide a modern web experience while preserving support for XUL extensions and NPAPI plugins such as Java and Flash.

Basilisk supports modern web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, WebRTC, and advanced JavaScript, making it suitable for most browsing needs. However, it deliberately omits support for DRM (EME), so it’s not suitable for streaming services like Netflix.

How to Install Basilisk on FunOS

Step 1: Download the Basilisk tarball (.tar.xz) File

1. Open your browser and go to the Basilisk download page.

2. In the Release Builds section, look for the Linux options.

3. Under “Linux x86_64 tarball:”, choose the “x86 64-bit GTK3” version (recommended).

4. Save the file in your Downloads directory.

Step 2: Open a Terminal

You can open the Terminal in any of these ways:

• Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal.
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray.
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard.

Step 3: Navigate to the Downloads Directory

cd ~/Downloads

Step 4: Extract the .tar.xz File

tar -xvf basilisk-*.tar.xz -C ~/
mv ~/basilisk ~/.basilisk

Step 5: Navigate to the Home Directory

cd

Step 6: Create a Symbolic Link to the Basilisk Executable

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
ln -sf ~/.basilisk/basilisk ~/.local/bin/basilisk

Step 7: Create a Desktop Entry for Basilisk

Run:

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/applications
mousepad ~/.local/share/applications/basilisk.desktop

Paste the following content into the editor:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=Basilisk Web Browser
Comment=Browse the World Wide Web
GenericName=Web Browser
Keywords=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer
Exec=basilisk %u
Terminal=false
X-MultipleArgs=false
Type=Application
Icon=basilisk
Categories=GNOME;GTK;Network;WebBrowser;
MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/xml;application/rss+xml;application/rdf+xml;image/gif;image/jpeg;image/png;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https;x-scheme-handler/ftp;x-scheme-handler/chrome;video/webm;application/x-xpinstall;
StartupNotify=true
Actions=NewWindow;NewPrivateWindow;

[Desktop Action NewWindow]
Name=Open a New Window
Exec=basilisk -new-window
OnlyShowIn=Unity;

[Desktop Action NewPrivateWindow]
Name=Open a New Private Window
Exec=basilisk -private-window
OnlyShowIn=Unity;

Save the file and close Mousepad.

Then run:

sed -i "s|^Icon=.*|Icon=$HOME/.basilisk/browser/icons/mozicon128.png|" ~/.local/share/applications/basilisk.desktop

Step 8: Remove the Downloaded File

rm -f ~/Downloads/basilisk-*.tar.xz

Step 9: Reload the Menu

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Click Reload menu.

Launching Basilisk

To launch Basilisk:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Go to the Internet category.
• Click Basilisk Web Browser.

How to Uninstall Basilisk on FunOS

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Open the terminal using one of the three methods mentioned earlier.

Step 2: Remove the Basilisk Directory

rm -rf ~/.basilisk

Step 3: Remove the Symbolic Link

rm -f ~/.local/bin/basilisk

Step 4: Remove the Desktop Entry

rm -f ~/.local/share/applications/basilisk.desktop

Step 5: Remove User Data (Optional)

rm -rf ~/.basilisk-dev
rm -rf ~/.cache/basilisk-dev

Step 6: Reload the Menu

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Click Reload menu.

Conclusion

Basilisk is a great choice if you’re looking for a web browser that prioritizes functionality, user control, and support for legacy features. While it’s not the most modern browser in terms of UI or streaming capabilities, it’s fast, stable, and free from unnecessary changes. On FunOS, Basilisk integrates well and can be easily installed or removed following the steps above.

Whether you’re a developer needing XUL support or simply someone who prefers the older Firefox feel, Basilisk is a solid alternative browser worth trying.