Thunderbird automated tar install

Automatically download and install thunderbird from tar.

Usage

1. Open your favorite terminal, usually ctrl + atl + T
2. Make sure open the terminal opened at this project location. Something like this user@computer:~/.../ThunderbirdInstall/thunderbird_install$ . If it's not:
   • either use cd ~/.../ThunderbirdInstall/ replace ... with path to where you safed folder or
   • use your preferred file explorer to go project folder and open the terminal there usually by clicking RMB 🖰 > open in terminal.
3. Run python3 linux64_tar.py
4. Wait and enter your [sudo] password for user: when promted

Use at your own risk !

Uses standard terminal commands like mv and doesn't clear terminal. It can be seen what is happening during a script run.
All used terminal commands can be found in corresponding *.py file. I try to keep it short and readable.
Tested on Linux Mint 21.1 Vera base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy, Python 3.10.6.
It should work on ubuntu based distros.

How it works

1. Tool downloads tar from Thunderbird's download link specified in config.ini to download_path.
2. Extracts *.tar archive
3. Checks for existing Thunderbird folder already located at opt_path
   • if Thunderbird exists it will move existing folder to the Thunderbird_backu folder and proceed.
4. Moves the uncompressed Thunderbird folder opt_path
5. Creates a symlink to the Thunderbird executable
6. Check if the desktop file has been installed using this script before
   • if yes, Move the current desktop file to a backup folder
7. Download an official Thunderbird copy of the desktop file and puts it into applications_path

Default [links]

thunderbird_latest = https://download.mozilla.org/?product=thunderbird-latest&os=linux64&lang=en-US ← Currently not pointing to the latest stable release.

thunderbird_latest = https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/thunderbird/releases/115.0/linux-x86_64/en-US/thunderbird-115.0.tar.bz2
desktop_file = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mozilla/sumo-kb/main/installing-thunderbird-linux/thunderbird.desktop

Default [paths]

download_path = ~/Downloads
opt_path = /opt
bin_path = /usr/local/bin
applications_path = /usr/local/share/applications

Requirements

Python 3.X.X (Often preinstalled on many distros).

Roadmap

• automate installation of TB 115 from *.tar.
• uninstall script
• one script to rule them all (main.py can now prompt y/n to run subscript