How to install FossaMail on Linux Mint

[MGA74]

Hello,

I have downloaded the .tar.bz2 file for FossaMail 25.1.5.

I understand that Linux Mint, being a Debian style version of Linux, usually prefers a .deb installation.

What steps do I need to take to install FossaMail?

[squarefractal]

* Extract the archive.
* Open the FossaMail directory.
* Double click the FossaMail executable.

[MGA74]

Thank you! - worked first time.

[baritone]

Hi,

as I am new to Linux, I still have a question:

which file would be "the executable" ? There is a file "fossamail" without any extension that can be made executable by right clicking and choosing the appropriate option.
This file then starts fossamail and it works fine but I think it only runs the program.
So what do I do to really install it? There is another file "fossamail-bin" (also no extension). Would this be the better choice?

Or doesn't it matter anyway? (I know, I am still deep in the windows way of thinking)

[SvenG]

To really install Fossamail you can basically follow the instructions to install Pale Moon on Linux
http://linux.palemoon.org/help/installation/
You only have to adjust the paths and replace palemoon with firefox. Getting that running is a good way to start getting used to the terminal, it's not that complicated once you understood the commands.

[baritone]

Thank you for the reply and the link. I will try this.
So if I understand this correctly, "installing" in this case just means to have all the files in their proper place and to have the icons linked to the links.
A lot easier than what I am used to from Windows.

[SvenG]

Exactly that is it, pit it in a defined place and set the links. That is also what the installer specific packages (deb, rpm, etc.) do on Linux, they put the files in places and set the links to make it works with the system. To get a working launcher you can use that of thunderbird and modify it to fit fossamail. If you want to update fossamail, you only have to replace the components in /opt, so that part is really easy. And in contrast to many Windows installations, you know where all the components are.

[David Brinton]

I followed all the Linux Mint instructions and FossaMail is working fine on my Linux Mint 17. However, I have no icons in Mint (those in FossaMail are okay), meaning, the menu item has no icon and when I add FossaMail to the panel, it too has no icon. I can not edit the FossaMail entry on the menu (no edit option in Mint), but when I edit the FossaMail entry on the panel to change the icon, it still doesn't appear. Then, when I reselect it, the icon has returned to the default. Despite all that, I'm able to create a fully functional desktop launcher complete with an icon. Does anyone have an idea what I'm doing wrong?

Thinkpad E120 (with overheating issues)
Dual Core Pentium
Linux Mint 17 w/Caja

For those interested, a week ago I decided to stop using webmail in favor of a multi-account desktop client because it's a nuisance to sign in to my 5 different accounts several times a day. I tried to use Thunderbird, but it uses the Evolution indexer which makes my processor squeal like a pig. So I am very happy to have find FossaMail which gives me the UI and general experience I prefer without using the Evolution back end.