Has anyone had experience with this extension? I cannot get the extension to work on Linux Ubuntu(latest version). I used the terminal command recommended at the download site and the app loaded. Furthermore, I also downloaded the companion app that goes with it. The downloads were successful. Yet, when I try to use the recorder with Firefox, I get the error that the co-app has not been installed. I also downloaded the app from an external source just to make sure. Still, it would not work. I also have the extension on my Windows machine and it works fine. Any help and direction would be much appreciated.
First, I wouldn’t recommend this forum as a good source for help on this. I would say that’s generally true when it comes to any Firefox extension or theme.
What I would recommend in this case is that you visit the forum associated with the app.
That said, it seems the process is this:
- Make sure you’re on the latest Firefox. Close out any Firefox windows and do
snap refresh firefox. - Install the Extension through Firefox Add-Ons
- Install the Co-App with
curl -sSLf https://github.com/aclap-dev/vdhcoapp/releases/latest/download/install.sh | bash.
And that should be all.
From what I read, if that did not accomplish the task, the problem is likely related to a missed prompt. According to the documentation, you should:
~/.local/share/vdhcoapp/vdhcoapp installsudo apt-get install -y flatpakflatpak permission-set webextensions net.downloadhelper.coapp snap.firefox yes
It’s unclear if one of those makes the prompt come up.
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I have one thought as I have this extension installed and working perfectly. Are you running Firefox as a snap, or do you have it installed from the mozillateam ppa? Under linux, the extension requires the installation of a binary “helper” and I’m not sure if it will work in the snap environment (I run firefox from the mozillateam ppa).
So, this is above my knowledge. All I know is Firefox was there when I installed Ubuntu. Does this mean I have the snap Firefox? If so, how do I get the mozillateam ppa? Is that just another way of saying to download it from the Mozilla site? Thanks.
The upstream documentation of the download helper that was linked above is pretty clearly supporting snaps and documents the exact way to get it to work with the Firefox snap so the packaging format should be completely irrelevant if the doc is followed by the letter I’d assume… ( There is really no need to switch to an unsupported Firefox version unless upstreams documentation is wrong)
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Try what ogra says above. That’ll be easier than removing the snap package and installing from the mozillateam ppa. If you’re feeling brave:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/04/how-to-install-firefox-deb-apt-ubuntu-22-04
I have tried all the above carefully and in detail but nothing works, so let me move on from that and ask if anyone can refer me to an app I can use that does the same thing. I mainly use my laptop for downloading and saving and watching YouTube movies. Thanks much.
Have you tried doing what I said and using the developer’s forum? That would make a lot more sense.
I use this app but I have uninstalled the snap ecosystem completely - that’s another issue.
I have the Mozilla .deb for Firefox and Thunderbird installed and videodownloadhelper works well for me on Kubuntu.
I’m running 24.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=noble
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION=“Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS”
I also run the Plucky development branch and it works on that too for me (no snaps).
I think the issue may be the snaps sandbox does not allow external programmes to run, denying access to needed directories.
Sorry, no.
Let’s not assume that all problems with the Firefox Snap are due to the sandbox. You can save a screenshot made within it. You can save and open files with it. So it has access through the sandbox for select reasons and in select places.
In fact, even the CoApp is a universal package with a sandbox (Flatpak) so let’s not even assume sandboxes cause all of the problems.
Also, if you were to read the developer’s information (which I so graciously linked for everyone above) you will see that they explicitly support Snaps.
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@wxl So what would you think is the reason for this user not able to use this app, when the base systems are the same other than this user is on a vanilla Ubuntu and I am using Kubuntu?
I don’t really see how Kubuntu could be more friendly to add-ons for Firefox than basic Ubuntu, can you?
The major difference is he is using the snap Firefox and I am using the .deb.
I have Brave browser installed too, I may do an experiment and see how Brave performs with VideoDownloadHelper.
I’ll report back here as soon as I can.
As I said (and as the developer says):
It likely also works in edge on win 11, what is this supposed to contribute to solving the problem?
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Yes, but it was away to complicated for me.
I found a solution to my problem by downloading 4K Video Downloader or Tube2Go as it is called on Linux, and it works just fine for all that I need. Thanks for all the replies and help. Good Day.
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Obviously, if the OP couldn’t get it going on Firefox, trying another browser may provide a solution. I’m surprised you couldn’t see the logic there.
… then we try to help the OP to get it going
The problem here was that the guide was too complex not that the browser would not support the feature … When you have a problem with your VW Golf and I tell you “look, it works on my Mercedes”, does that help to solve your car problem in any way ?
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Sorry @ogra I don’t concede your point, especially referencing a vehicle?
It’s an easy option for a newbie to try, installing a different browser is trivial and it eliminates another point of failure. As an ex tv engineer, I always use logical fault finding steps, eliminate all possible points of failure one by one until you are left with the answer.
I think the issue here is that while the suggestion of using another browser is well intentioned, it does not solve the issue at hand, which can be read in the topic title: Video DownloadHelper Extension For Firefox. If you want to suggest something else, that might be helpful. It also might make the OP feel ignored since they stated their needs rather clearly. The best thing to do would be to solve their issue directly.
In this case, if you really want to help, the first thing to do would be to try to get it to work in Firefox. If you don’t use Firefox or the Firefox Snap like the OP, you can try in a virtual machine. Alternately, you could just let someone else try to help.
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