How to Install Mozilla Prism in Ubuntu

Prism is a simple XULRunner-based browser that hosts web applications without the normal web browser user interface. Prism is based on a concept called Site-Specific Browsers (SSB). An SSB is designed to work exclusively with a single web application. It doesn’t have the menus, toolbars and other accoutrements of a traditional web browser. An SSB also offers tighter integration with the operating system and desktop than a typical web application running through a web browser. Applications running in an SSB are therefore able to benefit from many of the advantages of the desktop and of the web at the same time.

Benefits

Separate process: Web apps can hog memory or processor cycles or even bring down the whole browser in extreme cases. By running each app in its own process, we minimize the impact of any mishaps. We can also benefit from  operating system tools that less us view the memory/CPU consumption of a specific application.

Minimal user interface: A general-purpose browser UI is not necessary or appropriate for most web apps. It is more efficient to provide a UI that is specific to the application. This also cuts down on UI clutter (hence the term distraction-free browser).

Basic desktop integration: Support of desktop features can make using the app more natural and convenient for end users. This includes the ability to create desktop shortcuts, to place the application icon in the tray or dock and to display pop-up notifications.

Customization: Apps can be run using a shared browser runtime and customized using client-side script (similar to Greasemonkey).

Custom stylesheets can be used to tweak the UI.

Available Prism Packages in Ubuntu 8.04

prism-facebook
prism-google-analytics
prism-google-calendar
prism-google-docs
prism-google-groups
prism-google-mail
prism-google-reader
prism-google-talk
prism-twitter

Install Prism packages for google using the following command

sudo aptitude install prism-google-talk prism-google-mail prism-google-docs prism-facebook prism-google-analytics

You can install all the packages mentioned above.This will complete the prism packages installation.

You need to make sure that you have installed flash plugin for firefox otherwise google apps won’t work.

sudo aptitude install flashplugin-nonfree

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