Speeding up Flash in Linux GTK-2.x+ Mozilla/Firefox

[zero0w]

Many users may find that Flash animation in GTK-2.x+ build of Mozilla / Firefox to be very slow, here is what you can do to work around it:

1. Speeding up Flash animation for GTK-2.x+ build (and 2.x+ build only) of Mozilla or Firefox:

-> From Mozilla bug #219625 (http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=219625)
Just export this environment before starting Mozilla / Firefox:

export FLASH_GTK_LIBRARY=libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0

You can add this line to the execute script such as "firefox.sh", so it will be exported by default.

2. BTW, a new Linux Flash plugin update is released, 6.0 r81:

# [LinuxFlash] flash-plugin-6.0.81 Update (http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/pipermail/linuxflash/2004-March/000106.html)
# Macromedia Linux FlashPlayer download (http://macromedia.mplug.org/)

Flash plugin 6.0r81 no longer depends on the old (gcc 2.96) version of libstdc++.

3. Also, it looks like FlashPlayer 7 for Linux Beta is coming:

http://www.markme.com/mesh/archives/004504.cfm

Note: This is re-posted from PCLinuxOnline (http://www.pclinuxonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8574).

[mdwatts]

Thanks...

I've moved this to the 'How I did it' forum.

[Icarus]

Great, I'll have to check this out later for when I'm playing http://cosmicencounter.com
I wonder if the new version also fixes some of the crash bugs that occur there also...I'll have to try it out and let Peter and Bill know, that would be excellent if it does! Then they don't have to worry about recodeing the game because Flash stinks for Linux :)

[Icarus]

The new 6.r81 version didn't helpl much at all, the "export FLASH_GTK_LIBRARY=libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0" helped millions!
Even the lame Vonage ads are running smooth now :)

[pezplaya]

Nice :). It works for me too. I made a little script to run that line before it launches firefox. Thanks man.

[Hayl]

just put it in ~/.bash_profile and/or ~/.bashrc

[Icarus]

I put it right into the /usr/bin/mozilla script, figured since that what starts it anyway and all it is is a script that runs mozilla-bin...;)

[zero0w]

Yeah, either modify the shell script file 'firefox' or 'mozilla' will do the trick.

BTW, the new 6.0r81 plugin does fix a couple Flash related bugs:

http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/faqs/flash.html#linux-issues

[MMYoung]

LORDY! LORDY!

You wouldn't think so few words would make that much difference. :D

Thanks zero0w

Later,
MMYoung

[zero0w]

Folks, FlashPlayer for Linux 7.0 r25 is released today!

-> Macromedia Flash Player Download Center Linux (http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash&P2_Platform=Linux)

This workaround trick is NO longer required with the new version.

PS: RPM version will be released later at here (right now, it's not updated yet):
http://macromedia.mplug.org/

Update: Just hit the news: Macromedia Feeling Lucky with Linux Player
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3359991

[Icarus]

What?? No changelog!?

That's good news! Now all we need is a native Flash and Macromedia can known as the 'good guys' :)

[Icarus]

Not bad, it's much better then before, but

I get a lot of stuttering with it. every 2 or 3 seconds it does the 1 second pause thing...kind of annoying, OK...very annoying :)