Script to install traditional Thunderbird

[Schwarzer Kater]

Purpose of this script

This is a little helper script for Kubuntu™ 24.04 users who want to install the traditional Thunderbird from Mozilla.org and use it complementary to or instead of the Thunderbird Snap.
It can also remove Thunderbird, if it has been installed by this script before, and has been tested many times with Kubuntu™ 24.04 LTS.

I hope you find the script useful! Yours respectfully, Schwarzer Kater

---

Installation and usage of this script

1. You can download the script from here: https://gitlab.com/scripts94/kubuntu...al-thunderbird
   Click on its name in the file list and on the next page use the download button on the far right side of the script name.
   OR
   Copy and paste the code of the script into a blank Kate text editor document and save it as "Kubuntu_install_traditional_Thunderbird.sh" to e.g. your home directory.
2. Make the file Kubuntu_install_traditional_Thunderbird.sh executable in the Dolphin file manager:
   go to the directory you downloaded/saved the script to, right-click on the file and choose Properties -> Permissions -> enable Is executable -> choose OK.
   OR
   Make the file Kubuntu_install_traditional_Thunderbird.sh executable in the Konsole terminal emulator:
   go to the directory you downloaded/saved the script to (cd [path to]/[name of directory], e.g. cd ~/Downloads) and enter:
   chmod +x Kubuntu_install_traditional_Thunderbird.sh.
3. To run the script in the Konsole terminal emulator go to the directory you downloaded/saved the script to and enter:
   ./Kubuntu_install_traditional_Thunderbird.sh

Important

• It is advised to run this script after a full upgrade of the system (either with Discover or in Konsole with sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade) AND a reboot.

• Thunderbird from Mozilla.org can simply be used alternatively with or without the Thunderbird Snap and no further actions are to be taken.
  It will remain installed when release-upgrading (e.g. from 24.04 LTS to 24.10) and causes no conflicts during the upgrade process.
  This version of Thunderbird behaves roughly like the ones for macOS™ or Windows™ do and updates itself independently from Discover or APT package management (and can ask you before updating - if you would prefer being asked see the Thunderbird settings).

You will be asked if you want [1] to download and install Thunderbird from Mozilla.org OR [2] to remove a previously installed Thunderbird, but if you choose [3] to cancel, no changes at all are made to your system.
After you chose [1] to install Thunderbird from Mozilla.org, you will be asked to select your preferred language next.

For some more information about what is done in detail see the comments within the script itself.

---

Known issues / bugs

• In very rare cases the compressed binary from Mozilla's server was either temporarily not available in a particular language or was corrupted (it once happened with "English (South African) lang=en-ZA" for example).
  The script will inform you about this and suggest the following solution.
  -> The solution is to run the script again, choosing a more "common" (but nonetheless fitting) language version like "English (US) lang=en-US" instead - which then has always worked fine.
  After the installation you can change to your preferred language in the Thunderbird settings.

---

Other Ubuntu™-based distributions

No other Ubuntu™-based distributions/flavours but Kubuntu™ 24.04 LTS are officially supported.

Due to the amount of time it would take to thoroughly test this script with other distributions/flavours I will probably also not support them in the future.

That said the script should work with other official flavours of Ubuntu™ so far.

[Schwarzer Kater]

Changelog

• Version 1.0.0, released 2024-04-25
  - improved summary regarding removal
  - initial public release
• Version 1.0.0-Beta2, released 2024-04-17
  - ADDED FEATURE to offer removing traditional Thunderbird from /opt if it has
  been installed by this script before
  - improved code (now the script exits and tells the user when the Thunderbird
  .tar in the chosen language was e.g temporarily not available or was corrupt)
• Version 1.0.0-Beta, uploaded 2024-04-05
  - (public) Beta release

---

The script has been tested extensively, but I appreciate it if you report any errors you come across (concerning the coding or the English language).


Thank you very much!

#!/bin/bash

################################################################################
#                                                                              #
#                                                                              #
#         $$     $$                                                $$          #
#         $$     $$  $$$$$$$$$  $$         $$          $$$$$$$     $$          #
#         $$     $$  $$         $$         $$         $$     $$    $$          #
#         $$$$$$$$$  $$$$$$$$   $$         $$         $$     $$    $$          #
#         $$     $$  $$         $$         $$         $$     $$    $$          #
#         $$     $$  $$         $$         $$         $$     $$                #
#         $$     $$  $$$$$$$$$  $$$$$$$$$  $$$$$$$$$   $$$$$$$     $$          #
#                                                                              #
#                                                                              #
# This is a little helper script for Kubuntu™ 24.04 users who want to install  #
# the traditional Thunderbird from Mozilla.org and use it complementary to or  #
# instead of the Thunderbird Snap.                                             #
# It can also remove Thunderbird, if it has been installed by this script      #
# before, and has been tested many times with Kubuntu™ 24.04 LTS.              #
#                                                                              #
# -> IMPORTANT:                                                                #
#    It is advised to run this script after a full upgrade of the system       #
#    (either with Discover or in Konsole with "sudo apt update && sudo apt     #
#    full-upgrade") AND a reboot.                                              #
#                                                                              #
# -> Thunderbird from Mozilla.org can simply be used alternatively with or     #
#    without the Thunderbird Snap and no further actions are to be taken.      #
#    It will remain installed when release-upgrading (e.g. from 24.04 LTS to   #
#    24.10) and causes no conflicts during the upgrade process.                #
#    This version of Thunderbird behaves roughly like the ones for macOS™ or   #
#    Windows™ do and updates itself independently from Discover or APT package #
#    management (and can ask you before updating - if you would prefer being   #
#    asked see the Thunderbird settings).                                      #
#                                                                              #
# You will be asked if you want [1] to download and install Thunderbird from   #
# Mozilla.org OR [2] to remove a previously installed Thunderbird, but if you  #
# choose [3] to cancel, no changes at all are made to your system.             #
# After you chose [1] to install Thunderbird from Mozilla.org, you will be     #
# asked to select your preferred language next.                                #
#                                                                              #
# For some more information about what is done in detail see the comments      #
# within this script.                                                          #
#                                                                              #
# My scripts are in no way associated with Canonical™, Ubuntu™ or Kubuntu™.    #
# This script comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.                   #
# It may be used, shared, copied and modified freely.                          #
#                                                                              #
# You can download my scripts from here: https://gitlab.com/scripts94          #
#                                                                              #
# I hope you find the script useful! Yours respectfully, Schwarzer Kater       #
#                                                                              #
################################################################################

versionnr="1.0.0"

########
## During this session let's make sure no "exotic" or interfering aliases can be
## used in this script
########
shopt -u expand_aliases

########
## Display purpose of this script
########
clear
echo -e "########"
echo -e "## This is a little helper script for Kubuntu™ 24.04 users who want to install"
echo -e "## the traditional Thunderbird from Mozilla.org and use it complementary to or"
echo -e "## instead of the Thunderbird Snap."
echo -e "## It can also remove Thunderbird, if it has been installed by this script"
echo -e "## before, and has been tested many times with Kubuntu™ 24.04 LTS."
echo -e "##"
echo -e "## -> IMPORTANT:"
echo -e "##    It is advised to run this script after a full upgrade of the system"
echo -e "##    (either with Discover or in Konsole with \"sudo apt update && sudo apt"
echo -e "##    full-upgrade\") AND a reboot."
echo -e "## -> Thunderbird from Mozilla.org can simply be used alternatively with or"
echo -e "##    without the Thunderbird Snap and no further actions are to be taken."
echo -e "##    It will remain installed when release-upgrading (e.g. from 24.04 LTS to"
echo -e "##    24.10) and causes no conflicts during the upgrade process."
echo -e "##    This version of Thunderbird behaves roughly like the ones for macOS™ or"
echo -e "##    Windows™ do and updates itself independently from Discover or APT package"
echo -e "##    management (and can ask you before updating - if you would prefer being"
echo -e "##    asked see the Thunderbird settings)."
echo -e "##"
echo -e "## You will be asked if you want [1] to download and install Thunderbird from"
echo -e "## Mozilla.org OR [2] to remove a previously installed Thunderbird, but if you"
echo -e "## choose [3] to cancel, no changes at all are made to your system."
echo -e "## After you chose [1] to install Thunderbird from Mozilla.org, you will be"
echo -e "## asked to select your preferred language next."
echo -e "##"
echo -e "## For some more information about what is done in detail see the comments"
echo -e "## within the script itself."
echo -e "##"
echo -e "## This script comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND."
echo -e "## It may be used, shared, copied and modified freely."
echo -e "##"
echo -e "## I hope you find the script useful! Yours respectfully, Schwarzer Kater"
echo -e "########\n"
read -p "Press [Enter] to continue, press [Ctrl] [c] to exit. "

########
## Install or remove the traditional Thunderbird from Mozilla.org
########
intb=0
tberror=0
rmtb=0

# Test if the operating system is Kubuntu 24.04 LTS or Ubuntu 24.04-based with
# KDE Plasma
if ! cat /etc/os-release | grep -Ei "(^|\s)VERSION=(|\s|\"|\s\")24.04" &> /dev/null || ! echo "$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP" | grep -i KDE &> /dev/null
then
    echo -e "\n#############################################################\n## This script is meant to be used with Kubuntu™ 24.04 LTS ##\n## -> PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!                            ##\n#############################################################"
fi

echo -e "\n########\n## Do you want to:\n## [1] DOWNLOAD and INSTALL the latest stable Thunderbird from Mozilla.org?"
echo -e "##     or\n## [2] REMOVE Thunderbird from /opt if it has been installed by this script\n##     before?"
if test -d "$HOME/.thunderbird" ; then echo -e "##     (Your user data e.g. in \".thunderbird\" within your $HOME" ; fi
if test -d "$HOME/.thunderbird" ; then echo -e '##     directory will NOT be touched!)' ; fi
echo -e "##     or\n## [3] CANCEL the download and installation?\n########"

# Give option to cancel the installation
while true
do
    read -p "[1], [2] or [3] " choice
    if [[ "${choice}" = "1" ]]
    then
        # Test if traditional Thunderbird is installed conventionally/from a PPA
        # or to /opt
        if [[ -d "/usr/lib/thunderbird" && $(command -v thunderbird) ]] || test -x "/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird"
        then
            echo -e "\n########\n## Traditional Thunderbird seems to already be installed\n## -> not changing anything …\n########"
            break
        else
            # Choose from a list of languages and download latest stable
            # Thunderbird in the chosen language to $HOME - see:
            # https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/latest/README.txt
            echo
            PS3="$(printf '\nChoose your preferred language for Thunderbird: ')"
            select languagesel in "Albanian lang=sq" "Arabic lang=ar" "Armenian lang=hy-AM" "Asturian lang=ast" "Basque lang=eu" "Belarusian lang=be" "Bengali (Bangladesh) lang=bn-BD" "Breton lang=br" "Bulgarian lang=bg" "Catalan lang=ca" "Chinese (Simplified) lang=zh-CN" "Chinese (Traditional) lang=zh-TW" "Croatian lang=hr" "Czech lang=cs" "Danish lang=da" "Dutch lang=nl" "English (British) lang=en-GB" "English (US) lang=en-US" "Estonian lang=et" "Finnish lang=fi" "French lang=fr" "Frisian lang=fy-NL" "Gaelic (Scotland) lang=gd" "Galician lang=gl" "German lang=de" "Greek lang=el" "Hebrew lang=he" "Hungarian lang=hu" "Icelandic lang=is" "Indonesian lang=id" "Irish lang=ga-IE" "Italian lang=it" "Korean lang=ko" "Lithuanian lang=lt" "Lower Sorbian lang=dsb" "Norwegian (Bokmål) lang=nb-NO" "Norwegian (Nynorsk) lang=nn-NO" "Polish lang=pl" "Portuguese (Brazilian) lang=pt-BR" "Portuguese (Portugal) lang=pt-PT" "Punjabi (India) lang=pa-IN" "Romanian lang=ro" "Romansh lang=rm" "Russian lang=ru" "Serbian lang=sr" "Sinhala lang=si" "Slovak lang=sk" "Slovenian lang=sl" "Spanish (Argentina) lang=es-AR" "Spanish (Spain) lang=es-ES" "Swedish lang=sv-SE" "Tamil (Sri Lanka) lang=ta-LK" "Turkish lang=tr" "Ukrainian lang=uk" "Upper Sorbian lang=hsb" "Vietnamese lang=vi" "Welsh lang=cy"
            do
                if [[ $REPLY -ge 1 && $REPLY -le 57 ]]
                then
                    languagename="$(echo "${languagesel}" | sed 's/ lang.*$//')"
                    languagecode="$(echo "${languagesel}" | sed 's/^.* //')"
                    echo -e "\n########\n## -> Downloading ${languagename} version of Thunderbird from Mozilla.org …\n########\n" && wget -O "$HOME/thunderbird-latest-stable.tar.bz2" "https://download.mozilla.org/?product=thunderbird-latest&os=linux64&${languagecode}"
                    # Test if archive was e.g. not available at all
                    if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]
                    then
                        echo -e '\n################################################################################\n## -> AN ERROR OCCURED! <-                                                    ##'
                        echo -e "## Thunderbird seems not to be available in the chosen language at the moment ##\n## -> not changing anything …                                                 ##\n################################################################################"
                        tberror=1
                        break 2
                    fi
                    break
                else
                    echo -e "\n-> Please enter a valid number [1-57]!"
                fi
            done

            # Decompress the downloaded Thunderbird archive
            echo -e "########\n## -> Decompressing the Thunderbird archive …\n########\n" && tar xjf "$HOME/thunderbird-latest-stable.tar.bz2" -C "$HOME"
            # Test if archive was e.g. corrupt
            if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]
            then
                echo -e '\n##################################################\n## -> AN ERROR OCCURED! <-                      ##'
                echo -e "## This Thunderbird archive seems to be corrupt ##\n## -> not changing anything …                   ##\n##################################################"
                tberror=1
                break
            fi

            # Install Thunderbird to /opt
            echo -e "########\n## -> Installing Thunderbird from Mozilla.org to /opt …\n########\n" && sudo mv "$HOME/thunderbird" /opt

            # Clean up: remove the dowloaded Thunderbid archive from $HOME
            if test -e "$HOME/thunderbird-latest-stable.tar.bz2" ; then echo -e "\n########\n## -> Cleaning up …\n########\n" && rm -f "$HOME/thunderbird-latest-stable.tar.bz2" ; fi

            # Create thunderbird.desktop in /usr/local/share/applications to give
            # all users access to the new Thunderbird via application menu (don't
            # use /usr/share/applications - otherwise the .desktop file could be
            # removed when (re)installing the Thunderbird Snap or
            # release-upgrading)
            echo -e "########\n## -> Writing thunderbird.desktop file to /usr/local/share/applications/ :\n########\n"
            # Create /usr/local/share/applications before, if it doesn't exit
            if ! test -d "/usr/local/share/applications" ; then sudo mkdir /usr/local/share/applications ; fi
            echo -e "[Desktop Entry]\nEncoding=UTF-8\nName=Thunderbird Mail from Mozilla.org\nComment=Send and receive mail with Thunderbird\nGenericName=Mail Client\nKeywords=Email;E-mail;Newsgroup;Feed;RSS\nExec=/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird %u\nTerminal=false\nX-MultipleArgs=false\nType=Application\nIcon=/opt/thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/default128.png\nCategories=Application;Network;Email;\nMimeType=x-scheme-handler/mailto;application/x-xpinstall;x-scheme-handler/webcal;x-scheme-handler/mid;message/rfc822;\nStartupNotify=true\nActions=Compose;Contacts;\n\n[Desktop Action Compose]\nName=Compose New Message\nExec=/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird -compose\n\n[Desktop Action Contacts]\nName=Contacts\nExec=/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird -addressbook\n" | sudo tee /usr/local/share/applications/thunderbird.desktop

            # Rebuild the KDE Plasma application menu index as sometimes this
            # helps when the new Thunderbird does not show properly (especially
            # if the Thunderbird Snap is additionally installed)
            if command -v kbuildsycoca5 &> /dev/null ; then kbuildsycoca5 &> /dev/null ; fi

            intb=1
            break
        fi
    elif [[ "${choice}" = "2" ]]
    then
        # Test if traditional Thunderbird has been installed to /opt by this
        # script
        if ! [[ -x "/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird" && -r "/usr/local/share/applications/thunderbird.desktop" ]]
        then
            echo -e "\n########\n## Traditional Thunderbird does not seem to have been installed from Mozilla.org\n## to /opt by this script before -> not changing anything …\n########"
            break
        else
            # Give option to cancel
            echo -e "\n########\n## Are you sure you want to UNINSTALL traditional Thunderbird from /opt ?\n########"
            while true
            do
                read -p "[y/n] " removetb
                if [[ "${removetb}" = [Yy] ]]
                then
                    # Remove Thunderbird from /opt and the .desktop file from
                    # /usr/local/share/applications
                    echo -e "\n########\n## -> Removing traditional Thunderbird from /opt …\n########\n"
                    sudo rm -rf /opt/thunderbird && sudo rm -f /usr/local/share/applications/thunderbird.desktop

                    # Rebuild the KDE Plasma application menu index
                    if command -v kbuildsycoca5 &> /dev/null ; then kbuildsycoca5 &> /dev/null ; fi

                    rmtb=1
                    break 2
                elif [[ "${removetb}" = [Nn] ]]
                then
                    echo -e "\n########\n## You have canceled the removal of traditional Thunderbird from /opt\n## -> not changing anything …\n########"
                    break 2
                fi
            done
        fi
    elif [[ "${choice}" = "3" ]]
    then
        echo -e "\n########\n## You have canceled the download & installation or removal of the traditional\n## Thunderbird -> not changing anything …\n########"
        break
    fi
done

########
## Report what has been done
########
summary_first="\n########\n## -> SUMMARY:"
summary_what="## Thunderbird has been successfully installed from Mozilla.org to /opt ."
summary_where="## -> You can find it in your application menu under \"Internet\"."
summary_snap="## -> Be aware that the Thunderbird Snap is still additionally installed!"
summary_snapremove="##    You can remove and block Snaps entirely with the \"get_rid_of_Snap\" script."
summary_nochange="## The script has made no changes at all to your system!"
summary_last="## Have a nice day and enjoy Kubuntu™.\n########\n"
summary_lasttb="## Have a nice day and enjoy your new Thunderbird and Kubuntu™.\n########\n"
savesummary=0

if [[ ${intb} = 1 ]]
then
    # Tell that Thunderbird has been installed from Mozilla.org
    echo -e "${summary_first}"
    echo -e "${summary_what}"
    echo -e "${summary_where}"
    if snap list thunderbird &> /dev/null ; then echo -e "${summary_snap}" ; fi
    if snap list thunderbird &> /dev/null ; then echo -e "${summary_snapremove}" ; fi
    echo -e "${summary_lasttb}"
    savesummary=1
elif [[ ${rmtb} = 1 ]]
then
    # Tell that Thunderbird has been removed from /opt
    echo -e "${summary_first}"
    echo -e "## Thunderbird has been successfully removed from /opt ."
    if test -d "$HOME/.thunderbird" ; then echo -e "## -> Your user data in \".thunderbird\" within your $HOME" ; fi
    if test -d "$HOME/.thunderbird" ; then echo -e '##    directory has NOT been touched!' ; fi
    echo -e "${summary_last}"
    savesummary=1
elif [[ ${intb} = 0 ]] && [[ ${tberror} = 1 ]]
then
    # Tell that an error has occured and nothing has been changed
    echo -e "${summary_first}"
    echo -e '## Thunderbird could NOT be installed from Mozilla.org to /opt !'
    echo -e "## It was either not available in your chosen language at the moment or this\n## archive was corrupt…"
    echo -e "## -> Please run the script again and choose a more \"common\" (but nonetheless\n##    fitting) language version instead."
    echo -e "##    After the installation you can change to your preferred language in the\n##    Thunderbird settings."
    echo -e "${summary_nochange}"
    echo -e "${summary_last}"
else
    # Tell that nothing has changed
    echo -e "${summary_first}"
    echo -e "${summary_nochange}"
    echo -e "${summary_last}"
fi

########
## Give option to save the summary, if the script has changed anything
########
appendix="$(date +"%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M")"

if [[ ${savesummary} = 1 ]]
then
    echo -e "########\n## -> Do you want to save this summary for future reference?\n########"
    while true
    do
        read -p "[y/n] " wantsave
        if [[ "${wantsave}" = [Yy] ]] && [[ ${intb} = 1 ]]
        then
            # Save to text file that Thunderbird has been installed from
            # Mozilla.org
            echo -e "${summary_first}" > "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "${summary_what}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "${summary_where}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            if snap list thunderbird &> /dev/null ; then echo -e "${summary_snap}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt" ; fi
            if snap list thunderbird &> /dev/null ; then echo -e "${summary_snapremove}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt" ; fi
            echo -e "${summary_lasttb}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "Script version used: ${versionnr}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "\n########\n## -> The summary of what has been done by this script was saved to:\n##    $HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}\n########\n"
            break
        elif [[ "${wantsave}" = [Yy] ]] &&  [[ ${rmtb} = 1 ]]
        then
            # Save to text file that Thunderbird has been removed from /opt
            echo -e "${summary_first}" > "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "## Thunderbird has been successfully removed from /opt ." >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            if test -d "$HOME/.thunderbird" ; then echo -e "## -> Your user data in \".thunderbird\" within your $HOME" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt" ; fi
            if test -d "$HOME/.thunderbird" ; then echo -e '##    directory has NOT been touched!' >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt" ; fi
            echo -e "${summary_last}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "Script version used: ${versionnr}" >> "$HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}.txt"
            echo -e "\n########\n## -> The summary of what has been done by this script was saved to:\n##    $HOME/install_traditional_Thunderbird-SUMMARY_${appendix}\n########\n"
            break
        elif [[ "${wantsave}" = [Nn] ]]
        then
            echo
            break
        fi
    done
fi

[Schwarzer Kater]

The same additions as for the install traditional Firefox script:
Now the script can remove the traditional Thunderbird from /opt, if it has been installed by this script before.
Plain error handling for e.g. a bad connection or a missing particular language version has also been added…

[Schwarzer Kater]

Re-tested dozens of times with Kubuntu 24.04 LTS (development branch, Beta and final release): works.