[Bug 2045820] [NEW] firefox snap .desktop missing StartupWMClass

[Tim Richardson]

Public bug reported:

this is repost from https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/snap-icons-is-the-
firefox-desktop-file-missing-startupwmclass/37400

I have the mozilla stable version installed using the mozilla binary
method, and snap for the beta channel. The snap icon is broken, both in
the menu entry and in the panel. That is, there is no icon in menu, and
the generic cog icon in the panel.

This is on 22.04 But I have the same problem in 23.10 and in a VM 22.04.
That is, I can reproduce this every time.

I did snap remove firefox

to uninstall, but this file

/home/tim/.local/share/applications/firefox_firefox.desktop

remains.

So I remove it manually, and reinstall.

The desktop file for this is now:

/var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/firefox_firefox.desktop

It is called Firefox Web Browser in the gnome launcher, and it has an
icon. But after launching, it still uses the generic cog icon in the
panel. The context menu from this icon has no actions, except to Quit.
If I create a second window, both are associated with this icon, which
is good.

In the Gnome launcher, if you search for an app and if that app is
running, the Gnome launcher indicates it with a dot. However, while this
works for the mozilla binary, the icon of Firefox Web Browser (installed
with snap) does not show a dot, even though I have two windows from it
open.

image: see attachment firefox_bug_0.png

image: see attachment firefox_bug_1.png

Fix?

>From chatgpt help, I see this:

image: see attachment firefox_bug_3.png

Add this line to the snap .destkop file, near the top, fixed it:

StartupWMClass=firefox-beta

Therefore my suggestion is that the .desktop file have a channel-
dependent StartupWMClass value set.

** Affects: firefox (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Attachment added: "Screenshot 1"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2045820/+attachment/5726920/+files/firefox_bug_1.png

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Mozilla
Bugs, which is subscribed to firefox in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2045820

Title:
  firefox snap .desktop missing StartupWMClass

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/firefox/+bug/2045820/+subscriptions