Helium Browser for Linux: Open‑Source AppImage Build Guide

Helium Browser is a lightweight, privacy‑focused fork of Chromium crafted specifically for Linux. Unlike the mainstream browser, Helium ships in a single, self‑contained AppImage that runs out of the box on any recent distribution – no root privileges, no additional libraries, and no messy system dependencies.

Why Choose Helium?

• Open Source – The entire codebase, including patches from the ungoogled‑chromium project, is publicly available and licensed under GPL‑3.0 (and BSD‑3‑Clause where applicable).
• Portable AppImage – Run from a USB stick or a cloud folder, no installation steps needed.
• Fast Builds – All build scripts are containerised; developers can compile quickly on any Debian‑based distro or in Docker.
• Signed Releases – Every AppImage is signed with a GPG key that you can verify locally for authenticity.
• Community‑Driven – Contributions from developers worldwide keep Helium up‑to‑date with the latest Chromium security patches.

Getting Started: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/imputnet/helium-linux.git
cd helium-linux

The repository contains two main scripts: - scripts/docker-build.sh – Spins up a Docker image with all build dependencies. - scripts/package.sh – Creates the AppImage and optional tarball.

Build Inside Docker (recommended)

./scripts/docker-build.sh

The script: 1. Pulls a Debian‑based image. 2. Installs LLVM, Node.js, and other required tools. 3. Runs scripts/build.sh inside the container. 4. Outputs a Chromium‑based helium binary in the build/ folder.

If you prefer building on your host, you can run scripts/build.sh directly, but you’ll need to satisfy all build dependencies on your system.

Packaging the AppImage

After a successful build:

./scripts/package.sh

This produces: - helium.appimage – The portable executable. - helium.tar.xz – A tarball for advanced users.

If you want to sign the package automatically, add the --sign flag:

./scripts/package.sh --sign

Verify the Signature

Helium includes a GPG key block in the README. To verify:

gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 0x... 
# Replace with the actual key ID.

gpg --verify heliumbrowser.appimage

A clean signature confirms the build came from the official Helium team.

Contributing

1. Fork the repo and create a feature branch.
2. Add your patch or feature.
3. Submit a pull request.
4. Tests and packaging are automatically run by GitHub Actions.

You can also tweak the Dockerfile, update the flags.linux.gn, or contribute new patches for privacy improvements.

Running Helium

./helium.appimage

The browser will launch, and you can start browsing right away. The default profile is isolated from any system settings, making it ideal for testing or privacy‑sensitive tasks.

Wrap‑Up

Helium Browser brings Chromium’s power and speed to the Linux desktop in a truly portable, open‑source form. Whether you’re a developer looking for a reproducible testing environment or an end‑user seeking a privacy‑first browsing experience, Helium’s AppImage format and easy build system make it a must‑try. Jump into the repo, try the build scripts, and maybe even contribute a bugfix or feature – the community is welcoming and active.

Happy hacking, and welcome to the Helium ecosystem!