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I am attempting to port one of my hobby project to linux. Preferrably to Mono since it is written in C#. But I am looking into Python as well.

One of the feature of the application is that it needs to associate with a custom protocol so the application is invoked when the user clicks links like this on the app's website:

myapp://module/action

A custom protocol like this, this and this.

How can that be done in linux/unix systems? Can I associate a system-wide handler like in Windows? or does it need to be browser-dependent?

Can't find anything on Google. And I am utterly clueless at linux programming.

I need some pointers. Thanks!

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4 Answers 4

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In the ideal situation, this sort of thing is handled by the desktop environment (KDE, GNOME, XFCE), and Firefox respects those settings---it should do so on Ubuntu, Fedora, and OpenSUSE, at least. YMMV:

Integrating a new URIs Scheme Handler to GNOME and Firefox

Adding a protocol handler for firefox (KDE)

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Ah, this looks promising... will try when I have access to a fast workstation on Monday :-) Thanks!
Unfortunately, the first link (people.w3.org/…) relies on gconf, which is obsolete and should not be used any‑more.
First link doesn't seem to work anymore. I can call gconftool-2, but there is no apparent effect
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The manual way to doing it for firefox:

open firefox type in about:config to location bar add new string name: network.protocol-handler.app.myapp value: /path/to/program
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This doesn't do anything
That should work: when you follow link to myapp:xyz it should run program /path/to/program with argument xyz. Note that you may need to also specify network.protocol-handler.expose.myapp = true and/or network.protocol-handler.internal.myapp = true according to the use case you want to handle.
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There's not going to be a single answer, because that will be happening at the X window manager level at best. In general, you're going to need to have some chunk of code you can put into your path, and associate the name with the protocol. Have a look at the about:config page, which is where the handlers are set up.

That's really all that Windows does too, it's just that stuff is in the registry.

This looks like a decent drescription for Firefox.

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The window manager has absolutely nothing to do with opening links.
Which window manager are you speaking of, derobert? And what part of "at best" did you find difficult?
@Charlie Martin: "...that will be happening at the X window manager level...". The X window manager has nothing to do with opening links. I think you meant 'desktop environment' or somesuch (gnome, kde, etc.)
Um, where do you think the desktop environment is? Check your terminology; reading the various Wikipedia articles on X would help. Look especially at ICCMP, ICE, and window and session management. Or note that KDE, Gnome, etc are types of window maangers here: xwinman.org
@CharlieMartin and none of the window managers have anything to do with opening links
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Can I associate a system-wide handler like in Windows? or does it need to be browser-dependent?

It has to be browser-dependent. There's no cross-browser way of associating URL handlers in Linux.

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This is false. It can be done in OS dependent ways and work in major browsers.

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