How to Configure Protonmail Bridge on Freebsd Desktop

FreeBSD

Recently I installed and configured Freebsd on my HP-Envy laptop. It works fine, but not as good as my usual OS of choice (i.e. Ubuntu). The keys that control screen backlight aren't recognized by the kernel. The sound card needed some tweaking for the external speaker to work. Nivida driver refuses to work. It doesn’t provide JXF beyond version 8. Video streaming services aren’t supported natively. Desktop interface is very sluggish comparing to GhostBSD. Automount is very janky.


I, however, enjoy the cleaness and the elegence of the underline operating sytsem. I do recommand people give it a go as their dedicated server system. Personally I think GhostBSD is the way to go if you are looking for a smoother desktop BSD experience. I did manage to get the protonmail bridge to work via Linux Binary Compatibility mode. Here is the process and commands that I used.

Book Recommendation

I recommand Absolute FreeBSD, 3rd Edition: The Complete Guide to FreeBSD if anyone is interested in a FreeBSD manual. There is nothing wrong with the Freebsd Handbook on its offical website either.

Requirements

First requirement is having a functional desktop system. Then installing and configure Linux Binary Compatibility via this link - https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/linuxemu-lbc-install.html

Installing Required Packages

Packages from the Repo

There are four packages that you can install via the pkg management system. Note: gnome-keyring is only needed for non-gnome desktop systems.

pkg install pass-otp

pkg install gnome-keyring

pkg install linux-c7-libglvnd

pkg install rpm2cpio

Packages aren't in the Repo

Next download two packages. libsecret-0.18.6-1.el7.x86_64.rpm from centos repo website and install it.


cd /compact/linuxn

rpm2cpio < /path/to/libsecret-0.18.6-1.el7.x86_64.rpm | cpio -id

Install Protonmail Bridge

Download protonmail-bridge-1.2.7-1.x86_64.rpm from protonmail. Install the package:


cd /compact/linux

rpm2cpio < /path/to/protonmail-bridge-1.2.7-1.x86_64.rpm | cpio -id

Remove any existing protonmail-bridge link file under /compact/linux/usr/bin and recreate the link from the new installation.

rm /compat/linux/usr/bin/protonmail-bridge

ln -s /compat/linux/usr/lib/protonmail/bridge/protonmail-bridge /compat/linux/usr/bin/protonmail-bridge

Configure Bridge

The GUI version of the protonmail bridge didn’t work for me. But the command version works just fine. Run this command:

/compat/linux/usr/lib/protonmail/bridge/protonmail-bridge --cli

Use command “add” and “info” in the client shell to create a new bridge account and access its information.

Auto Start at Login

Add this link to your ~/.xinitrc

/compat/linux/usr/lib/protonmail/bridge/protonmail-bridge --noninteractive

Summary

Now you should be able to configure your email client of choice to connect to your protonmail bridge.