opera-stable

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr chromium

opera-stable [OPTIONS] [URL]

URL
    Optional. Specifies a URL to open upon launching the browser. For example: opera-stable https://www.opera.com

--new-window
    Forces the opening of a new browser window, even if an existing Opera instance is running.

--incognito
    Opens a new window in incognito mode, which prevents browsing history, cookies, and site data from being saved.

--profile-directory=<name>
    Specifies the name of the user profile directory to use. For example: Default or Profile 1.

--user-data-dir=<path>
    Specifies the directory that contains user data. Useful for portable installations or specific profile management.

--app=<url>
    Runs the specified URL in an application-like window without browser UI elements (e.g., address bar, tabs).

--no-sandbox
    Disables the sandbox security feature. Use with extreme caution as it significantly reduces security.

--disable-gpu
    Disables GPU hardware acceleration. Useful for troubleshooting rendering issues or on systems with problematic graphics drivers.

--version
    Prints the installed version of Opera Stable to the console and exits.

The opera-stable command launches the stable version of the Opera web browser on Linux systems. Opera is a powerful, cross-platform web browser developed by Opera Software, renowned for its unique features and focus on user privacy and browsing efficiency. Built on the Chromium engine (which uses the Blink rendering engine), it ensures broad compatibility with web standards and extensions, similar to Google Chrome.

Originally, Opera utilized its own proprietary Presto rendering engine, pioneering many features like tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, and integrated email clients. In 2013, Opera transitioned to a Chromium-based architecture to streamline development and improve compatibility. This shift allowed it to maintain its distinct identity through innovative features such as a built-in VPN, ad blocker, battery saver, and customizable workspaces, offering a compelling alternative to other mainstream browsers.

Opera, while built on the open-source Chromium project, is a proprietary browser. This means its source code is not fully open for review and modification by the community, unlike browsers like Firefox or the Chromium project itself. Updates are typically managed through the system's package manager (e.g., APT on Debian/Ubuntu, DNF/YUM on Fedora/RHEL) once Opera's repository is added during installation.

On Linux, Opera Stable is typically installed by downloading a .deb or .rpm package from the official Opera website. This process usually adds an official Opera repository to your system's package manager configuration, allowing for seamless updates through standard system update commands (e.g., sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade or sudo dnf update).

Opera, like other Chromium-based browsers, supports multiple user profiles. This allows different users to have separate browsing data (bookmarks, history, extensions, settings, etc.) without interfering with each other. Profiles can be managed from within Opera's settings or explicitly launched using the --profile-directory and --user-data-dir command-line options.

Opera was first released in 1995 by Opera Software ASA. For nearly two decades, it distinguished itself by using its own layout engine, Presto, and introducing numerous innovations that later became industry standards, such as tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, and integrated search. Facing challenges in web compatibility and resource allocation, Opera made the significant decision in 2013 to switch to the WebKit engine, and subsequently to Blink (Chromium's fork of WebKit). This transition, while controversial among some long-time users, allowed Opera to maintain modern web standards compatibility and focus its development efforts on unique user-facing features, solidifying its position as an alternative browser focused on productivity and privacy.

chromium-browser(1), firefox(1), google-chrome(1), xdg-open(1)