Adobe Flash in Linux
Flashed

© Lead Image © James Steidl, fotolia.com
PPAPI, NPAPI, Pepper Flash, Fresh Player – just a lot of gibberish? We check out the background of Flash in Linux and provide tips on how to rule out the worst bugs in the technology.
Adobe Flash may be becoming less and less important with the rise of HTML5, but the much-maligned plugin is still the most widely installed browser add-on in the computer world. Hardly a web browser operates without Flash, even in the Linux world.
The latest developments in Flash are causing a considerable amount of confusion. In this article, I describe some recent changes across the Flash landscape and give some tips on setting up Flash on a Linux system.
Peppered
Adobe completely discontinued the development of standalone Flash plugins for Linux in February 2012 [1]; however, they still support a plugin for Google's Native Client (NaCL) technology, which uses the Pepper Plugin API (PPAPI) [2]. Adobe supplies only the bare essential security updates for the legacy plugin with the Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface (NPAPI).
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.