Custom protocol in linux?

Question

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!

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

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)