Since https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1gdhy7u/experimental_flathub_release_of_newpipe_on_linux/ got a bit of traction yesterday, this is WhatsApp straight from Meta running on Linux desktop using android-translation-layer.

android-translation-layer (ATL) is a Wine-like approach to run Android applications on Linux. Rather than running an Android container like for example Waydroid does this instead implements the Android API. Note that right now it’s very much work in progress and almost no app will work yet, but the fact that they have apps like Newpipe and WhatsApp running already is very promising!

Join the Matrix chat at #android-translation-layer:matrix.org and follow along!

  • fmstratEnglish
    17•2 months ago

    Very cool. I’ll stick with a WhatsApp Matrix bridge so I don’t have to install a Meta app, though.

    • Virkkunen
      19•2 months ago

      You still have to install WhatsApp though, since it requires activity on your account (on the app) every 14 days.

      • fmstratEnglish
        3•2 months ago

        Yea, get around that with sand boxing, but will probably switch to the android API layer now that it works with WhatsApp

      • youmaynotknow
        3•2 months ago

        Wao, I was not aware of that new enshitification clause. I’ve been off of anything related to Meta for over 8 years. The more I hear about what these ech giants keep pushing, the happier I am that I got out so long ago

        • Fonzie!
          1•24 days ago

          It’s been like this for many years, possibly since Facebook (as it was called back then) bought it.

      • Fonzie!
        1•24 days ago

        Nice!

        Do I need to run my own instance for this, or is it possible to do this without control over my instance?

        • @apostrofail
          1•23 days ago

          I think you need to run the service yourself