this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2024
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WhatsApp running through android-translation-layer (no container!) on Linux desktop (lemmy.kde.social)
submitted 1 week ago by PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social to c/linux@lemmy.ml
43 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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!

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[–] penquin@lemm.ee 57 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I can feel it in the air. This is going to take off just like how wine and proton took off. We are going to go through another "Linux gaming" rush all over again and this shit is going to be fun. Let's go!!!

[–] PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social 5 points 1 week ago

I definitely hope so, so far it's looking promising!

[–] xavier666@lemm.ee 49 points 1 week ago

Should have been called AITL (AITL Is a Translation Layer)

[–] merthyr1831@lemmy.ml 45 points 1 week ago

Fascinating stuff. I'm glad we're entering this new era of Linux application compatibility! And all through the honorable work of developers who are doing stuff just for the fun of it.

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] Virkkunen@fedia.io 16 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week 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

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 2 points 1 week ago

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

[–] lemonuri@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Would anyone post a quick guide on how to run WhatsApp l using atl?

There is some documentation on https://gitlab.com/android_translation_layer/android_translation_layer/-/blob/master/README.md and I am rather sure it's the right project, but some sort of installer would be nice. I think installing all those dependencies by hand is not a good solution in the long run. Wasn't there supposed to be a flatpack container to be downloaded somewhere?

[–] PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social 12 points 1 week ago

I think installing all those dependencies by hand is not a good solution in the long run.

Well, no. "In the long run" this gets packaged by distributions so you don't have to compile anything. Right now it's available for Alpine Linux and there is an AUR package for Arch.

Wasn’t there supposed to be a flatpack container to be downloaded somewhere?

There is a Flatpak (no c in that name!) base app available, and Newpipe has been packaged with that as a Flatpak, see https://flathub.org/apps/net.newpipe.NewPipe Ideally we get more stuff packaged up once more works but I don't think it's feasible to repackage everything out there so for a lot of applications you'll just have to have a locally installed ATL outside of Flatpak.

[–] killingspark@feddit.org 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm curious, doesn't WhatsApp require a phone number to be attached to an account? As in, I thought activating it doesn't work on devices without a SIM card?

[–] balsoft@lemmy.ml 34 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I haven't used it in a while, but I think it just sends you an SMS with a code that you can enter manually, so yeah it works on devices without a SIM

[–] 56_@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Exactly. I created my whatsapp account in waydroid like this.

[–] iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee 9 points 1 week ago (4 children)

...but it can't run both in your phone and in your computer, right? For that you need the desktop app (which is Windows only) or the web app, which linux apps encapsulate right?

[–] 56_@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago

I've never tried having the app on multiple devices - I specifically didn't want it on my phone - but it's worth a try. I use whatsapp web in firefox, and only start waydroid when I need to log in again. The third party linux apps just load whatsapp web in electron or something.

[–] PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You're right, you can't run the Android (or iOS app) twice. If you want a second device running WhatsApp you'll need the web app.

[–] vvv@programming.dev 1 points 1 week ago

I think you can link a second Whatsapp app, similar to the web client. your primary one needs a webcam to read the QR code though

[–] sag@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago

In new update you can. Just have to link it.

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[–] interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago

Interesting, I could sandbox each app in a debian vm and remote control it from my phone with sunshine. Good luck trying to steal my personnal data devs

[–] SaltyIceteaMaker@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 week ago (3 children)

and i cant even get Whatsapp to run because my phones bootloader is unlocked... life is unfair

[–] greywolf0x1@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

why not? i use an unlocked phone and run it just fine

[–] SaltyIceteaMaker@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

WhatsApp just says i dont have the official version, even tho i got the apk litterally from their own damn website

[–] Niquarl@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

Apparently some apps ask Google Play if it's an official android OS.

[–] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Are you in Brazil?

[–] SaltyIceteaMaker@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

no, i live in Germany

[–] westyvw@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Life fair. It's only trying to help you not have to use whatsapp.

[–] SaltyIceteaMaker@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

yeah you see, the issue is, i need Whatsapp for my family, friends and work. i'd rather not use WhatsApp but i aint got a choice (yet, afaik Whatsapp will be forced to work with other apps)

[–] westyvw@lemm.ee 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

It sure is a popular app regionally. Lots of people in different countries I know use it interchangeably at this point: when they say text, they mean whatsap. I get it.

But I will not support Meta, there is a line. I don't need family or friends that cannot use open source alternative. Worse case, I just drop back to sms.

But work requires it? Or you happen to have work that needs to support many customers? I suppose I could see that, but work would then be a completely separate phone only for that purpose.

[–] SaltyIceteaMaker@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

you see i am an apprentice so i don't have a work phone yet, but i need Whatsapp to communicate with my superiors and all

[–] westyvw@lemm.ee 1 points 6 days ago

Yep, you gotta do what you gotta do. I could never blame anyone for that.

Then when you are your own boss you can do it your way!

[–] nossaquesapao@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 6 days ago

I use a phone with an unlocked bootloader too, but I only got a warning and pressed ok

[–] chevy9294@monero.town 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Looks fantastic but how much are apps sandboxed? I don't want WhatsApp to see all my files for example.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

Like Newpipe someone could make a Flatpak of it (if there's demand)

[–] Mwa@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

next we need microsoft store apps to run on Linux ig?
Edit: because some apps completely block wine or is distributed only from the Microsoft store

[–] xavier666@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

The people from Heroic are already working on this.

Source: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/10/ubuntu-summit-2024-highlights-linux-gaming-talks-on-umu-and-heroic-launcher/

The talk gives a brief overview on what they've been working on like UWP/WinRT in Wine, Comet for GOG multiplayer features and more. But Lidwin also does a quick little sneak peek intro on a new project called Maxima Launcher, an open source replacement for EA Desktop / Origin that will eventually get Heroic integration too.

[–] Mwa@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Cant wait,so happy someone's working on this.

[–] midnightblue@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

That's amazing

[–] JamesBoeing737MAX@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Well, the only use of this, for most people, would probably be minecraft.

[–] fl42v@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We have minecrafts on linux. One useful-ish thing that I can think of (and currently use waidroid for) is myscript's nebo, a handwritten note-taking app with quite good OCR. Since myscript don't build their SDK for Linux, let alone apps, it's somewhat the only way currently, I guess... Unless you can run wpf-s via wine somehow?

[–] JamesBoeing737MAX@sopuli.xyz 0 points 1 week ago

Well, we don't have bedrock and don't even think about mcpelauncher (it's not even foss anymore + licensing bullshit).

[–] chevy9294@monero.town 3 points 1 week ago

Actually you can already run minecraft PE on linuc for quite some years, so nothing new.

[–] sag@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago

Already Exist for 2 or 3 years now I guess.

[–] CalcProgrammer1@lemmy.today 0 points 1 week ago

This Android Translation Layer looks amazing for Linux phones. Waydroid is already pretty awesome, but it's just running full fat Android on top of your Linux system and has all the limitations that brings (poor to no notification integration with the host system, poor integration of filesystem, extra resource usage for all of the Android services, issues with power management and suspend, inability to change resolution on the fly, poor integration with host onscreen keyboard, etc). I've used Waydroid on postmarketOS and it's nice to be able to have Android apps available, but it almost feels like still carrying around a second phone, just that second phone is virtual. Something like ATL sounds like it properly integrates Android apps into the host OS. I need to give this a try soon.