Whatsapp Desktop app for Linux

Create a WhatsApp desktop webapp using a Chrome container. This can be used like any other desktop app through the launcher with all the functionalties present in web.whatsapp.com

Relevant info

The functioning takes advantage of the command line options provied by chromium and their usage as a part of the configuration in .desktop file. A .desktop file is a simple text file which contains the meta data about any desktop application we run in an Ubuntu system.

The .desktop file mainly has the path to the executable, which, in this case also has an --app option which allows us to specify the url the application window should open, which in this case redirects to WhatsApp Web

Requirements:

Please ensure you have Chrome installed

To install Chrome: Go to the official website and download the installation file and follow the instructions there.

P.S. A package known as wmctrl would be installed in your machine when you follow the commands mentioned below. This would be required for the functioning of the necessary scripts. You can read more about it here or using the command man wmctrl in your terminal.

Create the application

• Clone the repo or download the zip and navigate to it

• Run sudo bash execute.sh

• You'll get a desktop webapp named WhatsApp in your launcher, which can now be used as a normal desktop app.

Create a keyboard shortcut

• Go to the keybord shortcut settings in your system and click on :plus:

• Name it "WhatsApp Chrome"

• In the text field for command, write bash -c "wmctrl -xa web.whatsapp.com || /opt/google/chrome/google-chrome --app=https://web.whatsapp.com/"

• Give it whatever keyboard shortcut you are comfortable with and click Add

• You can now use this shortcut to run the WhatsApp desktop aplication

Bugs

• Please create an issue with title BUG: <short description> if you encounter any bugs

To Do

I have a personal bias against working in Chrome and highly prefer a Firefox container instead of a Chrome one. I faced some issues while implementing the same with Firefox but would work on it once I have more time in my hands. Everyone else is also free to contribute for the same.

Credits:

WhatsApp icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com