Okay, so how can I chat to my friends or companies with WhatsApp on Linux? How can I order food similar to Grab or Gojek on Linux? How can I get a date on Linux like Tinder?

You can't. Sure, there are technological solutions to all of those, but in the real world that alone is pretty much useless.

You can use Anbox if you really need some Android app.

Tinder does have a web interface, so does doordash (I've never head of Gojek but I'd imagine it does too.)

I thought WhatsApp also had a web interface but I wouldn't use it anyway and there are similar chat apps that do so why would you?

> I've never head of Gojek but I'd imagine it does too.

You imagine wrong.

> I thought WhatsApp also had a web interface but I wouldn't use it anyway and there are similar chat apps that do so why would you?

The web interface is just a proxy to the phone app. The other "similar apps" don't have all my contacts on it.

You can use Watshapp multiple ways on Linux, including the web browser version [https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/].

Although, if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid. I mean, giving Facebook your phone number is just not wise.

> if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid.

Lets not name call here. Many people have different motivations and concerns different than you. Most people likely already gave facebook their number, or someone else did for them through contact book sharing.

I think many would argue that thinking Facebook doesn't have your phone number is either massively ignorant or stupid. After all, it only takes one person you know signing up and allowing access to contacts.

That said, I am considerably less concerned about Facebook having my phone number versus Facebook being able to mine all my conversations to create a pretty complete profile of who I am and what I do.

I have never uploaded my phonebook to WhatsApp durring the short period I used it nor did I give my number to Facebook (either by entering it into my profile or by answering the nags to enable 2FA when I used to use the site.) It was not included in the recent leak (which doesn't mean they don't have it.)

And you still need the phone app for that Linux client; everything is routed through that.

Good grief, I keep bloody repeating this. Do you people actually read anything?

> Although, if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid. I mean, giving Facebook your phone number is just not wise.

I'm a normal human being who values social contact and doesn't want to pester all my friends in using some other app, and a lot of businesses use WhatsApp here too.

I am neither "ignorant" nor "stupid". This is literally the worst of HN right here. Do you even listen to what people have to say and consider perspectives outside of your own?

I can't help but notice that it's not a “Linux”'s job to do something about WhatsApp demanding this and that from you. It's a problem (let's not belittle it), and it's yours (well, you share it with others).

Also, people who can't get in touch with you because you don't use some fad-of-the-year app are not your real friends. Tell them that you still use MySpace (wearing a Myspace T-shirt), or prefer WeChat (a billion of users can't be wrong), and see how it goes.

> Also, people who can't get in touch with you because you don't use some fad-of-the-year app are not your real friends.

I'm in touch with many people, most of whom are not close friends. To break up a social contact just over this is too high a price to pay (and acquittances can be upgraded to close friends over the years, too, but not if you start by badgering them in to using some other app).