Using Nativefier to create a standalone WhatsApp application on Ubuntu is a straightforward process. Nativefier allows you to turn any web app into a desktop application.

1. Install Node.js and npm

   Nativefier requires Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager). Install them using the following commands:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install nodejs npm

   Verify the installation with:

   node -v
   npm -v

2. Install Nativefier

   Use npm to install Nativefier globally:

   sudo npm install -g nativefier

   Verify the installation with:

   nativefier --version
   

3. Create the WhatsApp App

   Use Nativefier to create a standalone app for WhatsApp Web. Open a terminal and run:

   nativefier --name "WhatsApp" "https://web.whatsapp.com/"

   This command does the following:

   • --name "WhatsApp": Specifies the name of the application.
   • "https://web.whatsapp.com/": URL of the web app you want to package.

4. Locate the Application

   Nativefier will create a directory with the application files in your current working directory. You can navigate to this directory using:

   cd WhatsApp-linux-x64

5. Run the Application

   Inside the directory, you’ll find an executable file. Run it with:

   ./WhatsApp

   If you encounter permission issues, you may need to make the file executable:

   chmod +x WhatsApp

   If the chrome-sandbox binary doesn’t have the correct permissions or ownership you can do the following: navigate to the folder

   cd /path/to/your/WhatsApp/WhatsApp-linux-x64

   You need to change the ownership of the chrome-sandbox file to root:

   sudo chown root:root chrome-sandbox

   Set the chrome-sandbox binary to have the SUID bit set (this is required for sandboxing to work correctly):

   sudo chmod 4755 chrome-sandbox

   Try running the application again:

   ./WhatsApp

6. Create a Desktop Shortcut (Optional)

   To make it easier to access the WhatsApp app, you can create a desktop shortcut:

   • Create a .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications/:

     nano ~/.local/share/applications/whatsapp.desktop

   • Add the following content to the file:

     [Desktop Entry]
     Name=WhatsApp
     Comment=WhatsApp Web as a standalone app
     Exec=/path/to/your/WhatsApp-linux-x64/WhatsApp
     Icon=/path/to/your/WhatsApp-linux-x64/resources/app/icon.png
     Terminal=false
     Type=Application
     Categories=Utility;

     Replace /path/to/your/WhatsApp-linux-x64/WhatsApp with the actual path to the executable, and update the Icon path if needed.

   • Save the file and exit the editor (Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter).

   • You should now see WhatsApp in your applications menu, and you can drag it to your dock or launcher for easy access.