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DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

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Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, there are plenty of ways to communicate with younger people. But I am talking about, for instance, my grandpa. Many people in China (including my family) aren't so "cosmopolitan" and only use WeChat

I know this probably sounds ridiculous to some, but you could also use the phone to make a phone call.

The overwhelming method of communication in China is WeChat, whether that is in messaging or voice call. WeChat is the absolute most important communication medium -- this is true for all age ranges.

You statement doesn't sound ridiculous, just uninformed and lacking awareness of how people communicate in China.

Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#13

I went back to China for a month in December 2019. It's crazy how Wechat payment is now used everywhere. Any shops in China (I believe 99% of them): in wechat, you have "wallet" that generates QR code. Go to any shop, at the counter, show the QR code generated, they have the machine (or wechat app) to scan it. done. Crazy efficient. Most of the people there don't bring wallets anymore. Most of the restaurants in Shen…

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Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#14

Why not just run WeChat Linux client?

My guess is: You might want to contain the hazard. Who knows what stuff that client is doing on your machine.

I don't think docker is enough. I would want to put it in a VM of it's own, and just for the sake of it, probably send all traffic out that VM via a VPN.

Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#15

I went back to China for a month in December 2019. It's crazy how Wechat payment is now used everywhere. Any shops in China (I believe 99% of them): in wechat, you have "wallet" that generates QR code. Go to any shop, at the counter, show the QR code generated, they have the machine (or wechat app) to scan it. done. Crazy efficient. Most of the people there don't bring wallets anymore. Most of the restaurants in Shen…

Mobile pay for Starbucks is a thing in North America, without the centralization of surveillance.

(There's probably a dozen tracking SDKs, but we're working on getting those to be properly opt-in, and they aren't fed almost directly to the gov't.)

Now that Apple Pay is available for online checkouts it has mostly the same convenience as WeChat. Hopefully Android Pay or whatever will catch up soon, as Apple Pay is only usable in Safari from what I know.

Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, there are plenty of ways to communicate with younger people. But I am talking about, for instance, my grandpa. Many people in China (including my family) aren't so "cosmopolitan" and only use WeChat

I know this probably sounds ridiculous to some, but you could also use the phone to make a phone call.

Assuming he’s not in china, it would be costly to make international calls.

12/15 hour time difference also make it difficult to find a good time to make phone calls

Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#18

You need to be careful with this. I used something similar to this because I don't like running WeChat on my phone and the account was almost instantly banned and I lost my only communication channel with my family in mainland.

you also need to be careful with this because you know installing untrusted software on your Linux box might be a bad idea. I guess it’s OK if you skim through the repository and compile it yourself. I don’t know how easy it is to breach docker.

Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#19

You need to be careful with this. I used something similar to this because I don't like running WeChat on my phone and the account was almost instantly banned and I lost my only communication channel with my family in mainland.

I just got my WeChat suspended for fifteen days for no obvious reason. (Says I spread malicious rumor but doesn’t specify what exactly) I now use iMessage whenever I can.

Re: DoChat – a Dockerized WeChat PC Windows client for Linux

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My guess is: You might want to contain the hazard. Who knows what stuff that client is doing on your machine.

I don't think docker is enough. I would want to put it in a VM of it's own, and just for the sake of it, probably send all traffic out that VM via a VPN.

Genuinely curious (and not just for you, but other posters in the thread) but would you (do you?) do the same for the WhatsApp desktop app? (assuming you use it)
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