Facebook Messenger is one of the handiest tools at hand for any Facebook user. The app allows faster access to all your friends and everyone else and have the option for both voice and video calls. For Linux users, enjoying Facebook Messenger as a native app is possible, thanks to 3rd-party Messenger apps. You can also enjoy the native Facebook Messenger on Ubuntu 18.04.
Today, let’s set up Caprine in our system.
Installing Caprine
In order to install Caprine, follow the proper instructions according to your Linux distro.
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Ubuntu/Debian
Ubuntu and Debian users are very lucky as Caprine is available as an installable DEB package directly. Run the following command for downloading the Ubuntu package –
wget https://github.com/sindresorhus/caprine/releases/download/v2.16.0/caprine_2.16.0_amd64.deb
Once download is complete, just run the command for installing the package into your system.
sudo dpkg -i caprine_2.16.0_amd64.deb
For installing any missing dependency, run this command –
sudo apt install -f
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Other Linux systems
For enjoying Caprine on other systems, you have to use the AppImage version of the software.
Download the AppImage file –
wget https://github.com/sindresorhus/caprine/releases/download/v2.16.0/caprine-2.16.0-x86_64.AppImage
Update the file permission of the AppImage –
chmod +x caprine-2.16.0-x86_64.AppImage
Using Caprine
Everything should be all set. Start Caprine by double-clicking the AppImage or launching the app from the system launcher.
This is the starting screen of Caprine. Log into your Facebook account by providing all the necessary credentials.
When you login, you’ll instantly have access to your Messenger. It’s quite similar like the original Facebook Messenger app from app stores.
Caprine tricks
Hiding contacts
It’s not possible to hide the contacts from your screen in the web browser Messenger. However, Caprine is capable of doing that without any problem.
When you’re in the screen, just press “Ctrl + Shift + S”.
Voila! The sidebar is vanished! You can get it back by pressing the same buttons again. Note that you can also perform it via GUI. Go to View >> Hide sidebar.
Dark mode
Another excellent feature of Caprine is the DARK mode!
For enabling the “Dark mode”, go to View >> Dark Mode or press “Ctrl + D”.
Enjoy!
