The current mobile software ecosystem makes me so angry. We could truly have flip phones if only whatsapp, imessage, and whatever else were open protocols. Just program a simplified client that sips battery and is optimized for number keys and I would be golden. Instead if you want to have the privilege of sending text messages you have to pack a whole android distribution to install some bloated unoptimized app

Matrix offers bridges to a large number of messaging services (WhatsApp & iMessage included). I don’t know why it hasn’t become more popular. https://matrix.org/bridges/

HidyBush

I know about matrix bridges, but I'm sorry to say they're a pipe dream. First of all I would have to manage them myself, which is a pain and costs money.

Secondly, anything could break at any time: the vps provider, the domain provider, the matrix server, the bridges themselves could go unmaintained or suddenly not be compatible anymore.

It's truly a flaky hack, and in truth you shouldn't need a flaky hack to send a photo to your uncle using whatsapp

0x38B

There's matrix-docker-ansible-deploy (1), an Ansible Playbook that makes setting up a Matrix homeserver and bridges easier. But it's still a pain, like you said. I ran one for a while (with bridges for Skype, Instagram DM, etc), but decided it was too much work and deleted it.

1: https://github.com/spantaleev/matrix-docker-ansible-deploy