Script to setup a secondary skype on a Ubuntu/Mint box

secondary-skype.sh

#!/bin/sh

# 
# A simple script to create a skype launcher
# that will pass alternative data home directory
# thus making it easy to run two Skype instances alongside
#
# Tesed on Mint 18
# Requires the latest skypeforlinux.deb (v.8) from Microsoft

SUFFIX='secondary'

# Ensure that Skype is actualy installed
if [ $(dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}\n' skypeforlinux  2>/dev/null | grep -c "ok installed") -eq 0 ]; then
	# https://go.skype.com/skypeforlinux-64.deb 
	echo 'Please download the latest skype package from Microsoft and install it! Then rexecute the script'

	exit
fi

SKYPE_BIN=`which skypeforlinux`

# Secondary Skype's data dir
SECONDARY_HOME=~/".Skype-${SUFFIX}"
mkdir -p $SECONDARY_HOME

# Create an "executable" for a second Skype instance with a different database
SECONDARY_BIN="/usr/local/bin/skype-${SUFFIX}.sh"
USER=`whoami`

sudo touch $SECONDARY_BIN
sudo chown $USER:root $SECONDARY_BIN
chmod u+w,+x $SECONDARY_BIN

cat <<EOF > $SECONDARY_BIN
#!/bin/sh
if [ ! -d "$SECONDARY_HOME" ]; then
	mkdir -p $SECONDARY_HOME
fi

$SKYPE_BIN --secondary --datapath=$SECONDARY_HOME &
EOF

# Create an application shortcut for the secondary skype
SECONDARY_DESKTOP="/usr/share/applications/skype-${SUFFIX}.desktop"
sudo touch $SECONDARY_DESKTOP
sudo chown $USER:root $SECONDARY_DESKTOP

cat <<EOF > $SECONDARY_DESKTOP
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Skype ${SUFFIX}
Comment=Skype Internet Telephony
Exec=$SECONDARY_BIN
Icon=skypeforlinux
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Encoding=UTF-8
Categories=Network;Application;
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/skype;
X-KDE-Protocols=skype
EOF