Yes, it is possible. The result will look like as in screenshot from Ubuntu MATE 18.04 LTS:
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (running MATE or Unity)
See comment on bug 1683516.
You can do the following:
sudo apt-get install libindicate-gtk3 libindicate5 python-indicate \
python-gnomekeyring python-notify
cd ~/Downloads
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/python-support/python-support_1.0.14ubuntu2_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i python-support_1.0.14ubuntu2_all.deb
wget http://ppa.launchpad.net/ralf.hersel/rhersel-ppa/ubuntu/pool/main/p/popper/popper_0.31.3-0ubuntu1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i popper_0.31.3-0ubuntu1_all.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/i/indicator-messages/libindicator-messages-status-provider1_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
sudo dpkg -i libindicator-messages-status-provider1_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/i/indicator-messages/indicator-messages_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
sudo dpkg -i indicator-messages_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/i/indicator-messages/indicator-messages-gtk2_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
sudo dpkg -i indicator-messages-gtk2_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
Then for MATE - mate-tweak
-> Panel (Interface) -> Enable indicators.
Then Applications -> Internet -> Popper - set account settings.
Then pin installed packages:
cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/pin-indicators
Package: indicator-messages
Pin: version 0.6.0-0ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: indicator-messages-gtk2
Pin: version 0.6.0-0ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: libindicator-messages-status-provider1
Pin: version 0.6.0-0ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: popper
Pin: version 0.31.3-0ubuntu1
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: python-support
Pin: version 1.0.14ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
EOF
Reboot and login back.
That is all. You got indicator-messages
working again.
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (running MATE or Unity)
You can do the following:
sudo apt-get install libindicate-gtk3 libindicate5 python-indicate \
python-notify libpango1.0-0
cd ~/Downloads
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/python-support/python-support_1.0.14ubuntu2_all.deb
wget http://ppa.launchpad.net/ralf.hersel/rhersel-ppa/ubuntu/pool/main/p/popper/popper_0.31.3-0ubuntu1_all.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/i/indicator-messages/libindicator-messages-status-provider1_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/i/indicator-messages/indicator-messages_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/i/indicator-messages/indicator-messages-gtk2_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/i/indicator-messages/libindicator-messages-status-provider1_0.6.0-0ubuntu2_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/g/gnome-python-desktop/python-gnomekeyring_2.32.0+dfsg-3_`dpkg --print-architecture`.deb
sudo apt-get install ./*.deb
Then Applications -> Internet -> Popper - set account settings.
Then pin installed packages:
cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/pin-indicators
Package: indicator-messages
Pin: version 0.6.0-0ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: indicator-messages-gtk2
Pin: version 0.6.0-0ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: libindicator-messages-status-provider1
Pin: version 0.6.0-0ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: popper
Pin: version 0.31.3-0ubuntu1
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: python-gnomekeyring
Pin: version 2.32.0+dfsg-3
Pin-Priority: 1337
Package: python-support
Pin: version 1.0.14ubuntu2
Pin-Priority: 1337
EOF
Reboot and login back.
That is all. You got indicator-messages
working again.
Ubuntu MATE 20.04 LTS
Popper is installable with some hacks, but does not work anymore.