Electron
UnclaimedBuild cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
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Reviews onG2
2 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Leverages existing web development skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
Biggest con
Applications can have a larger memory footprint compared to native apps
TL;DR - Electron
- Build cross-platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Embeds Chromium and Node.js for native desktop functionality.
- Simplifies development with automatic updates, installers, and native GUI APIs.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is Electron?
Electron is an open-source framework that allows developers to build native desktop applications for macOS, Windows, and Linux using familiar web technologies. It embeds Chromium and Node.js, enabling the use of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create rich graphical user interfaces that run natively across different operating systems.
Electron simplifies desktop development by handling complex aspects like native GUI interactions, automatic software updates, and application installers. It provides APIs to customize application windows, control menus, and send notifications. Developers can leverage the vast npm ecosystem for packages or write native add-on code to extend functionality. The framework ensures a stable rendering target with up-to-date web platform features and timely security fixes by releasing major versions in sync with Chromium.
Targeted at developers, Electron is ideal for creating consumer and enterprise-grade desktop applications. It offers an unopinionated environment, allowing integration with popular front-end libraries and frameworks like React, Vue.js, and Angular. Tools like Electron Forge streamline the building and publishing process, while Electron Fiddle provides an environment for experimenting with the API. Many well-known applications, including VS Code, Slack, and Discord, are built with Electron.
Available on: macOS, Windows, Linux
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Leverages existing web development skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
- Enables single codebase for multiple operating systems
- Access to a vast ecosystem of npm packages
- Provides stable and secure rendering with bundled Chromium
- Simplifies complex desktop features like updates and installers
Cons
- Applications can have a larger memory footprint compared to native apps
- Can result in larger application bundle sizes
- Performance might not always match fully native applications for highly demanding tasks
Ratings Across the Web
4(2 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Cross-platform compatibility (macOS, Windows, Linux)Embeds Chromium and Node.jsNative graphical user interface APIs (window appearance, menus, dialogs, notifications)Automatic software updates (via autoUpdater module)Application installer generation (DMG, MSI, RPM)App store distribution support (Mac App Store, Microsoft Store, Snap Store)Crash reporting (via crashReporter module)Extensible with npm packages and native add-ons
Pricing
Free
Electron is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
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Electron FAQ
How does Electron ensure that applications have access to the latest web platform features and security updates?
Electron embeds a bundled Chromium build, which provides a stable rendering target with all the newest web platform features. It also releases major versions in lockstep with Chromium, ensuring that security fixes are available as soon as possible.
What mechanisms does Electron provide for distributing applications to users and managing updates?
Electron includes an autoUpdater module, powered by Squirrel, for sending software updates to macOS and Windows users. It also supports community-supported tooling for generating platform-specific installers and has first-class support for distribution through the Mac App Store, Microsoft Store, and Snap Store.
Can Electron applications integrate with native operating system features?
Yes, Electron provides main process APIs that allow applications to interact with the operating system's interfaces. This includes customizing application window appearance, controlling application menus, and alerting users through dialogs or notifications.
How does Electron handle crash reporting for applications?
Electron offers a crashReporter module that automatically collects JavaScript and native crash data from users. This data can be sent to a third-party service or collected using an on-premise Crashpad server.
What is Electron Forge and how does it assist in developing Electron applications?
Electron Forge is a comprehensive toolkit designed for building and publishing Electron apps. It provides first-class support for JavaScript bundling and an extensible module ecosystem, helping developers get their Electron projects started efficiently.
What is the purpose of Electron Fiddle?
Electron Fiddle is a tool that allows users to create and experiment with small Electron projects. It provides a quick-start template and enables users to save their experiments as GitHub Gists or local folders, making it easy to share and test code.
Source: electronjs.org