Table of contents
Electron
Build cross platform desktop apps with web technologies.
As Electron is an open source project, you can find more
open source alternatives and stats
on LibHunt.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Electron allows developers to create applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux using a single codebase, making it easier to reach a broader audience.
Web Technologies
Developers can utilize HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (including popular frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue) to build Electron apps, enabling a more accessible development process for web developers.
Rich Ecosystem
Electron benefits from the vast ecosystem of Node.js, granting access to a multitude of packages and modules, and simplifying the inclusion of various functionalities in applications.
Auto-Update Mechanism
Electron has built-in support for auto-updating applications, which saves developers time and effort in managing updates and improves the user experience by keeping the application up-to-date seamlessly.
Active Community
An active community and extensive documentation provide a wealth of resources for developers, from tutorials to plugins, making it easier to find support and improve productivity.
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Electron is generally considered a good choice for creating cross-platform desktop applications, especially when rapid development and leveraging web technologies are priorities. However, it may not be suitable for applications where performance and resource efficiency are critical, as Electron apps tend to be resource-heavy compared to native applications.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if Electron is good.
Check the traffic stats of Electron on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of Electron on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of Electron's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of Electron on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about Electron on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
So we talked a lot about the Atomic Design Principle, but you could just use that in any system and start creating. You could have Angular components, React Components, and Vue Components. But if you notice these don't easily work Everwhere. So the solution is to use Web Components because the modern browser can already understand these, and any Front-End framework can then utilize these components. You can use... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
For the longest time, building desktop apps was a daunting task to web developers. That is, until technologies like Electron made creating these apps more approachable to a wider audience. Today, we’ve got a wide array of native applications built with solutions like Electron, Tauri, Capacitor, and many more. While these are great solutions, sometimes configuration can be tricky and the applications we create can... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
I make a new Adapter for SvelteKit apps that prerenders your entire site as a collection of static files for use with Electron. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
Electron is a cross-platform shell — a user interface for accessing operating system services both via command line (CLI) and graphical user interface (GUI). - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
Electron (https://electronjs.org/) is a framework for developing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. This is the technology behind many popular apps like Slack, Discord and Visual Studio Code. Join for discussions around Electron! Source: over 2 years ago
Have a look at Electron, this takes web technologies and bundles them into a program (.exe for windows, etc). It takes some work, it's not just a magic solution, but it's a lot less than creating a new client. Source: over 2 years ago
I've created an ability tracker for RS3, this project is based off of Electron JS and is completely open source with modifications welcome! Source: almost 3 years ago
While it can also be used for desktop apps, thanks to Electron, the main use case for Node.js is the web. The applications of Python, however, go far beyond the web. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
Going forward: I'll be 100% into JavaScript. You can use JavaScript in so many fields nowadays. Websites React, Mobile Apps React Native, Machine Learning TensorFlow & ML5, Desktop Applications Electron, and of course the backend Node as well. It's kind of a no-brainer. Of course, they all have specific languages that are better, but for now, JavaScript is a bit of a catch-all. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
I would guess the OP thought the benefits would be on par with the benefits of Electron. It’s essentially a port of Electron from JS to Python. Source: over 3 years ago
I was guessing this would be written in some shit web framework like , that's basically bundling chrome and node.js into one application and then putting your website's code in it, like Discord. They just took the main website's code, added some spice to it and then run it inside chrome. But it isn't.So kudos to the devs for not actually being lazy and starting from scratch. Source: over 3 years ago
I use Electron, not really made for games but it does the job. It's a bit heavy on RAM and disk space, but at least it almost always works the same on all platforms. Source: about 4 years ago
This app is not created using Godot. I'm using Electron https://electronjs.org/ I'll open-source everything once I have a beta version :). Source: about 4 years ago
In this article, we will setup Spectron and use Testing Library with WebdriverIO to test an Electron.js application. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
Electron.js has been a groundbreaking tool in the realm of cross-platform desktop application development, enabling developers to craft feature-rich applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Its most notable achievement is democratizing desktop app development by leveraging web technologies, thereby reducing the barriers to entry for many developers coming from web backgrounds. However, public opinion reflects a nuanced perspective on its merits and shortcomings.
Strengths of Electron
Electron stands out due to its versatility and accessibility. Many developers appreciate its straightforward setup process and how it allows for rapid prototyping and deployment across multiple operating systems — Windows, Linux, and macOS. The framework’s reliance on web technologies ensures a shorter learning curve for web developers transitioning to desktop app development, evident from its inclusion in resource lists like '10 Best Tools to Develop Cross-Platform Desktop Apps.' Additionally, Electron's integration with tools like Node.js and its support for various web frameworks facilitate a flexible development environment, immensely broadening its appeal.
The ability to use a single codebase to create applications for different operating systems, coupled with the robustness of Chrome’s V8 engine and Node.js, reinforces Electron's position as a preferred tool for many developers. This capability provides a streamlined development process, allowing teams to focus more on core functionalities rather than the complexities of platform-specific code.
Criticisms and Alternatives
Despite its advantages, Electron is often criticized for its substantial resource consumption. Applications built with Electron are notoriously memory- and CPU-intensive, which can lead to performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. This has fueled discussions around its suitability for lightweight applications, as explored in articles that compare it with alternatives like Tauri and Neutralino.js. The bulkiness, often attributed to running an embedded Chromium engine, has motivated developers to seek more optimized solutions when performance is a critical criterion.
This aspect of Electron has encouraged the exploration of other frameworks and tools that promise leaner applications. Developers looking for alternatives often weigh the benefits of competing tools such as Flutter, React Native, and Qt, because they offer native performance and may have less overhead, especially in terms of resource utilization.
Noteworthy Use Cases
Electron’s real-world applications serve as a testament to its capabilities. It powers widely-used desktop apps like Slack, Discord, and Visual Studio Code, exemplifying its reliability and scalability. These examples illustrate how Electron can be harnessed to create sophisticated applications with a comprehensive feature set.
Conclusion
While Electron continues to receive praise for easing the path to cross-platform desktop app development, conversations persist around its efficiency compared to emerging or existing alternatives. Developers are urged to weigh the trade-offs between ease of use and application performance when choosing their tools. Electron undoubtedly provides a robust framework for desktop application development, yet the rise of more efficient alternatives reflects an ecosystem responsive to evolving developer needs and constraints.
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Is Electron good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Electron here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
