Electron: desktop applications with web technologies

GitHub Electron (formerly Atom Shell) lets you build cross-platform desktop applications in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. VS Code, Slack, and Atom — all run on Electron.

Web technologies on the desktop¶

Electron combines a Chromium renderer with a Node.js runtime. The result? A full-featured desktop application with access to the file system, system notifications, native menus, and tray icons — all in JavaScript.

GitHub developed Electron for its Atom editor and subsequently open-sourced it. Today, VS Code, Slack, Discord, WhatsApp Desktop, and hundreds of other applications run on Electron.

Architecture: Main and Renderer process¶

Electron has two types of processes:

// Main process (main.js)
const { app, BrowserWindow } = require('electron');

app.on('ready', () => {
  const win = new BrowserWindow({ width: 1200, height: 800 });
  win.loadURL('file://' + __dirname + '/index.html');
});

Main process — manages windows, system interactions, and the application lifecycle. One per application.

Renderer process — each window is a separate Chromium renderer. It can use Node.js APIs via IPC communication with the main process.

Advantages and criticism¶

The advantages of Electron are clear:

• A single codebase for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• A vast ecosystem of npm packages
• Rapid prototyping — a web developer can build a desktop app
• Chromium DevTools for debugging

The criticism is also valid:

• High RAM consumption (every app = a Chromium instance)
• Large distribution size (~100 MB minimum)
• Slower startup compared to native applications
• Inconsistent look & feel with the platform

Distribution and updates¶

Electron provides tools for professional distribution:

• electron-packager — packaging into a platform-specific binary
• electron-builder — installers for Windows (NSIS), macOS (DMG), Linux (deb/rpm)
• autoUpdater — automatic updates (Squirrel framework)
• Code signing for trusted distribution

Conclusion: a pragmatic choice¶

Electron is not ideal for every desktop application, but it is a pragmatic choice for teams with web experience. If your application does not require extreme performance or a minimal footprint, Electron will save you months of development compared to native alternatives.