G1Joshi Electron
Electron bundles Chromium and Node.js into a desktop app. It is the industry standard (VS Code, Slack, Discord) despite the file size.
When to Use
- Rich Capabilities: If you need full Node.js access (Filesystem, Serial Port).
- Consistent UI: Loops exactly the same on Windows/Mac/Linux (Pixel Perfect).
- Legacy: Migrating an existing web app to desktop with zero changes.
Core Concepts
Main Process
The Node.js backend. Controls lifecycle and windows.
Renderer Process
The Chromium frontend. Displays UI.
Preload Scripts
The secure bridge between Main and Renderer (Context Isolation).
Best Practices (2025)
Do:
- Enable Context Isolation: Critical security feature (
contextIsolation: true). - Use IPC:
ipcMainandipcRendererfor communication. - Update Chromium: Security patches come via Electron updates.
Don't:
- Don't use
remotemodule: It is deprecated and insecure.