1---2name: electron-forge3description: Package and distribute Electron apps with a full build pipeline. Use when scaffolding, configuring makers/publishers/plugins, or extending Forge.4---5
6Electron Forge is an all-in-one tool for packaging and distributing Electron applications. It combines packaging, code signing, installers, and publishing into one pipeline and supports custom plugins, makers, and publishers.
7
8> Skills are based on Electron Forge (docs as of 2026-01-30), generated from electron-forge-docs.
9
10## Core References
11
12| Topic | Description | Reference |
13|-------|-------------|-----------|
14| Why Electron Forge | Motivation, value proposition, Forge vs Builder | [core-why-electron-forge](references/core-why-electron-forge.md) |
15| Build Lifecycle | Package → Make → Publish; hooks; cross-platform | [core-build-lifecycle](references/core-build-lifecycle.md) |
16| CLI | Init, import, package, make, publish, start; flags; programmatic API | [core-cli](references/core-cli.md) |
17
18## Configuration
19
20| Topic | Description | Reference |
21|-------|-------------|-----------|
22| Configuration | forge.config.js, packagerConfig, makers, publishers, plugins, hooks, buildIdentifier | [config-configuration](references/config-configuration.md) |
23| Hooks | generateAssets, preStart, postPackage, preMake, postMake, readPackageJson, etc. | [config-hooks](references/config-hooks.md) |
24| TypeScript config | forge.config.ts, ForgeConfig, constructor syntax | [config-typescript](references/config-typescript.md) |
25| Plugins overview | Bundler (Webpack, Vite) and utility plugins | [config-plugins-overview](references/config-plugins-overview.md) |
26| Webpack plugin | main/renderer config, magic globals, HMR, native modules | [config-plugins-webpack](references/config-plugins-webpack.md) |
27| Vite plugin | build/renderer entries, HMR globals, native externals | [config-plugins-vite](references/config-plugins-vite.md) |
28| Makers overview | Config, platforms; DMG, ZIP, Squirrel, deb, rpm, etc. | [config-makers-overview](references/config-makers-overview.md) |
29| Publishers overview | GitHub, S3, Nucleus; config; auto-update | [config-publishers-overview](references/config-publishers-overview.md) |
30
31## Features
32
33| Topic | Description | Reference |
34|-------|-------------|-----------|
35| Import existing project | import command and manual setup | [features-import-existing-project](references/features-import-existing-project.md) |
36| Built-in templates | webpack, vite, TypeScript variants; create-electron-app | [features-templates](references/features-templates.md) |
37
38## Guides
39
40| Topic | Description | Reference |
41|-------|-------------|-----------|
42| Code signing | macOS and Windows; where to configure | [guides-code-signing](references/guides-code-signing.md) |
43
44## Advanced
45
46| Topic | Description | Reference |
47|-------|-------------|-----------|
48| Auto update | update.electronjs.org, S3, custom servers (Nucleus, etc.) | [advanced-auto-update](references/advanced-auto-update.md) |
49| Debugging | Main process: CLI, VS Code, JetBrains | [advanced-debugging](references/advanced-debugging.md) |
50| Writing plugins | PluginBase, getHooks, startLogic | [advanced-extending-plugins](references/advanced-extending-plugins.md) |
51| Writing makers | MakerBase, isSupportedOnCurrentPlatform, make | [advanced-extending-makers](references/advanced-extending-makers.md) |
52| Writing publishers | PublisherBase, publish; multi-call behavior | [advanced-extending-publishers](references/advanced-extending-publishers.md) |
53| Writing templates | ForgeTemplate, requiredForgeVersion, initializeTemplate | [advanced-extending-templates](references/advanced-extending-templates.md) |
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