Initialize Electron App
UTILITY SKILL. INVOKES: setup-project-files first; also initialize-project-docs if docs are missing.
Read Electron scaffold before writing config/scripts or debugging launch failures.
Baseline
Created May 29, 2026 with Electron 42.3.0. Each use: run npm view electron version; if newer, update this baseline and changed Electron guidance before finishing.
USE FOR:
- "initialize this Electron repo"
- "initalize this electron repo"
- "scaffold an Electron app"
- "add Electron to this project"
- macOS/Linux desktop setup.
DO NOT USE FOR:
- Web-only apps.
- Packaging-only work.
- General repo layout without Electron.
Workflow
- Preserve package manager/lockfile, renderer framework, and module format. Default to npm + TypeScript + Electron Vite + vanilla renderer.
- Create runnable
src/electron/main, src/electron/preload, src/electron/renderer, and focused tests.
- Main owns windows, IPC, OS/filesystem. Preload exposes narrow
contextBridge. Renderer has no Node, shell, git, or raw filesystem.
- Add scripts:
dev, preview, build, typecheck, test. Linux: clear ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE; add GPU args only if needed.
- Update README, AGENTS, docs, and
.gitignore for verified files/commands.
Examples:
- "initialize this electron repo" -> scaffold app, scripts, tests, docs.
Troubleshooting
Run typecheck, tests, build, and dev smoke when GUI exists. Report blockers: install failure, missing Electron path.txt, ESM/CommonJS mismatch, ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE=1, or Wayland/GPU crash.
1---2name: initialize-electron-app3description: Create and configure Electron desktop app repos. Use for initializing Electron, adding Electron/Vite/TypeScript desktop shell, main/preload/renderer structure, secure IPC, or macOS/Linux desktop support. Triggers include "initialize this Electron repo", "initalize this electron repo", "scaffold an Electron app", and "add Electron". Do not use for web-only apps.4---56# Initialize Electron App78**UTILITY SKILL.** INVOKES: `setup-project-files` first; also `initialize-project-docs` if docs are missing.910Read [Electron scaffold](references/electron-scaffold.md) before writing config/scripts or debugging launch failures.1112## Baseline1314Created May 29, 2026 with Electron `42.3.0`. Each use: run `npm view electron version`; if newer, update this baseline and changed Electron guidance before finishing.1516## USE FOR:1718- "initialize this Electron repo"19- "initalize this electron repo"20- "scaffold an Electron app"21- "add Electron to this project"22- macOS/Linux desktop setup.2324## DO NOT USE FOR:2526- Web-only apps.27- Packaging-only work.28- General repo layout without Electron.2930## Workflow31321. Preserve package manager/lockfile, renderer framework, and module format. Default to npm + TypeScript + Electron Vite + vanilla renderer.332. Create runnable `src/electron/main`, `src/electron/preload`, `src/electron/renderer`, and focused tests.343. Main owns windows, IPC, OS/filesystem. Preload exposes narrow `contextBridge`. Renderer has no Node, shell, git, or raw filesystem.354. Add scripts: `dev`, `preview`, `build`, `typecheck`, `test`. Linux: clear `ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE`; add GPU args only if needed.365. Update README, AGENTS, docs, and `.gitignore` for verified files/commands.3738## Examples:3940- "initialize this electron repo" -> scaffold app, scripts, tests, docs.4142## Troubleshooting4344Run typecheck, tests, build, and dev smoke when GUI exists. Report blockers: install failure, missing Electron `path.txt`, ESM/CommonJS mismatch, `ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE=1`, or Wayland/GPU crash.
willakins