Using ElectronJS as Framework for Web Application Development

Various organizations have a mindset that desktop applications are out of date, but this is clearly a misunderstanding.

When companies develop desktop applications, they generally need to support three different operating systems, i.e., Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Therefore, each of these operating systems has its own requirements and dependencies. As a result, they develop the same app across multiple platforms. This codebase, in turn, needs to be maintained independently, and Electron aims to solve this issue.

Currently, hybrid or cross-platform desktop application development is critically possible because of ElectronJS. This framework is getting appreciation for this Specialty.

So, in this post, we will discuss the best ElectronJS apps available for Linux, Ubuntu, Windows, and macOS that can inspire you to build them for your business.

ElectronJS in a nutshell:

Electron, also known as Electron JS, is a framework for developing software for creating local applications (applications running on Windows, macOS, and Linux) using web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. ElectronJS itself is also open source and supported by GitHub and an active community of contributors around the world.

The first version of Electron was released as Atom Shell in 2013, and since then, the framework has been adopted by several desktop applications, many of which are open source.

Here are five popular Electron apps you may have heard of:

Atom- A Free code and an open-source text editor makes code collaboration an easier task.

Discord — VoIP application and digital distribution platform for the gaming community.

Slack — A proprietary cloud-based suite of tools and services for team collaboration that combines team communication and collaboration in one place.

Trello- A web-based list creation app to organize your work and life.

Etcher — Free, open-source utility for saving image files such as .iso and .img files.

There are various reasons why companies flock to ElectronJS and why their demand has steadily increased over the last few years.

Let’s see those five elements that companies like about ElectronJS and understand why it can be used for your next desktop application?

Low entry barrier:

Professional developers are in high demand these days, and it is estimated that the number of vacant software development positions could exceed one million by 2022. This is bad news for anyone looking for a quality software developer, especially if they are on a tight budget.

Electron uses JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and other web technologies, almost any developer with web development skills can get started with minimal effort. And because web developers usually charge less than software engineers, they are the perfect resource for small and medium-sized businesses.

Higher development speed:

Earlier, the time for developing a small desktop application is too long as developers had to rewrite all the lines of code from scratch, using a low-level language of programming that provided minimal grip.

Rather than utilizing low-level programming languages ​​like C or C++, Electron utilizes JavaScript, one of the simplest and most effective programming languages in use these days.

Since JavaScript code is interpreted line-by-line, developers can easily debug and optimize it to send requests faster than usual.

Automatic updates and handy installer:

Mobile devices have transformed the entire way of using applications. Instead of downloading updates from websites, users expect apps to be updated automatically in the background once the latest version is released. End-users also expect applications to be delivered as convenient installers that integrate all application components.

The electron desktop apps get the update automatically. This is because of its automatic update component.

Creating a convenient installer from desktop applications developed on Electron take a small amount of time, because of the electron-builder, a top-notch solution for developing and packaging distribution-ready application for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Cross-platform support:

When you write an Electron app, you can be assured that it will work seamlessly on major desktop operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Various operating system integrations are supported, such as the operating system menu bar, applets in the notification panel, multimedia buttons, etc., which save a lot of time at the time of development.

The reason why ElectronJS desktop applications run seamlessly on various operating systems is simple: they are essentially examples of the Chromium web browser, a project of the open-source web browser from Google.

This is also why they use more memory than desktop applications written in other programming languages, which is why you need to hire a software developer for professional output.

Vast community of developers and users:

Electron is a huge open-source project whose reach spans the globe. Electron’s thriving community of users and developers is ubiquitous, generating a wealth of educational resources and development solutions.

Perhaps because Electron has a low entry barrier, the electron community tends to be very friendly to newcomers and never penalizes its members for asking queries and being curious.

Let’s see some of the popular ElectronJS applications:

WebTorrent desktop application:

Everyone is aware of what WebTorrent is. Torrent files are files that end-users can share over a peer-to-peer connection. Users store files on devices like laptops and mobile.

WebTorrent apps are developed with ElectronJS along with JavaScript tools and utilize WebRTC technology for establishing peer-to-peer connections. WebTorrent Desktop is designed for three leading platforms: macOS, Linux, and Windows. Connect the app to all common BitTorrent and WebTorrent networks with ease as it has that option because of ElectronJS.

WordPress desktop application:

WordPress is a popular content management system for editing and managing websites. In addition to the web version, the desktop application is built with ElectronJS. It can be sent to several other platforms in very little time. Hence, MacOS or Windows users can use the WordPress dashboard without hassle or issues and get the most out of WordPress features.

With the help of ElectronJS, WordPress desktop applications load quickly on all platforms. Apart from ElectronJS, the React library is also used to provide an engaging user experience.

Slack desktop apps:

Slack is a business messaging app widely used by employees in organizations of all sizes. It enables the end-users to create private channels, exchange messages directly, have hosting, etc. Slack desktop applications are designed for all common operating systems like macOS, Windows, Linux. Mobile apps for Android and iOS are also available.

The Slack team selected the ElectronJS as a framework to quickly launch the desktop version on all platforms, and it was very convenient for the team to maintain the desktop version based on ElectronJS.

WhatsApp desktop application:

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. End-users can make voice and video calls, send text messages, and much more. It has a special feature: WhatsApp comes with an option for self-destructing messages. WhatsApp desktop is available for macOS and Windows, but there is no official desktop version for Linux.

Skype desktop application:

Skype Messenger is one of the popular messaging app used for chatting and calling. It enables the end-users to do voice calls, send messages, and chargeable calls to landlines and cell phones. Desktop versions are available for Windows, macOS, Linux.

Indeed, these five apps ElectronJS-based desktops are not the only ones; various other applications are developed and working seamlessly.

Summing up:

Electron is an advanced software and web app development framework on which various robust apps including Skype, Atom, Etcher, Slack, Discord, Whats App Web and many other are developed.

The reason developers like it is that it comes with low entry barriers, rapid development, updates and installers, automatic updates, and a vast community of developers.

If you find Electron JS useful for the business, the next step is to hire a team of developers who can develop the best web app per your business requirements.

Let Katalyst be the partner, our digital and eCommerce professionals can assist you best so that you can hire the best team of experienced JavaScript developers.

Contact us today!