Electron (framework)

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Electron

Electron Software Framework Logo.svg
Basic data

Maintainer GitHub
developer GitHub Inc.
Publishing year 2013
Current  version 9.2.0
( August 5, 2020 )
operating system Windows , Linux and macOS
programming language C ++ and JavaScript
License MIT license
electronjs.org

Electron (formerly Atom Shell) is an open source framework developed by GitHub . It allows you to run cross-platform - desktop applications using the Web browser Chromium and Node.js frameworks. The Atom Shell (now Electron) was developed as the basis for the Atom editor from GitHub and is the basis of u. a. Microsoft's Visual Studio Code or the Twitch desktop app. The VoIP apps Discord and Skype , the Messenger Signal and many other applications also use Electron to create a desktop application with little effort.

Electron can be used to run desktop applications developed in HTML , CSS, and JavaScript . Frameworks such as Vue.js or Angular can therefore also be used. For time-critical tasks (such as video telephony), C ++ can also be used. Also, depending on the application, an API is not necessary, since with a corresponding Node.js package e.g. B. MySQL queries can be executed directly .

The basic structure of an Electron app consists of the files package.json(metadata, i.e. packages used etc.), main.js(code for the main process) and index.html( graphical user interface ). The electron executable ( electron.exeon Windows , electron.appon macOS and electronon Linux ) is added for completion. The executable file can be renamed or changed for branding purposes (adding custom icons, etc.). Installers can also be packaged with a corresponding Node.js package .

In May 2018, it was discovered that Electron applications are vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks. This was corrected in later versions. Due to the distribution method, the electron executable must be updated individually for each application in the event of a security breach.

Offshoot

Electron.NET

On October 27, 2017, the community released a port called Electron.NET for the .NET Core Framework. This is an open source project that enables the native Electron APIs via the C # programming language. .NET developers stay in their usual ecosystem and do not have to deal with JavaScript.

use

Since with Electron, HTML, CSS and JavaScript can be used to create desktop applications using the languages otherwise common in web development , Electron was often used to supplement an existing web application with a desktop application with a similar user experience.

Electron is used in the following applications, among others:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Earliest tagged release
  2. ↑ Release 9.2.0 . August 5, 2020 (accessed August 7, 2020).
  3. ↑ Supported Platforms
  4. ↑ github.com . (accessed November 15, 2018).
  5. ↑ Kevin Sawicki: Atom Shell is now Electron . In: Atom . April 23, 2015. Accessed December 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ electron / electron. Accessed September 3, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Electron Apps | Electron. Retrieved September 3, 2018 (American English).
  8. ↑ SimulatedGREG / electron-vue. Accessed September 3, 2018 .
  9. ↑ maximegris / angular-electron. Accessed September 3, 2018 .
  10. ↑ CVE-2018-1000136 - Electron node Integration Bypass. Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  11. ↑ WebPreferences Vulnerability Fix | Electron blog. Retrieved September 3, 2018 (American English).

Web links