Electron (software framework): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:23, 17 March 2017

Revision as of 11:51, 19 March 2017

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox software

| name = Electron

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| logo size = 120px

| developer = [[GitHub]]

| released = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2013|7|15}}<ref>[https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v0.1.0 Earliest tagged release]</ref>

| latest release version = 1.4.15

| latest release date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2017|01|19}}<ref name=rl>{{cite web|title=Release Notes|url=https://github.com/atom/electron/releases|website=github.com|publisher=[[GitHub]]|date=19 JanJanuary 2017}}</ref>

| programming language = [[C++]] and [[JavaScript]]

| operating system = [[Windows]], [[Linux]] and [[macOS]]

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| license = [[MIT License]]

}}

'''Electron''' (formerly known as '''Atom Shell'''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sawicki |first1=Kevin |date=23 April 23, 2015 |url=http://blog.atom.io/2015/04/23/electron.html |title=Atom Shell is now Electron |work=Atom |accessdate=2 December 2015-12-02}}</ref>) is an [[open-source]] [[software framework|framework]] developed by [[GitHub]].<ref>https://github.com/atom/electron</ref> It allows for the development of desktop [[GUI]] applications using the [[Node.js]] runtime and the [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]] web browser, originally used for the development of [[Front and back ends|backend]] [[web applications]]. Electron is the main framework behind two notable open-source [[source code editor]]s: GitHub's [[Atom (text editor)|Atom]],<ref>https://github.com/atom/atom</ref> and [[Microsoft]]'s [[Visual Studio Code]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Mike |date=23 November 2015 |title=Visual Studio Code - Now With Added Extensions |url=http://www.i-programmer.info/news/90-tools/9202-visual-studio-code-now-with-added-extensions.html |work=I Programmer |accessdate=2 December 2015-12-02}}</ref>

A basic Electron app consists of three files: <code>package.json</code> (metadata), <code>main.js</code> (code) and <code>index.html</code> ([[graphical user interface]]). The framework is provided by the Electron [[executable]] file (<code>electron.exe</code> in [[Windows]], <code>electron.app</code> on [[macOS]] and <code>electron</code> on [[Linux]]). Developers wishing to add branding and custom [[Icon (computing)|icon]] can rename and/or edit the Electron executable file.

== History ==

*The 11th of11 April in 2013 Electron was started as Atom Shell on 11 April 2013.[<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/6ef8875b1e93787fa9759f602e7880f28e8e6b45]|title=Add submodules. · electron/electron@6ef8875|website=GitHub|language=en|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

*TheOn 6th of6 May in 2014, Atom and Atom Shell became open -source with MIT license.[<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.atom.io/2014/05/06/atom-is-now-open-source.html]|title=Atom Is Now Open Source|last=Sobo|first=Nathan|date=6 May 2014|website=Atom Blog|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

*The 17th of April in 2015 Atom Shell was renamed to Electron on 17 April 2015.[<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/1389]|title=Rename to electron by kevinsawicki · Pull Request #1389 · electron/electron|website=GitHub|language=en|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

*TheOn 11th of11 May in 2016 it was first, Electron releasereached asversion itself1.[0.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://electron.atom.io/blog/2016/05/11/electron-1-0]|title=Electron 1.0|last=Lord|first=Jessica|date=11 May 2016|work=Electron blog|access-date=19 March 2017|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref>

*In May of 2016, Electron has allowed submitting packaged apps to the Mac App Store.[<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electron.atom.io/docs/tutorial/mac-app-store-submission-guide/]|title=Mac App Store Submission Guide|last=|first=|date=|website=Electron Documentation|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

*In August of 2016, Window Store has supportedsupport for Electron Appsapps was added.[<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electron.atom.io/docs/tutorial/windows-store-guide/]|title=Windows Store Guide|last=|first=|date=|website=Electron Documentation|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

== Structure of an electron application ==

The most important file in the electron program is <code>package.json</code>. It keeps information about package. The most common information in <code>package.json</code> are:

* "name", that isthe application name

* "version", that isthe application version string

* "main", that is the name of the main script file of the application

<code>package.json</code> is an [[Npm (software)|npm]] file, information about it can be found in official documentation.[<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.npmjs.com/files/package.json]|title=package.json|last=|first=|date=|website=npm Documentation|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

== References ==