Electron (software framework)

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Electron (formerly known as Atom Shell[3]) is an open-source framework developed by GitHub.[4] It allows for the development of desktop GUI applications using the Node.js runtime and the Chromium web browser, originally used for the development of backend web applications. Electron is the main framework behind two notable open-source source code editors: GitHub's Atom,[5] and Microsoft's Visual Studio Code.[6]

Electron
Developer(s)GitHub
Initial releaseJuly 15, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-07-15)[1]
Stable release
1.4.15 / January 19, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-01-19)[2]
Repository
Written inC++ and JavaScript
Operating systemWindows, Linux and macOS
Platformx86, x64, ARM
LicenseMIT License
Websitewww.electronjs.org Edit this on Wikidata

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

History

  • The 11th of April in 2013 Electron was started as Atom Shell.[1]
  • The 6th of May in 2014 Atom and Atom Shell became open source with MIT license.[2]
  • The 17th of April in 2015 Atom Shell was renamed to Electron.[3]
  • The 11th of May in 2016 it was first Electron release as itself.[4]
  • In May of 2016 Electron has allowed submitting packaged apps to the Mac App Store.[5]
  • In August of 2016 Window Store has supported for Electron Apps.[6]

Structure of an electron application

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

  • "name", that is application name
  • "version", that is application version
  • "main", that is the name of main script file of application

package.json is an npm file, information about it can be found in official documentation.[7]

References

  1. ^ Earliest tagged release
  2. ^ "Release Notes". github.com. GitHub. 19 Jan 2017.
  3. ^ Sawicki, Kevin (April 23, 2015). "Atom Shell is now Electron". Atom. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  4. ^ https://github.com/atom/electron
  5. ^ https://github.com/atom/atom
  6. ^ James, Mike (23 November 2015). "Visual Studio Code - Now With Added Extensions". I Programmer. Retrieved 2015-12-02.