Electron

lightbulb

Electron

An electron is a subatomic particle with a negative electric charge that orbits the nucleus of an atom. In the context of computers, electrons are the basic carriers of electric current and play a crucial role in the functioning of electronic devices.

What does Electron mean?

Electron is an open-source framework for developing desktop applications using Web technologies. It combines the Chromium rendering Engine and the Node.js runtime, allowing developers to Build cross-platform applications that can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other supported platforms. Electron applications have a native look and feel, but they can be developed using familiar web development tools and languages, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

The framework provides a powerful set of APIs that enable developers to access native operating system features, such as File System, network, and system notifications. This allows Electron applications to interact with the underlying operating system and provide a seamless user experience. Electron is particularly useful for creating desktop applications that require integration with web services or that need to access native System Resources.

Applications

Electron is used in a wide range of desktop applications, including:

  • Messaging platforms: Slack, Discord, WhatsApp
  • Code editors: Visual Studio Code, Atom
  • Media players: Spotify, Apple Music
  • Development tools: GitKraken, Postman
  • Productivity apps: OneNote, Evernote

Electron’s popularity stems from its ability to provide a cross-platform solution for desktop application development. Developers can use a single codebase to create applications that run on multiple operating systems, reducing development time and effort. Additionally, Electron’s use of web technologies allows developers to leverage their existing skills and tools, making it easier to build complex applications with a modern and responsive user interface.

History

Electron was originally created by GitHub in 2013 as a way to develop a desktop version of their Atom code editor. It was later open-sourced and has since been adopted by a large community of developers. The framework has undergone significant development over the years, with new features and improvements being added regularly.

In 2018, Electron was acquired by Microsoft. Microsoft has continued to invest in the framework, contributing to its development and supporting its growth. The acquisition has also brought Electron closer to the Microsoft ecosystem, with support for features such as Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and integration with Microsoft Visual Studio.

Today, Electron remains one of the most popular frameworks for desktop application development. Its cross-platform capabilities, ease of use, and strong community support make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications.