Cross-platform desktop apps using just JavaScript, HTML, and CSS? Yes — it's real. And it's called Electron.
💡 What is Electron?
Electron is an open-source framework that allows developers to build desktop applications using web technologies — JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
It's like having the power of a browser and the operating system combined into one powerful platform. With Electron, your app runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, from a single codebase.
🏆 Popular Apps Built with Electron
You use these every day — but did you know they run on Electron?
| App Name | Use Case |
|---|---|
| 💬 Discord | Voice & Text Chat |
| 🔧 Visual Studio Code | Code Editor |
| ✍️ Notion | Notes & Productivity |
| 📁 Dropbox | File Storage |
| 🧑💻 GitHub Desktop | Git GUI |
| 📦 Postman | API Testing |
| 🎨 Figma | UI/UX Design |
| 💼 Microsoft Teams | Collaboration |
| 🧾 Slack | Team Communication |
| 🟢 Skype | Video Calling |
| 📋 Trello | Task Management |
| 🔍 Loom | Video Messaging |
| 🧠 Obsidian | Markdown Knowledge Base |
👉 You can find the full list of Electron-powered apps on the Electron official website.
⚙️ Why Use Electron?
- ✅ Cross-Platform: One codebase for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- 🧠 Familiar Tools: Use React, Vue, Angular, or plain JavaScript.
- 🚀 Great Community: Backed by GitHub, used by developers worldwide.
- 🔥 Quick Setup: Get your first desktop app running in under 10 minutes.
🧪 How Electron Works
Electron combines:
- Chromium for rendering web content.
- Node.js for backend-like capabilities (filesystem, networking).
- Electron APIs for native integration (menus, notifications, system tray).
🛠️ Getting Started
npx create-electron-app my-app
cd my-app
npm start
👉 Or check out the official boilerplate here: Electron Quick Start
🧠 Want to Build Something Cool?
You could build:
- A markdown notes app 📝
- A custom YouTube downloader 📽️
- A cross-platform code snippet manager 💻
- A Discord bot manager UI 🤖
📚 Resources
✨ Final Thoughts
Electron is more than a framework. It's a gateway for web developers to build native-like desktop apps — fast, powerful, and cross-platform.
If you’ve used any of the apps above — you've already experienced Electron’s magic.
Now it’s your turn to build something awesome.
💬 Drop a comment if you're interested in a full beginner-friendly Electron tutorial or boilerplate!
📌 Follow me on Dev.to or GitHub for more awesome web & desktop dev content.
Top comments (4)
Nice post! It's impressive to see how many top-tier apps leverage Electron for cross-platform compatibility. Apps like Visual Studio Code, Slack, Discord, WhatsApp Desktop, and Figma are prime examples of Electron's versatility in building robust desktop applications using web technologies.
Thank You !
*thank you @dmsmenula *
Welcome !