I often see people talking about the fact that they like a certain open-source application, but 'it's a shame it's on Electron'; what does this mean? Is it a privacy thing or a resource thing?

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[–] MrGamingHimself@lemmy.ml 21 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Electron apps is essentially running web apps wrapped as a desktop version. Most of them run like garbage and are always inferior to one made specifically for desktops. The only one I've used that runs sensibly is Discord.

As for why people use it, it's convenient for developers as most of them are familiar with web development and can essentially copy-paste their web application without having to change much.

[–] xarvos@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Electron apps is essentially running web apps wrapped as a desktop version.

worse even: it includes different copies of chromium in each app

[–] Helix@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago

Yeah, and since the devs obviously are either too inept to change this or don't care, they probably never will – this "idea about a runtime mode" issue is open since 2014.

2014 was the same year Microsoft ended support for Windows XP.

[–] cooper@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

So, I assume there’s not an Electron alternative that is able to port internet desktop applications without any privacy or resource issues?

[–] MrGamingHimself@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 years ago

There isn't an alternative, Electron actually does its job well for what it is. It's basically a slimmed down browser that's customizable and runs on all systems, it's just that it takes a ton of effort to optimize it, and for some reason most people using it aren't very experienced.

[–] nachtigall@feddit.de 6 points 2 years ago

There is Tauri which is very similar but claims to have a lower resource usage and be more secure.