In recent years, two frameworks have gained popularity for developing cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies: Electron and Tauri. Both allow you to create applications with HTML, CSS and JavaScript interfaces, but have significant differences in architecture, performance and size.
Electron uses a bundle of Chromium and Node.js, which provides powerful features, but results in significant application sizes and high memory consumption. For example, an application on Electron can take up about 150 MB of RAM at startup and have an installer size of about 85 MB.
Tauri, on the other hand, uses the operating system’s web components for rendering and Rust for the server side. This allows for smaller applications with better performance. The installation file of a Tauri application can be as small as about 8 MB and peak memory consumption is 150-200 MB.
Advantages of Tauri:
- Size and Performance: By utilizing system web components and Rust, Tauri applications are smaller and use resources more efficiently.
- Security: Tauri emphasizes security by providing tools to protect applications.
Electron benefits:
- Mature ecosystem: Electron has extensive documentation, many plugins, and broad community support.
- Versatility: Utilizing full Chromium allows you to create applications with rich functionality and complex interfaces.
The choice between Electron and Tauri depends on the specifics of the project. If small application size and high performance are a priority, Tauri is worth considering. If a mature ecosystem and proven web technologies are required, Electron is preferred.
