Tauri v2 vs Electron: The Battle for Desktop Supremacy 🚀

Taking a closer look at the pros and cons of each after 6 months of real development

Hey there! I'm Karan, and today I want to talk about something that's been on my mind for a while now - the choice between Tauri v2 and Electron for building desktop apps. As someone who's spent a significant amount of time with both, I'm excited to share my honest take on which one comes out on top.

Introduction to Tauri and Electron

Before we dive into the details, let's take a quick look at what each of these frameworks is all about. Electron is a well-established player in the desktop app development space, allowing developers to build cross-platform apps using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Tauri, on the other hand, is a relatively new kid on the block, using the system's WebView (WKWebView on macOS) to render apps, and requiring Rust for the backend.

Bundle Size: The Tauri Advantage

One of the most significant advantages of Tauri over Electron is the bundle size. With Electron, you're looking at a minimum of 150MB for your app, thanks to the Chromium bundle. That's before you've even written a line of code! 🤯 With Tauri, the story is very different. My largest app, built with Tauri, clocks in at under 10MB as a DMG. This is a huge deal, especially if you're planning to distribute your app outside the App Store.

Why Bundle Size Matters

For a paid app, a smaller bundle size can be a major selling point. Imagine trying to convince someone to download a 150MB app for a simple PDF tool - it's a hard sell. With Tauri, you can offer a much more streamlined experience, without sacrificing functionality.

The Rust Learning Curve

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room - the Rust learning curve. As someone who's worked with both JavaScript and Rust, I can tell you that Rust is definitely more challenging to pick up, especially for developers without prior experience. Electron, on the other hand, allows you to write everything in JavaScript, making it a more comfortable choice for many devs.

Is the Rust Learning Curve Worth It?

So, is the Rust learning curve worth it? For me, the answer is yes. While it does take time to get up to speed with Rust, the benefits are well worth it. With Tauri, you get a more lightweight, performant app, and the Rust community is incredibly supportive and active.

My Take

So, after 6 months of working with both Tauri and Electron, what's my honest take? For me, Tauri is the clear winner. The benefits of a smaller bundle size, combined with the performance and security advantages of using the system's WebView, make it a more attractive choice. Of course, the Rust learning curve is real, but I believe it's worth it in the long run.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you're deciding between Tauri v2 and Electron for your next desktop app project, I'd say give Tauri a serious look. With its smaller bundle size, better performance, and secure architecture, it's an attractive choice for developers who want to build high-quality, cross-platform apps. Don't be afraid to take the time to learn Rust - it's worth it in the end. 🚀

Source: DEV Community