wails

Pros of Tauri

• Smaller bundle sizes due to native OS components
• Supports multiple programming languages for backend logic
• More robust security features and sandboxing

Cons of Tauri

• Steeper learning curve, especially for developers new to Rust
• Less mature ecosystem compared to Wails
• More complex build process and dependency management

Code Comparison

Tauri (main.rs):

#![cfg_attr(
  all(not(debug_assertions), target_os = "windows"),
  windows_subsystem = "windows"
)]

fn main() {
  tauri::Builder::default()
    .run(tauri::generate_context!())
    .expect("error while running tauri application");
}

Wails (main.go):

package main

import (
  "embed"
  "log"

  "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2"
  "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/pkg/options"
)

//go:embed frontend/dist
var assets embed.FS

func main() {
  app := NewApp()
  err := wails.Run(&options.App{
    Title:     "My App",
    Width:     1024,
    Height:    768,
    Assets:    assets,
    OnStartup: app.startup,
  })
  if err != nil {
    log.Fatal(err)
  }
}

Both frameworks allow for creating desktop applications using web technologies, but they differ in their approach and language choices. Tauri uses Rust for its core, while Wails is built with Go. The code examples show the entry points for both frameworks, highlighting their different syntaxes and setup processes.

Pros of Electron

• Larger ecosystem and community support
• Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Extensive documentation and learning resources

Cons of Electron

• Larger application size due to bundled Chromium
• Higher memory usage and resource consumption
• Potential security vulnerabilities from web technologies

Code Comparison

Electron (JavaScript):

const { app, BrowserWindow } = require('electron')

function createWindow () {
  const win = new BrowserWindow({ width: 800, height: 600 })
  win.loadFile('index.html')
}

app.whenReady().then(createWindow)

Wails (Go):

import "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/pkg/runtime"

func main() {
    app := wails.CreateApp(&wails.AppConfig{
        Width:  600,
        Height: 400,
    })
    app.Run()
}

Wails uses Go for the backend and allows using web technologies for the frontend, resulting in smaller binaries and improved performance compared to Electron. However, Electron's mature ecosystem and extensive documentation make it easier for web developers to transition to desktop app development. Wails offers a more native feel and better resource efficiency, but with a smaller community and fewer learning resources.

Pros of Nativefier

• Simpler setup and usage for basic web-to-desktop app conversion
• Supports a wider range of platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows
• Easier to create apps from existing websites without modifying source code

Cons of Nativefier

• Limited customization options compared to Wails
• Relies on Electron, which can lead to larger app sizes and higher resource usage
• Less flexibility for integrating native OS features and APIs

Code Comparison

Nativefier (CLI command):

nativefier --name "My App" "https://example.com"

Wails (Go code):

package main

import (
    "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/pkg/runtime"
    "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2"
)

func main() {
    app := wails.CreateApp(&wails.AppConfig{
        Width:  1024,
        Height: 768,
        Title:  "My App",
    })
    app.Run()
}

Wails offers more control over the application structure and allows for deeper integration with native APIs, while Nativefier provides a quicker solution for wrapping web applications into desktop apps with minimal configuration. Wails is better suited for developers who want to build custom desktop applications with Go, while Nativefier is ideal for quickly converting existing web apps to desktop versions.

Pros of Neutralinojs

• Lighter weight and smaller bundle size
• Supports more programming languages (JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Rust, etc.)
• Easier to get started with for web developers

Cons of Neutralinojs

• Less mature ecosystem and community compared to Wails
• Fewer built-in features and integrations
• Limited native API access compared to Wails' Go backend

Code Comparison

Neutralinojs (JavaScript):

Neutralino.init();
Neutralino.os.showMessageBox('Hello', 'Welcome to Neutralinojs!');

Wails (Go):

import "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/pkg/runtime"

func main() {
    runtime.MessageDialog(ctx, runtime.MessageDialogOptions{
        Title:   "Hello",
        Message: "Welcome to Wails!",
    })
}

Both frameworks aim to simplify desktop application development using web technologies. Neutralinojs focuses on being lightweight and language-agnostic, making it easier for web developers to transition. Wails, on the other hand, leverages Go's power and provides deeper native integration, which can be beneficial for more complex applications requiring advanced system-level operations.

The choice between the two depends on the developer's familiarity with Go, the desired level of native integration, and the complexity of the application being built.

Pros of Revery

• Uses OCaml, offering strong type safety and functional programming benefits
• Provides a native UI toolkit with cross-platform support
• Leverages React-like concepts for building user interfaces

Cons of Revery

• Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Wails
• Steeper learning curve for developers not familiar with OCaml
• Less mature and fewer production-ready applications

Code Comparison

Revery (OCaml):

let app = App.create ();

let _ =
  App.start app
    (fun window =>
      <View>
        <Text text="Hello, World!" />
      </View>);

Wails (Go):

func main() {
    app := wails.CreateApp(&wails.AppConfig{
        Width:  600,
        Height: 400,
        Title:  "My Wails App",
    })
    app.Bind(basic)
    err := app.Run()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
}

Summary

Revery offers a unique approach to building cross-platform desktop applications using OCaml and React-like concepts. It provides strong type safety and a native UI toolkit. However, it has a smaller community and a steeper learning curve compared to Wails. Wails, on the other hand, uses Go and provides a more familiar development experience for web developers, with a larger ecosystem and more production-ready applications.

Pros of Fyne

• Pure Go implementation, no CGo or external dependencies required
• Cross-platform support for desktop and mobile applications
• Simpler API and faster development for basic GUI applications

Cons of Fyne

• Limited native OS integration and look-and-feel
• Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Wails
• Less flexibility for integrating with existing web technologies

Code Comparison

Fyne example:

package main

import (
    "fyne.io/fyne/v2/app"
    "fyne.io/fyne/v2/widget"
)

func main() {
    a := app.New()
    w := a.NewWindow("Hello")
    w.SetContent(widget.NewLabel("Hello Fyne!"))
    w.ShowAndRun()
}

Wails example:

package main

import (
    "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/pkg/runtime"
    "github.com/wailsapp/wails"
)

func main() {
    app := wails.CreateApp(&wails.AppConfig{
        Width:  600,
        Height: 400,
        Title:  "My Wails App",
    })
    app.Run()