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Eel vs Electron vs React Native Desktop: What are the differences?
Introduction:
Eel, Electron, and React Native Desktop are all frameworks that enable developers to create desktop applications using web technologies. Despite their similarities, they each have distinct differences that set them apart.
Language and Framework: Eel allows developers to build desktop applications using Python and HTML/CSS, while Electron uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. On the other hand, React Native Desktop is built on top of React Native, which allows developers to build cross-platform applications using JavaScript and React.
Platform Support: Electron is known for its wide platform support, allowing developers to create desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux. In contrast, Eel is primarily focused on Windows and Linux. React Native Desktop, being built on React Native, supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Performance and Bundle Size: Electron applications are known for their larger bundle size and memory usage compared to Eel and React Native Desktop due to the Chromium runtime. Eel provides a lightweight and minimalistic alternative for creating desktop applications, resulting in smaller bundle sizes and better performance. React Native Desktop, being built on React Native, also offers a relatively lightweight option compared to Electron.
Native UI Components: React Native Desktop leverages native UI components provided by the host operating system, resulting in a more native look and feel for applications. In contrast, Eel and Electron rely on web-based UI components, which may not always perfectly match the native aesthetics of each platform.
Development Experience: Eel simplifies the development process by allowing developers to use Python for backend logic while utilizing HTML/CSS for frontend design. Electron and React Native Desktop, being JavaScript-based frameworks, offer a more consistent development experience for developers already familiar with web technologies.
Community and Ecosystem: Electron has a larger and more established community compared to Eel and React Native Desktop, offering comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and a wide range of third-party plugins and libraries. Eel and React Native Desktop, being relatively newer frameworks, may have a smaller community and fewer resources available for developers.
In Summary, Eel, Electron, and React Native Desktop each offer unique approaches to building desktop applications, with differences in language, platform support, performance, UI components, development experience, and community support.
Pros of Eel
Pros of Electron
- Easy to make rich cross platform desktop applications69
- Open source53
- Great looking apps such as Slack and Visual Studio Code14
- Because it's cross platform8
- Use Node.js in the Main Process4
Pros of React Native Desktop
- Pretty awesome3
- Is native app2
- Does not include any browser2
- Memory usage reduced2
- Quickly convert react.js web app to desktop app1
- Open source1
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Cons of Eel
Cons of Electron
- Uses a lot of memory18
- User experience never as good as a native app8
- No proper documentation4
- Does not native4
- Each app needs to install a new chromium + nodejs1
- Wrong reference for dom inspection1
Cons of React Native Desktop
- Memory usage reduced0
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What is Eel?
What is Electron?
What is React Native Desktop?
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What companies use Electron?
What companies use React Native Desktop?
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