Node.js + Chromium = node-webkit: an even more promising version of the second step of the web developer evolution

Preface from the translator. In a postscript to my yesterday's blog post, I indicated that AppJS is not the only tool that allows you to create GUI (graphical user interface) applications using web-like development methods in HTML, CSS and JavaScript using Node.js. A natural illustration of this postscript is the following translation of the githabb project of node-webkit . And I will immediately say: I foresee in advance that your open-minded opinion will consider node-webkit an even more convenient and developed tool than AppJS.

Introduction

node-webkit is an environment for running applications based on Chromium and Node.js. With node-webkit, you can create traditional graphics applications using HTML and JavaScript. Also, node-webkit allows you to call Node.js modules directly from the DOM and thus provides a new way to create such applications and use web technologies in them.

The node-webkit was created and is being developed at the Intel Open Source Technology Center.
')
Introduction to node-webkit (slides).

Virtues

Applications are created using modern HTML5, CSS3, JS and WebGL.
Full support for the Node.js API and other modules created by other developers.
Call API Node.js without any loss in performance.
Easy packaging and distribution of applications.

Files to download

Release Notes v0.2.6

Build version v0.2.6:

for Linux: 32bit / 64bit
for Windows: win32
for Mac: 32bit

Looking for older versions?

Demo applications:

Quick Start Guide

Create index.html :

<html> <head> <title>Hello World!</title> </head> <body> <h1>Hello World!</h1>   Node.js  <script>document.write(process.version)</script>. </body> </html>

Create package.json :

 { "name": "nw-demo", "main": "index.html" }

Pack index.html and package.json in a ZIP archive, and then rename it to app.nw :

 app.nw |-- package.json `-- index.html

Download the node-webkit assembly for your system and use it to open the app.nw file:

 $ ./nw app.nw

Note: in Windows, you can drag app.nw and drop it on nw.exe to open it.

Read further information about writing, packaging and launching applications:

More information is provided in our wiki .

Community

As a mailing list, we use node-webkit on Google Groups , subscribe using node-webkit+subscribe@googlegroups.com .

License

The node-webkit is distributed under the MIT License (see attached LICENSE file).

Afterword translator. So, here is a list of noticeable advantages of node-webkit compared to the project AppJS, which I reported yesterday :

A more direct style of accessing the Node.js API: in the example above, node-webkit uses process.version , whereas in AppJS you would have to use node.process.version .
AppJS does not make sound with the <audio> tag , whereas node-webkit does not have this problem.
In node-webkit there is support for ZIP-packaging of applications and even docking them into the tail to the engine file. AppJS has (nothing else) like it.
The node-webkit documentation is more or less detailed ( wiki especially). AppJS documentation is almost completely missing.
The node-webkit application manifest allows you to limit the minimum and maximum widths of the application window. Means AppJS does not achieve this (at least, so easy).
node-webkit supports the system tray icon and menu , and AppJS does not (yet) . The same can be said about some other nishtyak ( obtaining file names , menu management , access to the clipboard ).
As stated on Github, the creation and development of node-webkit comes with some support from Intel.

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/153095/

All Articles