Electron React Template

This project is the base template for developing Electron applications using React.

React Scripts

• react-start
• react-build
• react-test
• react-eject

Electron Scripts

• electron-build
• release
• build: create an executable version of the application based on your OS.
• start: use to run a demo

Reproducce the Template

Follow steps below in order to reproduce the same template.

1. Create a React App

   npx create-react-app <your_app_name> --typescript
   

   Note: Recent version of Electron builder has TS dependency. Hence, Typescript option is required.

2. Installing Dependencies

   # yarn
   yarn add cross-env electron-is-dev
   yarn add --dev concurrently electron electron-builder wait-on
   # npm
   npm install --save cross-env electron-is-dev
   npm install concurrently electron electron-builder wait-on
   

3. Create Electron App Create a file named electron.js in public folder and paste code below inside the file.

const electron = require("electron");
const app = electron.app;
const BrowserWindow = electron.BrowserWindow;
const path = require("path");
const isDev = require("electron-is-dev");

let mainWindow;

function createWindow() {
mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({ width: 900, height: 680 });
    mainWindow.loadURL(isDev ? "http://localhost:3000": 
        `file://${path.join(__dirname, "../build/index.html")}`);

    mainWindow.on("closed", () => (mainWindow = null));
}

app.on("ready", createWindow);

app.on("window-all-closed", () => {
    if (process.platform !== "darwin") {
        app.quit();
    }
});

app.on("activate", () => {
    if (mainWindow === null) {
        createWindow();
    }
});

4. Update package.json Add following information to package.json

{
    "description": "<your project description>",
    "author": "<author of app>",
    "build": {
    "appId": "<com.your_app>"
    },
    "main": "public/electron.js",
    "homepage": "./",
    "scripts": {
        "react-start": "react-scripts start",
        "react-build": "react-scripts build",
        "react-test": "react-scripts test --env=jsdom",
        "react-eject": "react-scripts eject",
        "electron-build": "electron-builder",
        "release": "npm run build && electron-builder --linux --win --mac --x64 --ia32 --publish never",
        "build": "npm run react-build && npm run electron-build",
        "start": "concurrently \"cross-env BROWSER=none yarn react-start\" \"wait-on http://localhost:3000 && electron .\""
  },
}

5. Run the Project

#  ==== Runing ====
# yarn
yarn start
#npm
npm run start

# ==== Building ====
# yarn
yarn build
# build
npm run build

Acknowledgement

This template and the reproduction manual were taken from Devesu article on Medium. Link to Article