Cross-platform Desktop Application Development: Electron, Node, NW.js, and React by Dmitry Sheiko

Key FeaturesBuild different cross-platform HTML5 desktop applications right from planning, designing, and deployment to enhancement, testing, and deliveryForget the pain of cross-platform compatibility and build efficient apps that can be easily deployed on different platforms.Build simple to advanced HTML5 desktop apps, by integrating them with other popular frameworks and libraries such as Electron, Node.JS, Nw.js, React, Redux, and TypeScriptBook DescriptionBuilding and maintaining cross-platform desktop applications with native languages isnt a trivial task. Since its hard to simulate on a foreign platform, packaging and distribution can be quite platform-specific and testing cross-platform apps is pretty complicated.In such scenarios, web technologies such as HTML5 and JavaScript can be your lifesaver. HTML5 desktop applications can be distributed across different platforms (Window, MacOS, and Linux) without any modifications to the code.The book starts with a walk-through on building a simple file explorer from scratch powered by NW.JS. So you will practice the most exciting features of bleeding edge CSS and JavaScript. In addition you will learn to use the desktop environment integration API, source code protection, packaging, and auto-updating with NW.JS.As the second application you will build a chat-system example implemented with Electron and React. While developing the chat app, you will get Photonkit. Next, you will create a screen capturer with NW.JS, React, and Redux.Finally, you will examine an RSS-reader built with TypeScript, React, Redux, and Electron. Generic UI components will be reused from the React MDL library. By the end of the book, you will have built four desktop apps. You will have covered everything from planning, designing, and development to the enhancement, testing, and delivery of these apps.What you will learnPlan, design, and develop different cross-platform desktop appsApplication architecture with React and local stateApplication architecture with React and Redux storeCode design with TypeScript interfaces and specialized typesCSS and component libraries such as Photonkit, Material UI, and React MDLHTML5 APIs such as desktop notifications, WebSockets, WebRTC, and othersDesktop environment integration APIs of NW.js and ElectronPackage and distribute for NW.JS and ElectronAbout the AuthorDmitry Sheiko is a web developer, blogger, and open source contributor, living and working in the lovely city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Dmitry got hooked on computer programming in late 80s. Since 1998, he has been in web-development. Over the last few years, Dmitry has been creating desktop applications with NW.js/Electron. The very first solutions were made with JavaScript/Backbone, but then he switched to TypeScript/React/Redux.Dmitry has authored dozens of projects at GitHub, including: nw-autoupdater, Pragmatic CSS, and a CommonJS compiler.Table of ContentsCreating a file explorer with NW.js: Planning, Design and DevelopmentCreating a file explorer with NW.js: Enhancement and DeliveryCreating a chat system with Electron and React: Planning, Design and DevelopmentCreating a chat system with Electron and React: Enhancement, Testing and DeliveryCreating a screen capturer with NW.js, React and Redux: Planning, Design and DevelopmentScreen capturer with NW.js, React and Redux: Enhancement, Testing and DeliveryRSS aggregator: Planning, Design and DevelopmentRSS aggregator: Enhancement, Testing and Delivery