Release of Electron 6.0.0, an application development platform based on the Chromium engine

Prepared platform release Electron 6.0.0, which provides a self-sufficient framework for developing cross-platform user applications, using components from Chromium, V8, and Node.js as a foundation. The significant version number change is associated with an update to the codebase Chromium 76, platform Node.js 12.4 and the V8 7.6 JavaScript engine. Previously anticipated the discontinuation of support for 32-bit Linux systems has been postponed, and the release
6.0, including is available 32-bit builds.

Among the changes in Electron-specific APIs:

• The transition of asynchronous handlers previously using callback calls to a promise-based mechanism has continued Promise. The return of Promises has been ensured in several dozen functions, including in categories contentTracing.*, cookies.*, session.*, webContents.*, and webFrame.*;
• As part of efforts to strengthen the isolation of runtime components, three new helper applications have been added: Electron Helper (Renderer).app for rendering processes, Electron Helper (GPU).app for GPU interaction processes, and Electron Helper (Plugin).app for plugins;
• Preparation has begun to restrict rendering processes to loading only Node modules using N-API or Context Aware API;
• The implementation of net.IncomingMessage has been aligned with the behavior of Node.js.

Let’s remember that Electron enables the creation of any graphical applications using web technologies, the logic of which is defined in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, while functionality can be extended through a plugin system. Developers have access to Node.js modules as well as an extended API for creating native dialogs, integrating applications, creating context menus, integrating with the notification output system, window manipulation, and interaction with Chromium subsystems.

Unlike web applications, Electron-based programs are delivered as self-contained executable files, independent of a browser. Developers do not need to worry about porting applications for different platforms; Electron will ensure the possibility of building for all systems supported by Chromium. Electron also provides tools for organizing automatic delivery and installation of updates (updates can be delivered from a separate server or directly from GitHub).

Among the programs built on the Electron platform, one can mention the editor Atom, email client Nylas, toolkit for working with Git GitKraken, system for SQL query analysis and visualization Wagon, blogging platform clients like WordPress Desktop, BitTorrent client WebTorrent Desktop, as well as official clients for services such as Skype, Signal, Slack, Basecamp, Twitch, Ghost, Wire, Wrike, Visual Studio Code, and Discord. There are a total of about around 800 applications in the Electron catalog. To simplify the development of new applications, a set of standard demonstration applications, including code examples for various tasks, has been prepared.

Source: opennet.ru