Release of Electron 7.0.0, a platform for creating applications based on the Chromium engine.

Prepared platform release Electron 7.0.0, 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 78, platform Node.js 12.8 and the JavaScript engine V8 7.8. Previously anticipated the discontinuation of support for 32-bit Linux systems has been postponed, and the release
7.0 including is available 32-bit builds.

Among the changes in Electron-specific APIs:

• Methods ipcRenderer.invoke() and ipcMain.handle() have been added for organizing asynchronous IPC in a request/response style, which are recommended should be used instead of the 'remote' module;
• The nativeTheme API has been added to read and handle changes in the system's theme and color scheme;
• Transition to a new definition generator for TypeScript has been implemented;
• Support for 64-bit Windows builds on ARM architecture has been added.

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