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kusti8/proton-native

★ 10,908TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5LicenseSetup · moderate

TLDR

Proton Native lets you build native desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux using React syntax, no bundled browser, just real native UI components from a single JavaScript codebase.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Proton Native))
    What it does
      Desktop app framework
      React syntax
      Native UI components
    Tech Stack
      React Node.js
      TypeScript
    Use Cases
      Cross-platform apps
      React Native port
      Lightweight tools
    Status
      Archived
      Community fork active
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Build a cross-platform desktop app using React components without shipping a bundled browser

USE CASE 2

Port an existing React Native mobile app to desktop with minimal code changes

USE CASE 3

Create lightweight native desktop tools that use Redux for state management

USE CASE 4

Add hot-reloading to a desktop app so UI changes appear instantly during development

Tech stack

TypeScriptJavaScriptNode.jsReact

Getting it running

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Project is archived, the active fork at github.com/proton-nativejs/proton-native is recommended for new projects.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

In plain English

Proton Native is a library that lets developers build desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux using the same React syntax they would use to build a website or mobile app. Instead of writing platform-specific code for each operating system, you write one set of components and the library handles the rest. The project draws its component names and structure from React Native, the framework commonly used to build mobile apps with React. If you already know how to write a React Native app, the transition to building a desktop app with Proton Native is meant to be straightforward. It works alongside existing React libraries like Redux, so code and patterns you already have can carry over. The key difference from a tool like Electron, which is the more common way to build desktop apps with web technology, is that Proton Native does not bundle a web browser. It uses native UI components instead, which means apps can look and behave more like regular desktop programs. The package is also compatible with standard Node.js packages. Version 2 of the project added components that match React Native more closely, support for flexbox layout, CSS-style properties for components, and hot reloading (which lets you see changes in the running app without restarting it each time). The original repository is no longer actively maintained. The author noted they no longer have time for the project, and a fork at github.com/proton-nativejs/proton-native has continued the work. Examples are available in the repository, and documentation is hosted at proton-native.js.org. The project is under the MIT license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me create a Proton Native desktop app with a React component that reads a local file, displays its contents, and has a button to save changes back to disk
Prompt 2
Convert this React Native screen component to work with Proton Native for a cross-platform desktop app targeting macOS and Windows
Prompt 3
Set up a Proton Native project with Redux state management and flexbox layout for a two-panel desktop file browser
Prompt 4
Walk me through setting up hot reloading in Proton Native v2 so I can see UI changes without restarting the app each time
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