How to add a custom menu or tray icon in Nextron?

Modify the main process files (e.g., main/main.ts) using Electron's APIs for menu and tray, similar to standard Electron apps. The structured layout separates main and renderer logic for clarity.

Nextron vs Tauri: which is better for desktop apps?

Nextron leverages Electron and Next.js for web-centric development with a larger ecosystem, while Tauri uses Rust and system webviews for smaller, faster apps. Choose Nextron if you prioritize Next.js integration over bundle size.

Can I use Next.js API routes in a Nextron app?

No, because Nextron uses static export for Electron compatibility, API routes and server-side features that require a Node.js backend are not supported in the default setup.

How to debug the main Electron process in Nextron?

Use Electron's built-in dev tools or add debugging flags via the --electron-options CLI argument during development. The main process runs separately, so inspect it like a standard Electron app.

Why is my Nextron app so large, and how can I reduce it?

Electron includes Chromium and Node.js, adding significant size. Optimize by pruning dependencies and configuring electron-builder.yml to exclude unnecessary files, but expect larger bundles than native alternatives.

Is Nextron suitable for building commercial software?

Yes, it's MIT licensed and production-ready with examples for publishing, but consider Electron's licensing and performance implications for end-user distribution.

Nextron — Next.js & Electron Desktop Framework

What is Nextron?

Nextron is a framework that simplifies building desktop applications by combining Next.js for the user interface and Electron for the native shell. It provides a complete toolchain for development, building, and packaging cross-platform apps using familiar web technologies. The framework handles the integration between Next.js and Electron, allowing developers to focus on building features rather than configuration.

Target Audience

Web developers familiar with Next.js who want to build cross-platform desktop applications without learning a new UI framework. It's ideal for teams transitioning web apps to desktop or creating new desktop tools with modern web stacks.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Nextron because it offers a production-ready setup with sensible defaults while maintaining flexibility. Unlike manual Electron+Next.js configurations, it provides built-in development tools, multiple starter templates, and streamlined build processes that work across all major desktop platforms.

Overview

⚡ Next.js + Electron ⚡

Use Cases

Best For

Converting existing Next.js web applications into desktop apps
Building cross-platform desktop tools with modern React patterns
Creating developer tools with hot reload during development
Prototyping desktop applications quickly with UI library templates
Building desktop apps that need to launch from custom URL protocols
Teams that want to maintain a single codebase for web and desktop experiences

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring full server-side rendering with Next.js API routes and middleware
Applications where minimizing executable size is a top priority due to Electron's overhead
Teams that need to build macOS apps without access to macOS hardware for compilation

Pros & Cons

Pros

Integrated Development Workflow

The 'nextron dev' command launches Electron with hot reloading for both main and renderer processes, streamlining development as shown in the scripts configuration.

Cross-Platform Packaging

Uses electron-builder to produce distributable apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with customizable settings via electron-builder.yml for production builds.

Starter Template Variety

Offers multiple examples with popular UI libraries like Tailwind CSS and Material UI, enabling rapid prototyping with familiar web tools.

Custom URL Protocol Support

Allows apps to launch from custom browser URLs in production builds, facilitating deep linking and integration with web workflows.

Cons

Next.js Feature Limitations

Forces static export (output: 'export') and disables image optimization in Next.js config, restricting server-side rendering and dynamic features.

Breaking Change Burden

Version updates like v10 require manual file renames and config adjustments, as noted in the migration guide, increasing maintenance overhead.

Platform-Specific Build Constraints

Building for macOS requires a macOS host machine, limiting cross-platform development flexibility for teams without Apple hardware.

Nextron

What is Nextron?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Nextron

What is Nextron?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?