How do I embed HTML and CSS files into the Saucer binary?

Saucer provides embedding support via its API to bundle frontend assets directly into the executable, documented on its website. This involves configuring CMake to include resources, resulting in a single distributable file without external dependencies.

Saucer vs Electron: which should I use for a desktop app?

Choose Saucer for lightweight, small binary apps with tight C++ integration; it's better if size and native performance are priorities. Opt for Electron if you need a vast ecosystem, Chromium features, or easier frontend tooling, as Saucer requires more manual setup.

Can I use React or Vue.js with Saucer?

Yes, you can use any frontend framework since Saucer renders web content, but you must handle the build process and integration yourself. Saucer doesn't include pre-configured tools or components for these frameworks, so expect extra configuration work.

How does Saucer handle errors when compiled without exceptions?

Saucer supports compilation with -fno-exceptions, catching exceptions in exposed functions by default if enabled. You must adapt error handling to use return types or similar mechanisms, as detailed in the CMake settings documentation.

What backends does Saucer support on Linux?

On Linux, Saucer supports GTK4 and WebKitGtk backends, leveraging native or common web renderers. You can select based on dependencies or performance, with WebKitGtk offering modern web standards compliance.

Is Saucer good for apps with custom window decorations?

Yes, Saucer has built-in support for frameless windows and transparency, with data-webview attributes for custom title bars. However, implementing polished decorations requires CSS and JavaScript work, as it doesn't provide pre-designed components.

Open-Awesome

Saucer

MITC++v8.0.0

A modern, cross-platform C++ webview library for building lightweight desktop apps with web technologies.

Visit Website GitHub

884 stars56 forks0 contributors

What is Saucer?

Saucer is a modern, cross-platform C++ webview library that allows developers to build desktop applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It solves the problem of creating lightweight, native-feeling apps that run seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and macOS by leveraging each operating system's built-in web renderer.

Target Audience

C++ developers looking to build cross-platform desktop applications with web-based UIs, especially those who value small binary sizes and direct integration between C++ logic and JavaScript frontends.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Saucer for its minimal footprint, native performance, and seamless C++/JavaScript interoperability, offering a modern alternative to heavier Electron-based solutions while supporting multiple backends and compilation without exceptions or RTTI.

Overview

🛸 A modern, cross-platform C++ webview library

Use Cases

Best For

Building lightweight desktop applications with web-based UIs
Creating cross-platform apps that need small binary sizes
Integrating C++ backend logic with JavaScript frontends seamlessly
Developing apps that require custom window decorations or transparency
Embedding web content directly into a standalone executable
Projects needing thread-safe webview operations with coroutine support

Not Ideal For

Projects needing drag-and-drop UI builders or extensive pre-styled component libraries out-of-the-box
Teams prioritizing rapid prototyping with minimal C++ code, preferring higher-level languages or all-in-one frameworks
Applications requiring deep Chrome DevTools integration or specific browser extension support
Environments where stable, officially maintained language bindings (beyond C++) are critical

Pros & Cons

Pros

Minimal Binary Size

Uses native OS web renderers to produce binaries as small as ~250KB, making it ideal for distribution-sensitive applications where download size matters.

Seamless C++/JS Interop

Provides a reflection-powered API to expose C++ functions to JavaScript and evaluate JS code, enabling tight integration between backend logic and frontend UI without heavy bridges.

Cross-Platform Backend Flexibility

Supports multiple backends per platform (e.g., WebView2 on Windows, WebKitGtk on Linux, WKWebView on macOS), allowing developers to choose based on performance or feature needs.

Modern C++ Features

Designed with thread safety, coroutine support, and optional compilation without exceptions or RTTI, catering to performance-conscious C++ developers adopting contemporary practices.

Cons

Sparse Ecosystem

Offers only a few official modules (e.g., for file pickers, PDF export), lacking the extensive plugin libraries of alternatives like Electron, which can slow development for common needs.

Integration Overhead

Requires manual setup for frontend asset bundling and C++ binding, with no built-in tooling for popular frameworks like React or Vue, increasing initial configuration time.

Binding Stability Risks

Language bindings for Java, PHP, and Rust are community-maintained, as noted in the README, potentially leading to inconsistent updates, bugs, or abandonment compared to core C++ support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Slint

Slint is an open-source declarative GUI toolkit to build native user interfaces for Rust, C++, JavaScript, or Python apps.

Stars22,924

Forks910

Last commit13 hours ago

libui

Simple and portable (but not inflexible) GUI library in C that uses the native GUI technologies of each platform it supports.

Stars10,883

Forks615

Last commit2 years ago

GuiLite

✔️The smallest header-only GUI library(4 KLOC) for all platforms

Stars7,750

Forks833

Last commit7 months ago

implot

Immediate Mode Plotting

Stars6,127

Forks679

Last commit16 days ago

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub