How do I create a Tauri app with a React frontend?

Use the `create-tauri-app` tool with npm, which scaffolds a project integrating any frontend framework. The Tauri CLI handles the Rust backend, and you can configure React in the frontend directory as per the documentation.

Is Tauri better than Electron for performance?

Yes, Tauri apps are generally faster and have smaller binaries because they use system webviews and a lightweight Rust backend, unlike Electron which bundles Chromium. This leads to lower memory usage and faster startup times.

Does Tauri work on Ubuntu 18.04?

For Tauri v1, it requires webkit2gtk 4.0, which is available on Ubuntu 18.04. However, Tauri v2 needs webkit2gtk 4.1, typically found on newer systems like Ubuntu 22.04, so check your version compatibility.

How to add a system tray icon in Tauri?

Tauri has built-in support for system tray icons via its API. Configure it in the Rust backend using Tauri's system tray module, and handle events from the frontend, as detailed in the official docs.

Tauri or Flutter for cross-platform desktop apps?

Tauri uses web technologies for UI with a Rust backend, ideal for web devs. Flutter uses Dart and renders its own UI, offering more consistency but a different stack. Choose based on your team's expertise and UI requirements.

Can Tauri apps update automatically?

Yes, Tauri includes a built-in self-updater for desktop applications. Enable it in the configuration, and it handles checking for and installing updates, similar to native app updaters.

What are the security features of Tauri?

Tauri emphasizes security with features like the native webview protocol (no local HTTP server), Rust's memory safety, and configurable permissions for frontend-backend communication, reducing common vulnerabilities.

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Tauri

Apache-2.0Rusttauri-cli-v2.10.1

Build smaller, faster, and more secure desktop and mobile applications using web technologies.

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What is Tauri?

Tauri is a framework for building tiny, fast, and secure desktop and mobile applications. It enables developers to create binaries for all major platforms using web technologies for the frontend and Rust for the backend, solving the problem of bulky and resource-intensive desktop apps.

Target Audience

Developers and teams looking to build cross-platform desktop or mobile applications with web frontends who prioritize small binary sizes, performance, and security.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Tauri for its significantly smaller bundle sizes, faster performance, and enhanced security compared to alternatives like Electron, thanks to its use of system webviews and a Rust backend.

Overview

Build smaller, faster, and more secure desktop and mobile applications with a web frontend.

Use Cases

Best For

Building lightweight desktop applications with web frontends
Creating cross-platform apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
Developing secure applications with minimal attack surface
Reducing application bundle size and memory usage
Integrating native system features like tray icons and notifications
Streamlining CI/CD for desktop apps with built-in GitHub Actions

Not Ideal For

Teams with no Rust experience seeking a JavaScript-only desktop app solution
Projects requiring guaranteed consistent UI rendering across all platforms, as system webviews vary
Applications that must support very old operating systems without modern webviews (e.g., Windows XP)
Quick prototypes where setting up the Rust toolchain is considered overhead

Pros & Cons

Pros

Minimal Bundle Sizes

Tauri uses system webviews and a Rust backend, resulting in binaries that are significantly smaller than Electron-based apps, as emphasized in its philosophy of building tiny, fast applications.

Cross-Platform Bundling

The built-in app bundler creates distributables for all major platforms including .app, .dmg, .deb, .rpm, .AppImage, .exe, and .msi, streamlining deployment without external tools.

Native System Integration

Features like system tray icons, native notifications, and a native webview protocol provide seamless access to OS-specific functionalities without relying on HTTP servers.

Enhanced Security

The native webview protocol serves content without a local HTTP server, reducing the attack surface and aligning with Tauri's security-first defaults mentioned in the README.

Cons

Rust Dependency and Learning Curve

Requires Rust knowledge for backend development, which can be a barrier for teams familiar only with JavaScript or other web technologies, as indicated by the need for Rust prerequisites.

System Webview Inconsistencies

Leveraging platform-specific webviews (e.g., WKWebView on macOS, WebView2 on Windows) means UI behavior and feature support can vary, leading to potential cross-platform testing headaches.

Ecosystem and Maturity

Compared to established frameworks like Electron, Tauri has a smaller plugin ecosystem and community, which might limit third-party integrations and support resources.

Complex Polyglot Setup

Setting up involves managing both Rust and JavaScript toolchains, and the documentation is split between languages, making initial configuration more involved than single-stack solutions.

Open Source Alternative To

Tauri is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Electron

Electron is an open-source framework for building cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

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