docs: remove Nw.js comparison document (#31053)
This commit is contained in:
parent
3332420886
commit
5f3af5fdf1
1 changed files with 0 additions and 75 deletions
|
@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
|
|||
# Technical Differences Between Electron and NW.js
|
||||
|
||||
Like [NW.js][nwjs], Electron provides a platform to write desktop applications with web
|
||||
technologies. Both platforms enable developers to utilize HTML, JavaScript, and
|
||||
Node.js. On the surface, they seem very similar.
|
||||
|
||||
There are however fundamental differences between the two projects that make
|
||||
Electron a completely separate product from NW.js.
|
||||
|
||||
## 1) Entry of Application
|
||||
|
||||
In NW.js, the main entry point of an application can be an HTML web page. In
|
||||
that case, NW.js will open the given entry point in a browser window.
|
||||
|
||||
In Electron, the entry point is always a JavaScript script. Instead of providing a
|
||||
URL directly, you manually create a browser window and load an HTML file using
|
||||
the API. You also need to listen to window events to decide when to quit the
|
||||
application.
|
||||
|
||||
Electron works more like the Node.js runtime. Electron's APIs are lower level so
|
||||
you can use it for browser testing in place of
|
||||
[PhantomJS](https://phantomjs.org/).
|
||||
|
||||
## 2) Node Integration
|
||||
|
||||
In NW.js, the Node integration in web pages requires patching Chromium to work,
|
||||
while in Electron we chose a different way to integrate the `libuv` loop with
|
||||
each platform's message loop to avoid hacking Chromium. See the
|
||||
[`node_bindings`][node-bindings] code for how that was done.
|
||||
|
||||
## 3) JavaScript Contexts
|
||||
|
||||
If you are an experienced NW.js user, you should be familiar with the concept of
|
||||
Node context and web context. These concepts were invented because of how NW.js
|
||||
was implemented.
|
||||
|
||||
By using the
|
||||
[multi-context](https://github.com/nodejs/node-v0.x-archive/commit/756b622)
|
||||
feature of Node, Electron doesn't introduce a new JavaScript context in web
|
||||
pages.
|
||||
|
||||
Note: NW.js has optionally supported multi-context since 0.13.
|
||||
|
||||
## 4) Legacy Support
|
||||
|
||||
NW.js still offers a "legacy release" that supports Windows XP. It doesn't
|
||||
receive security updates.
|
||||
|
||||
Given that hardware manufacturers, Microsoft, Chromium, and Node.js haven't
|
||||
released even critical security updates for that system, we have to warn you
|
||||
that using Windows XP is wildly insecure and outright irresponsible.
|
||||
|
||||
However, we understand that requirements outside our wildest imagination may
|
||||
exist, so if you're looking for something like Electron that runs on Windows XP,
|
||||
the NW.js legacy release might be the right fit for you.
|
||||
|
||||
## 5) Features
|
||||
|
||||
There are numerous differences in the amount of supported features. Electron has
|
||||
a bigger community, more production apps using it, and [a large amount of
|
||||
userland modules available on npm][electron-modules].
|
||||
|
||||
As an example, Electron has built-in support for automatic updates and countless
|
||||
tools that make the creation of installers easier. As an example in favor of
|
||||
NW.js, NW.js supports more `Chrome.*` APIs for the development of Chrome Apps.
|
||||
|
||||
Naturally, we believe that Electron is the better platform for polished
|
||||
production applications built with web technologies (like Visual Studio Code,
|
||||
Slack, or Facebook Messenger); however, we want to be fair to our web technology
|
||||
friends. If you have feature needs that Electron does not meet, you might want
|
||||
to try NW.js.
|
||||
|
||||
[nwjs]: https://nwjs.io/
|
||||
[electron-modules]: https://www.npmjs.com/search?q=electron
|
||||
[node-bindings]: https://github.com/electron/electron/tree/main/lib/common
|
Loading…
Reference in a new issue