83 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
83 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
# Synopsis
|
|
|
|
All of [Node.js's built-in modules](http://nodejs.org/api/) are available in
|
|
Electron and third-party node modules also fully supported as well (including
|
|
the [native modules](../tutorial/using-native-node-modules.md)).
|
|
|
|
Electron also provides some extra built-in modules for developing native
|
|
desktop applications. Some modules are only available in the main process, some
|
|
are only available in the renderer process (web page), and some can be used in
|
|
both processes.
|
|
|
|
The basic rule is: if a module is [GUI][gui] or low-level system related, then
|
|
it should be only available in the main process. You need to be familiar with
|
|
the concept of [main process vs. renderer process](../tutorial/quick-start.md#the-main-process)
|
|
scripts to be able to use those modules.
|
|
|
|
The main process script is just like a normal Node.js script:
|
|
|
|
```javascript
|
|
const electron = require('electron');
|
|
const app = electron.app;
|
|
const BrowserWindow = electron.BrowserWindow;
|
|
|
|
var window = null;
|
|
|
|
app.on('ready', function() {
|
|
window = new BrowserWindow({width: 800, height: 600});
|
|
window.loadURL('https://github.com');
|
|
});
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
The renderer process is no different than a normal web page, except for the
|
|
extra ability to use node modules:
|
|
|
|
```html
|
|
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
|
<html>
|
|
<body>
|
|
<script>
|
|
const remote = require('electron').remote;
|
|
console.log(remote.app.getVersion());
|
|
</script>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
To run your app, read [Run your app](../tutorial/quick-start.md#run-your-app).
|
|
|
|
## Destructuring assignment
|
|
|
|
If you are using CoffeeScript or Babel, you can also use
|
|
[destructuring assignment][destructuring-assignment] to make it easier to use
|
|
built-in modules:
|
|
|
|
```javascript
|
|
const {app, BrowserWindow} = require('electron')
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
However if you are using plain JavaScript, you have to wait until Chrome fully
|
|
supports ES6.
|
|
|
|
## Disable old styles of using built-in modules
|
|
|
|
Before v0.35.0, all built-in modules have to be used in the form of
|
|
`require('module-name')`, though it has [many disadvantages][issue-387], we are
|
|
still supporting it for compatibility with old apps.
|
|
|
|
To disable the old styles completely, you can set the
|
|
`ELECTRON_HIDE_INTERNAL_MODULES` environment variable:
|
|
|
|
```javascript
|
|
process.env.ELECTRON_HIDE_INTERNAL_MODULES = 'true'
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
Or call the `hideInternalModules` API:
|
|
|
|
```javascript
|
|
require('electron').hideInternalModules()
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
[gui]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface
|
|
[destructuring-assignment]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/Destructuring_assignment
|
|
[issue-387]: https://github.com/electron/electron/issues/387
|