travisjneuman/.claude/electron-desktop

Claude Code and agent skill by travisjneuman/.claude

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Desktop application development with Electron for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Use when building cross-platform desktop apps, implementing native OS features, or packaging web apps for desktop.

Install

npx vskill@latest install travisjneuman/.claude/electron-desktop

SKILL.md

Electron Desktop Development

Build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies.

Platforms Supported

PlatformArchitectureNotes
Windowsx64, arm64, ia32Windows 10+
macOSx64, arm64 (Apple Silicon)macOS 10.15+
Linuxx64, arm64, armv7lMost distributions

Project Structure

my-app/
├── src/
│ ├── main/
│ │ ├── main.ts # Main process
│ │ ├── preload.ts # Preload scripts
│ │ └── ipc.ts # IPC handlers
│ ├── renderer/
│ │ ├── index.html
│ │ ├── App.tsx
│ │ └── components/
│ └── shared/
│ └── types.ts
├── resources/
│ ├── icon.icns # macOS
│ ├── icon.ico # Windows
│ └── icon.png # Linux
├── electron-builder.yml
├── package.json
└── forge.config.ts

Main Process

Entry Point
typescript
// src/main/main.ts
import { app, BrowserWindow, ipcMain } from "electron";
import path from "path";
let mainWindow: BrowserWindow | null = null;
function createWindow() {
mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({
width: 1200,
height: 800,
minWidth: 800,
minHeight: 600,
webPreferences: {
preload: path.join(__dirname, "preload.js"),
contextIsolation: true,
nodeIntegration: false,
sandbox: true,
},
titleBarStyle: "hiddenInset", // macOS
frame: process.platform === "darwin", // Windows/Linux custom frame
show: false, // Show when ready
});
// Load the app
if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "development") {
mainWindow.loadURL("http://localhost:5173");
mainWindow.webContents.openDevTools();
} else {
mainWindow.loadFile(path.join(__dirname, "../renderer/index.html"));
}
// Show when ready to prevent flash
mainWindow.once("ready-to-show", () => {
mainWindow?.show();
});
mainWindow.on("closed", () => {
mainWindow = null;
});
}
app.whenReady().then(createWindow);
app.on("window-all-closed", () => {
if (process.platform !== "darwin") {
app.quit();
}
});
app.on("activate", () => {
if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
createWindow();
}
});
Preload Script (Security Bridge)
typescript
// src/main/preload.ts
import { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } from "electron";
// Expose safe APIs to renderer
contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("electronAPI", {
// File operations
openFile: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("dialog:openFile"),
saveFile: (content: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("dialog:saveFile", content),
// App info
getVersion: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("app:getVersion"),
// Window controls
minimize: () => ipcRenderer.send("window:minimize"),
maximize: () => ipcRenderer.send("window:maximize"),
close: () => ipcRenderer.send("window:close"),
// Two-way communication
onUpdateAvailable: (callback: () => void) => {
ipcRenderer.on("update:available", callback);
return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener("update:available", callback);
},
});
// Type definitions for renderer
declare global {
interface Window {
electronAPI: {
openFile: () => Promise<string | null>;
saveFile: (content: string) => Promise<boolean>;
getVersion: () => Promise<string>;
minimize: () => void;
maximize: () => void;
close: () => void;
onUpdateAvailable: (callback: () => void) => () => void;
};
}
}
IPC Handlers
typescript
// src/main/ipc.ts
import { ipcMain, dialog, BrowserWindow } from "electron";
import fs from "fs/promises";
export function setupIPC() {
// File dialogs
ipcMain.handle("dialog:openFile", async () => {
const { canceled, filePaths } = await dialog.showOpenDialog({
properties: ["openFile"],
filters: [
{ name: "Text Files", extensions: ["txt", "md"] },
{ name: "All Files", extensions: ["*"] },
],
});
if (canceled || filePaths.length === 0) return null;
return fs.readFile(filePaths[0], "utf-8");
});
ipcMain.handle("dialog:saveFile", async (_, content: string) => {
const { canceled, filePath } = await dialog.showSaveDialog({
filters: [{ name: "Text Files", extensions: ["txt"] }],
});
if (canceled || !filePath) return false;
await fs.writeFile(filePath, content);
return true;
});
// Window controls
ipcMain.on("window:minimize", (event) => {
BrowserWindow.fromWebContents(event.sender)?.minimize();
});
ipcMain.on("window:maximize", (event) => {
const win = BrowserWindow.fromWebContents(event.sender);
if (win?.isMaximized()) {
win.unmaximize();
} else {
win?.maximize();
}
});
ipcMain.on("window:close", (event) => {
BrowserWindow.fromWebContents(event.sender)?.close();
});
}

Renderer Process (React)

Using Exposed APIs
tsx
// src/renderer/App.tsx
import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
function App() {
const [version, setVersion] = useState("");
const [content, setContent] = useState("");
useEffect(() => {
window.electronAPI.getVersion().then(setVersion);
const unsubscribe = window.electronAPI.onUpdateAvailable(() => {
alert("Update available!");
});
return unsubscribe;
}, []);
const handleOpen = async () => {
const fileContent = await window.electronAPI.openFile();
if (fileContent) {
setContent(fileContent);
}
};
const handleSave = async () => {
await window.electronAPI.saveFile(content);
};
return (
<div className="app">
<header className="titlebar">
<span>My App v{version}</span>
<div className="window-controls">
<button onClick={window.electronAPI.minimize}>−</button>
<button onClick={window.electronAPI.maximize}>□</button>
<button onClick={window.electronAPI.close}>×</button>
</div>
</header>
<main>
<button onClick={handleOpen}>Open File</button>
<textarea
value={content}
onChange={(e) => setContent(e.target.value)}
/>
<button onClick={handleSave}>Save File</button>
</main>
</div>
);
}
Custom Title Bar CSS
css
.titlebar {
-webkit-app-region: drag; /* Make draggable */
height: 32px;
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
padding: 0 16px;
background: #1e1e1e;
color: white;
}
.window-controls {
-webkit-app-region: no-drag; /* Buttons clickable */
display: flex;
gap: 8px;
}
.window-controls button {
width: 32px;
height: 32px;
border: none;
background: transparent;
color: white;
cursor: pointer;
}
.window-controls button:hover {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
}

Native Features

System Tray
typescript
import { Tray, Menu, nativeImage } from "electron";
let tray: Tray | null = null;
function createTray() {
const icon = nativeImage.createFromPath("resources/tray-icon.png");
tray = new Tray(icon.resize({ width: 16, height: 16 }));
const contextMenu = Menu.buildFromTemplate([
{ label: "Show App", click: () => mainWindow?.show() },
{ type: "separator" },
{ label: "Quit", click: () => app.quit() },
]);
tray.setToolTip("My App");
tray.setContextMenu(contextMenu);
tray.on("click", () => {
mainWindow?.show();
});
}
Native Menus
typescript
import { Menu } from "electron";
const template: Electron.MenuItemConstructorOptions[] = [
{
label: "File",
submenu: [
{
label: "Open",
accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+O",
click: () => {
/* handle */
},
},
{
label: "Save",
accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+S",
click: () => {
/* handle */
},
},
{ type: "separator" },
{ role: "quit" },
],
},
{
label: "Edit",
submenu: [
{ role: "undo" },
{ role: "redo" },
{ type: "separator" },
{ role: "cut" },
{ role: "copy" },
{ role: "paste" },
],
},
];
Menu.setApplicationMenu(Menu.buildFromTemplate(template));
Notifications
typescript
import { Notification } from "electron";
new Notification({
title: "Update Available",
body: "A new version is ready to install.",
icon: "resources/icon.png",
}).show();
Auto Updates
typescript
import { autoUpdater } from "electron-updater";
autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
autoUpdater.on("update-available", () => {
mainWindow?.webContents.send("update:available");
});
autoUpdater.on("update-downloaded", () => {
autoUpdater.quitAndInstall();
});

Building & Distribution

electron-builder Configuration
yaml
# electron-builder.yml
appId: com.mycompany.myapp
productName: My App
copyright: Copyright © 2025
directories:
output: dist
buildResources: resources
files:
- dist/**/*
- package.json
mac:
category: public.app-category.developer-tools
target:
- target: dmg
arch: [x64, arm64]
- target: zip
arch: [x64, arm64]
hardenedRuntime: true
gatekeeperAssess: false
entitlements: build/entitlements.mac.plist
notarize: true
win:
target:
- target: nsis
arch: [x64]
sign: true
linux:
target:
- target: AppImage
- target: deb
- target: rpm
category: Development
publish:
provider: github
releaseType: release
Build Commands
bash
# Development
npm run dev
# Build for current platform
npm run build
# Build for all platforms
npm run build:all
# Build for specific platform
npm run build:mac
npm run build:win
npm run build:linux

Security Best Practices

DO:
  • Always use contextIsolation: true
  • Use preload scripts for IPC
  • Validate all IPC inputs
  • Enable sandbox: true
  • Sign and notarize for distribution
DON'T:
  • Enable nodeIntegration
  • Use remote module
  • Load untrusted content
  • Expose full Node.js APIs
  • Skip code signing

Alternatives to Consider

FrameworkBest For
TauriSmaller bundle, Rust backend
NeutralinoLightweight, system webview
ElectronFull Node.js, mature ecosystem

Security

  • Security scanPassed, 100 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
  • Model reviewNot runA model review is scheduled for the next rescan.

Quality evaluation

  • Task evaluationNot runNo evaluation yet. Run one in Skill Studio.

Source

Popularity

Repository stars
69
Repository forks
17
7-day trend score
21

Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Refreshed 16 Mar 2026, 7 months ago.

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