Electron Design System

Electron design systems address the unique requirements of desktop applications built with Electron, which combines Chromium and Node.js to enable web technologies on desktop. Design systems for Electron must bridge web patterns with desktop conventions while leveraging native integrations available through Electron’s APIs.

What Is an Electron Design System

Electron enables building cross-platform desktop applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Applications like VS Code, Slack, and Figma use Electron to deliver desktop experiences with web technologies.

Design systems for Electron applications adapt web design system foundations for desktop context. This includes addressing larger screens, keyboard-heavy interaction, window management, and native feature integration like menus and notifications.

Electron’s web foundation means web design system components can often be used directly. However, desktop-appropriate adaptations and Electron-specific components may be needed.

How Electron Design Systems Work

Web design system integration provides the foundation. React, Vue, or other web component libraries work in Electron’s Chromium-based renderer. Existing web design system components need evaluation for desktop appropriateness.

Electron Design System Considerations:

Web Foundation:
- Existing web components work in renderer
- CSS and styling applies normally
- Web accessibility standards apply
- Performance benefits from local execution

Desktop Adaptations:
- Hover states more important (cursor always present)
- Smaller click targets acceptable
- Keyboard shortcuts essential
- Right-click context menus expected
- Drag and drop between windows

Electron-Specific Components:
- Title bar (custom or native)
- Menu bar integration
- System tray integration
- Notification components
- Dialog integration (file, message)

Window Management:
- Multi-window coordination
- Window state persistence
- Focus management
- Modal window handling

// Custom title bar
<div class="title-bar">
  <div class="title">App Name</div>
  <div class="controls">
    <button class="minimize">−</button>
    <button class="maximize">□</button>
    <button class="close">×</button>
  </div>
</div>

Desktop adaptations adjust components for desktop context. Hover states become more important. Click targets can be smaller. Keyboard shortcuts need comprehensive coverage.

Electron-specific components integrate with native platform features. Custom title bars, menu bar integration, and system tray components use Electron APIs to provide native-feeling integration.

Window management components address multi-window scenarios. State synchronization, focus management, and window lifecycle require consideration in multi-window applications.

Key Considerations

• Leverage existing web design system foundations
• Add desktop-appropriate adaptations
• Integrate native features through Electron APIs
• Address multi-window scenarios
• Support all target platforms (macOS, Windows, Linux)
• Maintain performance in Electron’s architecture

Common Questions

Should Electron apps use custom or native title bars?

Custom title bars enable consistent cross-platform appearance and integration with application design. Web technologies render the title bar, providing full styling control.

Native title bars follow platform conventions and may feel more appropriate to platform users. macOS and Windows title bars look and behave differently; native title bars respect these differences.

Platform-specific custom title bars offer a middle ground. Custom title bars can mimic native appearance per platform while enabling more customization than native.

Development effort should guide the decision. Custom title bars require implementing window controls, drag regions, and double-click behavior. Native title bars work automatically.

How do Electron design systems handle menus?

Application menus use Electron’s Menu API to create native menus. These appear in the menu bar (macOS) or window menu (Windows/Linux).

Context menus also use Electron’s Menu API. Right-click triggers context-appropriate menus.

Menu items can trigger both main process and renderer actions. Proper IPC communication enables menu actions to affect application state.

Design systems should specify menu patterns. Standard menu structures, keyboard shortcuts, and menu item states need documentation.

What performance considerations affect Electron design systems?

Memory efficiency matters in Electron. Each window is a full Chromium renderer. Design decisions affecting memory usage compound.

Renderer process performance uses web optimization techniques. Efficient DOM manipulation, minimal layout thrashing, and appropriate use of web workers all apply.

Main process communication should be minimized. IPC between main and renderer processes adds latency. Batch communications where possible.

Animation and rendering benefit from GPU acceleration. CSS transforms and opacity changes are GPU-accelerated as in browsers.

Summary

Electron design systems adapt web foundations for desktop applications built with Electron. Existing web components often work directly but may need desktop-appropriate adaptations. Electron-specific components integrate native features like menus, notifications, and window controls. Multi-window scenarios and performance considerations require attention. Design systems should leverage Electron’s web foundation while addressing desktop-specific requirements.