Part 1. Welcome to Node.js desktop application development

Two frameworks prevail when it comes to building desktop applications with Node.js: NW.js and Electron. In the first part of the book, you’ll be introduced to those frameworks and what advantages they have compared to other app frameworks, build a quick Hello World application with both NW.js and Electron, and then see what kinds of applications have been built.

In chapter 2, we’ll begin to put those frameworks to use by building a file explorer app. We’ll flesh out the skeleton of the app and add features to it, and explore the different approaches that NW.js and Electron take.

In chapter 3, we’ll continue to iterate on the file explorer app by adding more features such as search and opening files. We’ll then round up the app in chapter 4 by building executable versions for Mac OS, Windows, and Linux. By the end of part 1, you’ll have gotten to know both NW.js and Electron, and put your knowledge to practical use in a real-world application.