Home

Awesome

Angular Logo Electron Logo

Maintained Make a pull request License

Linux Build MacOS Build Windows Build

Watch on GitHub Star on GitHub Tweet

Introduction

Bootstrap and package your project with Angular 17 and Electron 30 (Typescript + SASS + Hot Reload) for creating Desktop applications.

Currently runs with:

With this sample, you can:

/!\ Hot reload only pertains to the renderer process. The main electron process is not able to be hot reloaded, only restarted.

/!\ Angular CLI & Electron Builder needs Node 18.10 or later to work correctly.

Getting Started

Clone this repository locally:

git clone https://github.com/maximegris/angular-electron.git

Install dependencies with npm (used by Electron renderer process):

npm install

There is an issue with yarn and node_modules when the application is built by the packager. Please use npm as dependencies manager.

If you want to generate Angular components with Angular-cli , you MUST install @angular/cli in npm global context. Please follow Angular-cli documentation if you had installed a previous version of angular-cli.

npm install -g @angular/cli

Install NodeJS dependencies with npm (used by Electron main process):

cd app/
npm install

Why two package.json ? This project follow Electron Builder two package.json structure in order to optimize final bundle and be still able to use Angular ng add feature.

To build for development

Voila! You can use your Angular + Electron app in a local development environment with hot reload!

The application code is managed by app/main.ts. In this sample, the app runs with a simple Angular App (http://localhost:4200), and an Electron window.
The Angular component contains an example of Electron and NodeJS native lib import.
You can disable "Developer Tools" by commenting win.webContents.openDevTools(); in app/main.ts.

Project structure

FolderDescription
appElectron main process folder (NodeJS)
srcElectron renderer process folder (Web / Angular)

How to import 3rd party libraries

This sample project runs in both modes (web and electron). To make this work, you have to import your dependencies the right way. \

There are two kind of 3rd party libraries :

Please check providers/electron.service.ts to watch how conditional import of libraries has to be done when using NodeJS / 3rd party libraries in renderer context (i.e. Angular).

Add a dependency with ng-add

You may encounter some difficulties with ng-add because this project doesn't use the defaults @angular-builders.
For example you can find here how to install Angular-Material with ng-add.

Browser mode

Maybe you only want to execute the application in the browser with hot reload? Just run npm run ng:serve:web.

Included Commands

CommandDescription
npm run ng:serveExecute the app in the web browser (DEV mode)
npm run web:buildBuild the app that can be used directly in the web browser. Your built files are in the /dist folder.
npm run electron:localBuilds your application and start electron locally
npm run electron:buildBuilds your application and creates an app consumable based on your operating system

Your application is optimised. Only /dist folder and NodeJS dependencies are included in the final bundle.

You want to use a specific lib (like rxjs) in electron main thread ?

YES! You can do it! Just by importing your library in npm dependencies section of app/package.json with npm install --save XXXXX.
It will be loaded by electron during build phase and added to your final bundle.
Then use your library by importing it in app/main.ts file. Quite simple, isn't it?

E2E Testing

E2E Test scripts can be found in e2e folder.

CommandDescription
npm run e2eExecute end to end tests

Note: To make it work behind a proxy, you can add this proxy exception in your terminal
export {no_proxy,NO_PROXY}="127.0.0.1,localhost"

Debug with VsCode

VsCode debug configuration is available! In order to use it, you need the extension Debugger for Chrome.

Then set some breakpoints in your application's source code.

Finally from VsCode press Ctrl+Shift+D and select Application Debug and press F5.

Please note that Hot reload is only available in Renderer process.

Want to use Angular Material ? Ngx-Bootstrap ?

Please refer to HOW_TO file

Branch & Packages version