Introduction

Bootstrap and package your project with Angular 11 and Electron 12 (Typescript + SASS + Hot Reload) for creating Desktop applications.

Currently runs with:

• Angular v11.2.6
• Electron v12.0.1
• Electron Builder v22.10.5

With this sample, you can:

• Run your app in a local development environment with Electron & Hot reload
• Run your app in a production environment
• Package your app into an executable file for Linux, Windows & Mac

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

/!\ Angular 11.x CLI needs Node 10.13 or later to work correctly.

Getting Started

Clone this repository locally:

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

Install dependencies with npm:

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

To build for development

• in a terminal window -> npm start

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

The application code is managed by 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 main.ts.

Use Electron / NodeJS libraries

This sample project runs in both modes (web and electron). To make this work, you have to import your dependencies the right way. Please check providers/electron.service.ts to watch how conditional import of libraries has to be done when using electron / NodeJS / 3rd party libraries in renderer context (i.e. Angular).

Use "web" 3rd party libraries (like angular, material, bootstrap, ...)

3rd party librairies used in electron's renderer process (like angular) have to be added in devDependencies of package.json. They are already added in your final package during webpack's compilation phase. Otherwise it will significantly increase the size of your final package... not so cool :(

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

Command	Description
npm run ng:serve	Execute the app in the browser
npm run build	Build the app. Your built files are in the /dist folder.
npm run build:prod	Build the app with Angular aot. Your built files are in the /dist folder.
npm run electron:local	Builds your application and start electron
npm run electron:build	Builds your application and creates an app consumable based on your operating system

Your application is optimised. Only /dist folder and node dependencies are included in the executable.

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 (not devDependencies) with npm install --save. It will be loaded by electron during build phase and added to your final package. Then use your library by importing it in main.ts file. Quite simple, isn't it?

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.

E2E Testing

E2E Test scripts can be found in e2e folder.

Command	Description
npm run e2e	Execute 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"

Branch & Packages version

• Angular 4 & Electron 1 : Branch angular4
• Angular 5 & Electron 1 : Branch angular5
• Angular 6 & Electron 3 : Branch angular6
• Angular 7 & Electron 3 : Branch angular7
• Angular 8 & Electron 7 : Branch angular8
• Angular 9 & Electron 7 : Branch angular9
• Angular 10 & Electron 9 : Branch angular10
• Angular 11 & Electron 12 : (master)