821: Is Tauri the Electron Killer?

Key takeaways

Tauri is a framework that allows developers to build smaller, more secure desktop and mobile applications compared to traditional frameworks like Electron.
Version 2.0 of Tauri introduces mobile support and improves upon the inter-process communication that was less efficient in earlier versions.
The Tauri project thrives on community involvement and remains committed to open-source principles, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement.
The future roadmap for Tauri includes sustaining its community, improving the developer experience, and potentially introducing new programming language integrations.
Sentry is highlighted as an important tool for developers to monitor their applications, ensuring better performance and error handling.

Summary

Introduction to Tauri

In this episode, hosts Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski speak with Daniel Thompson about Tauri, an open-source framework for building small, performative, and secure applications. Tauri is known for its ability to create cross-platform applications with a focus on performance.

What's New in Tauri 2.0

Daniel discusses the latest release, Tauri 2.0, which introduces mobile application support alongside desktop capabilities. The architecture is rethought for mobile platforms, enhancing performance and security. Daniel notes the significance of user permission management and the improvements for inter-process communication.

Tauri vs Electron

The discussion revolves around the benefits of Tauri compared to Electron, especially its significantly smaller application size and enhanced security. Developers express concerns over the size and security vulnerabilities associated with Electron applications, while Tauri applications range between 500KB and 9MB in size.

Handling Native APIs and Plugin Ecosystem

Daniel explains how Tauri interacts with native APIs and how developers can create plugins that bridge functionality between JavaScript and Rust. They highlight the need for a community-driven approach to developing these plugins, making it easier for developers to access native features.

Community and Open-Source Sustainability

The podcast discusses the thriving Tauri community and how the project sustains itself through contributions and support from developers. Although the project has raised funds, it's maintained as an open-source project, emphasizing its commitment to community values.

The Future of Tauri

Looking ahead, the hosts talk about the planned release of Tauri 3.0 and how the framework will adapt to future needs. The conversation reflects on the need for continuous innovation in software engineering, as well as the importance of maintaining a vibrant community.

Show notes

In this episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott talk with Daniel Thompson-Yvetot about Tauri. They dive into what Tauri is, the motivations behind its development, its open-source ecosystem, use cases, and more.
Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
02:01 What is Tauri?
02:59 What’s new in Tauri 2.0?
06:41 The benefits of Tauri over Electron

11:28 Can you use Node?
14:21 Mac, Linux, and Windows Verso

Servo

25:05 How does Tauri make money? CrabNebula

30:05 Brought to you by Sentry.io

30:30 Accessing Swift from JavaScript
31:44 What’s the hardest part of a project like this? Haptics Plugin

37:00 Some of the apps that have shipped with Tauri Cody

GitButler

Tauri Discord

Awesome Tauri

43:18 The future of Tauri
50:23 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs
Links Rustlings

Cassidy Williams

Sick Picks Daniel: 5secondfilms

Shameless Plugs Guest: Manufacturing European Software (Coming Soon)

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