.NET Cross-Platform Web Desktop App Frameworks as Electron Alternatives

The main goal is to replace Electron. After trying many similar projects, I ultimately selected two representative open-source projects to introduce to everyone.

Comparative Analysis: OutSystems WebView vs Photino.Blazor

When developing modern desktop applications, developers often choose WebView technology to embed web pages or use web technologies to build applications. This article compares two open-source projects: OutSystems WebView and Photino.Blazor, both of which provide the ability to embed web content in desktop applications, but differ in their implementation approaches and target platforms.

1. Project Background

1. OutSystems WebView

   • GitHub Link: OutSystems WebView
   • Description: OutSystems WebView is a component based on the .NET technology stack, designed to embed web pages in desktop applications. It provides a cross-platform WebView implementation that supports both Windows and macOS. Its primary goal is to enable developers to easily display and interact with web content within desktop applications while integrating with native functionalities.

2. Photino.Blazor

   • GitHub Link: Photino.Blazor
   • Description: Photino is a lightweight desktop application framework that allows developers to build native applications using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). Photino.Blazor is a support library for integrating Blazor (a .NET-based web framework) into Photino, enabling developers to build cross-platform desktop applications. Unlike traditional frameworks like Electron or NW.js, Photino uses a native WebView implementation, aiming to provide a smaller, more efficient desktop application.

2. Technical Comparison

Feature	OutSystems WebView	Photino.Blazor
Framework Support	.NET (cross-platform, supports macOS and Windows)	Blazor (based on .NET)
Main Functionality	Embed web content in desktop applications, support for native code integration	Build cross-platform native desktop apps using web technologies with Blazor
Platform Support	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Performance	Depends on Chromium or WebKit engines, relatively heavy	Lightweight, based on native WebView, optimized for performance
Development Focus	Primarily for enterprise-level applications and large projects	Ideal for developers who want to use Blazor for cross-platform apps
External Dependencies	Depends on .NET and WebView components	Depends on .NET Core and WebView (Chromium or WebKit)
User Interface	Flexible, can use web technologies (HTML/CSS/JS)	Fully integrated with Blazor, supports UI design with C# and HTML
Open Source License	MIT License	MIT License

3. Features and Characteristics

1. OutSystems WebView

   • Native Functionality Integration: The project is designed to embed web content in native applications, enabling developers to access native OS functionalities such as file systems, notifications, and system resources.
   • Cross-Platform Support: Supports Windows and macOS, leveraging .NET as the development framework, making it easier for enterprise developers to integrate WebView into existing tech stacks.
   • Enterprise-Level Applications: OutSystems WebView is more suited for enterprise-level applications and projects that require extensive integration with native functionality.

2. Photino.Blazor

   • Lightweight: Compared to Electron and other traditional frameworks, Photino is designed to offer a smaller, faster solution for desktop application development. It has a much smaller footprint and lower memory usage, making it ideal for lightweight desktop applications.
   • Blazor Support: Through Photino.Blazor, developers can directly use Blazor to build desktop applications, which is particularly attractive for C# developers. Blazor’s component-based approach allows developers to design UIs using familiar technologies and seamlessly integrate server-side logic.
   • Platform Support: In addition to Windows and macOS, Photino.Blazor supports Linux, expanding its cross-platform capabilities.

4. Use Cases

• OutSystems WebView:

  • Suitable for development teams already using OutSystems or .NET-based tech stacks.
  • Ideal for enterprise-level applications that require strong native functionality and stability.
  • Perfect for embedding existing web applications or web pages into desktop environments.

• Photino.Blazor:

  • Perfect for developers looking to build cross-platform desktop applications using Blazor and .NET technologies.
  • Well-suited for lightweight, performance-focused desktop applications that don’t require large frameworks like Electron.
  • Ideal for rapidly developing desktop applications that need to run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

5. Pros and Cons Analysis

1. OutSystems WebView:

   • Pros:
     • Strong support for native functionality and deep integration.
     • Enterprise-level support and easy integration with .NET environments.
     • Good cross-platform support, especially for embedding web applications into desktop environments.
   • Cons:
     • Heavier compared to Photino, relying on more external libraries.
     • Performance may not be as lightweight as Photino.

2. Photino.Blazor:

   • Pros:
     • Lightweight, ideal for building fast and efficient applications.
     • Perfectly integrated with Blazor, making it a great choice for C# developers.
     • Shorter development cycles, enabling quick deployment of cross-platform desktop applications.
   • Cons:
     • Compared to more established solutions like Electron, its community support and ecosystem are relatively smaller.
     • More suited for lightweight applications; complex applications may require more flexibility than what Photino offers.

6. Conclusion

• OutSystems WebView is better suited for developers who need strong native functionality integration, cross-platform support, and enterprise-grade applications. It relies on the .NET tech stack and offers deep integration with native OS features, making it ideal for large-scale, stable projects.

• Photino.Blazor is better for developers who want to quickly develop lightweight, cross-platform desktop applications using Blazor and .NET technologies. Its small size and fast performance make it ideal for building rapid, efficient applications without the overhead of heavier frameworks like Electron.

The choice between the two frameworks depends on the specific requirements of the project, the existing technology stack, and the developer’s preferred tools. If the goal is to build an enterprise-grade, highly integrated application with native features, OutSystems WebView would be the better choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a lightweight, performant solution for developing cross-platform desktop apps with Blazor, Photino.Blazor is a promising option.