Electron Basics and Window Management

Packt via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

9 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.

Unlock All Certificates

This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course introduces you to the fundamentals of Electron, enabling you to build robust desktop applications using web technologies. You’ll gain hands-on experience creating projects, managing processes, and configuring windows efficiently, preparing you to build professional-grade apps. The course begins by guiding you through environment setup, understanding Electron’s architecture, and implementing the main and renderer processes. You’ll then explore project structures and templates, learning how to modify and auto-reload code for a seamless development experience. Step-by-step exercises reinforce your learning as you practice creating and configuring your own projects. Next, you’ll dive into window creation using the BrowserWindow class, learning to set window properties, create frameless and transparent windows, manage child and modal windows, and handle positioning and resizing. You’ll also explore window events, lifecycle management, and menu integration, ensuring you understand how to create interactive, user-friendly applications. Ideal for aspiring desktop app developers, front-end engineers, and programmers with basic JavaScript knowledge, this course assumes familiarity with HTML, CSS, and Node.js fundamentals. The content is structured for beginners to intermediate learners seeking practical experience in Electron application development. By the end of the course, you will be able to set up Electron projects, implement main and renderer processes, create and manage windows, integrate menus, and build fully functional desktop applications like a hashing app and a Pomodoro timer.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will explore the overall course roadmap and understand what you will learn throughout the training. We will examine Electron's role in desktop application development and how it leverages web technologies. You will also configure the required development environment to begin building Electron applications.

Electron Basics

In this module, we will establish a strong foundation in Electron development by creating and configuring a project. We will explore the main and renderer processes, understand the project structure, and make our first application modifications. Additionally, we will learn how to streamline development using templates and automatic code reloading tools.

Window Creation Using the "BrowserWindow" Class

In this module, we will learn how to create and manage application windows using Electron's BrowserWindow class. We will explore various window configurations, customizations, and behaviors, including frameless and transparent windows. Through hands-on exercises, we will practice building interactive and user-friendly desktop application windows.

Project: Hashing App

In this module, we will develop a complete hashing application using Electron. We will design the user interface, enhance its appearance with styling, and implement the application's core functionality. Finally, we will build the project and prepare it for real-world use.

Handling Window Events

In this module, we will explore the event-driven capabilities of Electron windows. We will learn how to react to various BrowserWindow events, including rendering, focus management, resizing, movement, and responsiveness changes. These skills will help create more dynamic and reliable desktop applications.

Application Lifecycle in Electron

In this module, we will examine how Electron applications behave throughout their lifecycle. We will explore the app module, understand its events, and learn how to manage application startup and termination processes. A practical exercise will reinforce these concepts through the development of a simple session-tracking application.

Menus in Electron

In this module, we will learn how to create and manage menus in Electron applications. We will build application menus, define custom menu items, and explore different methods for menu manipulation. We will also add keyboard shortcuts to create a more efficient user experience.

the IPC Module

In this module, we will explore how Electron processes communicate using the IPC framework. We will learn different messaging patterns, understand the responsibilities of ipcMain and ipcRenderer, and examine the event object used in communication workflows. Practical exercises will demonstrate how IPC enables coordination across application components.

Project: Pomodoro Timer

In this module, we will create a fully functional Pomodoro timer application using Electron. We will design the user interface, integrate menus, and implement both main and renderer process functionality. By the end of the project, you will have a practical desktop application that combines key Electron development concepts.