Cross-Platform Desktop Development (JavaFX vs. Electron)

Abstract: Today, there are many technologies available for developing cross-platform desktop apps. JavaFX is a software platform based on the Java language. It has a set of features that play a role in its success. On the other hand, Electron is a new framework that allows developers to employ web technologies (JavaScript, HTML, and CSS) to create cross-platform desktop applications. This thesis describes and compares between these two frameworks. The purpose of this report is to provide guidance in choosing the right technique for a particular cross-platform desktop application. Simple cross-platform desktop applications have been developed to compare both approaches as well as find the advantages and disadvantages. The results show that both apps satisfied the functional and nonfunctional requirements. Each framework architecture has its own advantage in building particular apps. Both frameworks have rich APIs as well as rich GUI components for building desktop apps. Electron has good documentation and community help, but it cannot be compared to JavaFX. The Electron app gives faster execution time and less memory usage than JavaFX app. However, the implementation of OOP concepts in Electron using JavaScript has some concerns in terms of encapsulation and inheritance.