What is Sciter and what are its top alternatives?
Sciter is a lightweight, high-performance HTML/CSS/scripting engine for desktop applications. Its key features include native and cross-platform widgets, GPU-accelerated drawing, data binding, and built-in JavaScript engine for scripting. However, some limitations of Sciter are its limited community support and documentation, as well as a smaller user base compared to other more popular frameworks like Electron.
- Electron: Electron is a widely-used framework for building cross-platform desktop applications with web technologies. Key features include support for customizing the web browser environment, extensive documentation and community support. Pros: large user base, active development community. Cons: heavier resource consumption compared to Sciter.
- NW.js: NW.js is another popular framework for building desktop applications using web technologies. It provides a wide range of native APIs and better support for Node.js modules. Pros: built-in support for Node.js, good performance. Cons: complex setup compared to Sciter.
- Avalonia: Avalonia is a cross-platform XAML-based UI framework for .NET. It supports binding, styling, and templating similar to WPF. Pros: native look and feel, support for MVVM pattern. Cons: limited documentation compared to Sciter.
- Proton Native: Proton Native enables you to build cross-platform desktop applications using React. It provides access to all the native APIs and components of React Native. Pros: ease of use for React developers, fast UI development. Cons: limited community support compared to Sciter.
- Flutter Desktop: Flutter is a popular framework for building mobile and web applications. With Flutter Desktop, you can extend your Flutter applications to run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pros: fast performance, hot reload feature. Cons: still in alpha stage of development compared to Sciter.
- Puppeteer: Puppeteer is a Node.js library for controlling headless Chrome or Chromium. It can be used for automated testing, web scraping, and generating PDFs. Pros: powerful automation capabilities, extensive documentation. Cons: not a full-fledged desktop application framework like Sciter.
- JavaFX: JavaFX is a mature framework for building desktop applications in Java. It provides a rich set of UI controls and layouts, as well as support for CSS styling. Pros: strong community support, integration with Java ecosystem. Cons: learning curve for beginners compared to Sciter.
- Vuido: Vuido allows you to create lightweight, native desktop applications using Vue.js. It leverages the libui library to render native UI components. Pros: familiar Vue.js syntax, lightweight footprint. Cons: limited to Vue.js developers, smaller user base compared to Sciter.
- Qt: Qt is a powerful C++ application development framework with support for desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms. It provides a wide range of tools and libraries for building cross-platform applications. Pros: robust architecture, extensive documentation. Cons: steep learning curve compared to Sciter.
- React Native Windows: React Native Windows allows you to build Windows desktop applications using React Native. It provides access to native Windows APIs and controls. Pros: familiar React Native syntax, good integration with Windows platform. Cons: limited support for macOS and Linux compared to Sciter.
Top Alternatives to Sciter
- Qt
Qt, a leading cross-platform application and UI framework. With Qt, you can develop applications once and deploy to leading desktop, embedded & mobile targets. ...
- Electron
With Electron, creating a desktop application for your company or idea is easy. Initially developed for GitHub's Atom editor, Electron has since been used to create applications by companies like Microsoft, Facebook, Slack, and Docker. The Electron framework lets you write cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. It is based on io.js and Chromium and is used in the Atom editor. ...
- Ultralight
intended to be used for rendering HTML UI within games and desktop apps. The API is currently available for C++ and supports OpenGL 3.2+, Direct3D 11, and Metal 2. ...
- JavaFX
It is a set of graphics and media packages that enables developers to design, create, test, debug, and deploy rich client applications that operate consistently across diverse platforms. ...
- pygame
It is a cross-platform set of Python modules designed for writing video games. It includes computer graphics and sound libraries designed to be used with the Python programming language. ...
- Qt5
It is a full development framework with tools designed to streamline the creation of applications and user interfaces for desktop, embedded, and mobile platforms. ...
- Element
Element is a Vue 2.0 based component library for developers, designers and product managers, with a set of design resources. ...
- Tauri
It is a framework for building tiny, blazing fast binaries for all major desktop platforms. Developers can integrate any front-end framework that compiles to HTML, JS and CSS for building their user interface. The backend of the application is a rust-sourced binary with an API that the front-end can interact with. ...
Sciter alternatives & related posts
- High Performance17
- Declarative, easy and flexible UI13
- Cross platform12
- Performance12
- Fast prototyping9
- Easiest integration with C++8
- Up to date framework8
- Python7
- Multiple license including Open Source and Commercial6
- Safe 2D Renderer6
- Great Community Support5
- HW Accelerated UI4
- Game Engine like UI system4
- No history of broken compatibility with a major version3
- JIT and QML Compiler3
- True cross-platform framework with native code compile3
- Reliable for industrial use3
- Pure C++3
- Been using it since the 90s - runs anywhere does it all3
- Open source2
- Easy Integrating to DX and OpenGL and Vulkan2
- From high to low level coding2
- Learning Curve1
- Great mobile support with Felgo add-on1
- Native looking GUI1
- Paid5
- C++ is not so productive4
- Lack of community support2
- Lack of libraries1
- Not detailed documentation1
related Qt posts
- Easy to make rich cross platform desktop applications69
- Open source53
- Great looking apps such as Slack and Visual Studio Code14
- Because it's cross platform8
- Use Node.js in the Main Process4
- Uses a lot of memory18
- User experience never as good as a native app8
- No proper documentation4
- Does not native4
- Each app needs to install a new chromium + nodejs1
- Wrong reference for dom inspection1
related Electron posts
The Slack desktop app was originally written us the MacGap framework, which used Apple’s WebView to host web content inside of a native app frame. As this approach continued to present product limitations, Slack decided to migrate the desktop app to Electron. Electron is a platform that combines the rendering engine from Chromium and the Node.js runtime and module system. The desktop app is written as a modern ES6 + async/await React application.
For the desktop app, Slack takes a hybrid approach, wherein some of the assets ship as part of the app, but most of their assets and code are loaded remotely.
Slack's new desktop application was launched for macOS. It was built using Electron for a faster, frameless look with a host of background improvements for a superior Slack experience. Instead of adopting a complete-in-box approach taken by other apps, Slack prefers a hybrid approach where some of the assets are loaded as part of the app, while others are made available remotely. Slack's original desktop app was written using the MacGap v1 framework using WebView to host web content within the native app frame. But it was difficult to upgrade with new features only available to Apple's WKWebView and moving to this view called for a total application rewrite.
Electron brings together Chromium's rendering engine with the Node.js runtime and module system. The new desktop app is now based on an ES6 + async/await React application is currently being moved gradually to TypeScript. Electron functions on Chromium's multi-process model, with each Slack team signed into a separate process and memory space. It also helps prevent remote content to directly access desktop features using a feature called WebView Element which creates a fresh Chromium renderer process and assigns rendering of content for its hosting renderer. Additional security can be ensured by preventing Node.js modules from leaking into the API surface and watching out for APIs with file paths. Communication between processes on Electron is carried out via electron-remote, a pared-down, zippy version of Electron's remote module, which makes implementing the web apps UI much easier.
- Ligero, rápido estilo propio sin lastre nativo1
- De código abierto1
related Ultralight posts
- Light10
- Community support less than qt1
- Complicated1
related JavaFX posts
I create desktop applications that use a database for storing data. My applications are used as management tools in supermarkets, stores, warehouses, and other places. I don't know which one to use; Electron or JavaFX. Can anyone advise me on this matter?
pygame
- Easy to install3
- Simple1
- Lightweigt by only being 12 mb1
- Has only 2d2
- Slow1
related pygame posts
- Easy to learn and use2
- Cross platform2
- Open source2
- C++2
- Very good documentation2
- Fast enough2
related Qt5 posts
- Very complete solution3
- Buggy in parts2