electron-builder vs electron-packager: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare and highlight the key differences between electron-builder and electron-packager. Both of these tools are commonly used in the development of Electron applications.

1. Installation and Configuration:

electron-builder: Electron-builder requires a bit more initial setup as it requires a configuration file (usually named 'electron-builder.json') where various options and settings, such as application name, version, publisher, and platform-specific build configurations, can be specified. It provides more flexibility and customization options for the build process.

electron-packager: Electron-packager, on the other hand, is simpler to set up as it doesn't require a separate configuration file. Instead, it relies on command-line arguments to specify the required options for building the Electron application. This makes it easier for quickly setting up a basic build process without the need for additional configuration files.

2. Building Process:

electron-builder: Electron-builder supports a framework-independent build process, meaning it can package applications developed using tools such as React, Angular, or any other JavaScript framework. It leverages the capabilities of various underlying tools like webpack or Parcel to bundle and optimize the application assets for a production-ready build.

electron-packager: Electron-packager, on the other hand, focuses primarily on packaging Electron applications without supporting the build process for specific frameworks. It requires the pre-built application files to be located and ready in a specific directory structure, and it simply packages those files into an executable format without further optimizations or bundling.

3. Platform Support:

electron-builder: Electron-builder offers extensive support for multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides platform-specific build features and configuration options to create optimized builds for each target platform. It also supports generating installers and updaters for distributing the application to the end-users easily.

electron-packager: Electron-packager also supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it may have fewer platform-specific features and configuration options compared to electron-builder. It primarily focuses on packaging the application files into platform-specific executables without providing additional functionalities like installer generation.

4. Updater Support:

electron-builder: Electron-builder includes built-in support for implementing automatic application updates. It provides a framework for creating an update server, handling versioning, and delivering updates to the end-users. The updates can be delivered using various mechanisms like differential updates or full package updates.

electron-packager: Electron-packager does not include built-in support for implementing automatic application updates. It mainly focuses on packaging the application files rather than managing the update process. Any updates to the application would need to be handled separately using other mechanisms or third-party libraries.

5. Community and Maintenance:

electron-builder: Electron-builder has a large and active community of developers and maintainers. It is widely used and regularly maintained with frequent updates and bug fixes. The community actively provides support, documentation, and examples, making it easier to troubleshoot issues and find relevant resources.

electron-packager: Electron-packager also has a decent community, although it may not be as active or extensive as electron-builder. It is still actively maintained, but updates and bug fixes may be less frequent compared to electron-builder. However, it has been a popular choice for packaging Electron applications for many years and still receives community support.

6. Additional Features:

electron-builder: Electron-builder provides several additional features, such as auto-updater configuration, code signing capabilities, custom build directories, and support for various installers like NSIS, DMG, or Snap. It offers more extensive customization options and advanced features for building and distributing Electron applications.

electron-packager: Electron-packager primarily focuses on packaging the application files and may not provide as many additional features compared to electron-builder. It focuses more on simplicity and ease of use for quickly creating executables, without extensive support for additional build or distribution features.

In summary, electron-builder requires more initial configuration but provides greater flexibility, supports framework-independent builds, offers more platform-specific features, includes built-in updater support, has a larger community and active maintenance, and provides a wider range of additional features compared to electron-packager, which has a simpler setup, focuses on basic packaging, may have fewer platform-specific options, lacks built-in updater support, and has a decent but less extensive community.