Deno Desktop(docs.deno.com)
1099 points by GeneralMaximus 45 days ago | 394 comments
tl;dr: Deno 2.9 introduces `deno desktop`, a command that bundles a Deno project (including Next.js, Astro, SvelteKit, and other frameworks it auto-detects) into a self-contained desktop binary with the Deno runtime and a webview. It defaults to the OS's native webview for small binaries but offers a bundled Chromium (CEF) option, uses in-process bindings instead of IPC, supports cross-compilation to macOS/Windows/Linux from one machine, and includes built-in bsdiff-based auto-updates. The feature is currently canary-only and APIs may change before stabilization.
HN Discussion:
  • Enthusiastic praise for Deno's continued maturation and this feature as a smart strategic addition
  • Questions and concerns about technical details like CEF sharing, IPC claims, and permission surfacing
  • Deno Desktop will displace Tauri due to TypeScript support and reliable rendering despite larger size
  • ~Disappointment that binary sizes (40MB) aren't smaller compared to Tauri/Dioxus alternatives
  • Criticism of framing web tech as a UI toolkit since it fails to match native OS patterns