When we talk about Next JS, server-side rendering is the first thing that comes to our mind. On the other hand, Electron JS provides a pure Javascript experience for desktop applications using HTML, CSS, and Javascript. This piece comparing Next JS vs Electron will help you understand the offerings of both frameworks.

So let’s get started with Next JS vs Electron.

Learning curve

Next JS

Developers familiar with the React framework will have no difficulty in using Next JS. Your application will be up and running the moment you install all the packages, making the learning process simple. If you are proficient in JavaScript, there is no need to learn a new programming language.

Electron

The similarity between web apps and Electron JS-based apps plays a vital role in keeping the learning curve at moderate levels. This eliminates the need for hiring new developers or training your existing team, which may not be helpful when the projects have tight deadlines. Hands-on expertise in CSS and HTML is sufficient while venturing into Electron.

The Ease of Use

In Next JS, the initial configuration is easy! You don’t have to worry about setting up a react router, a react dom, or webpack, as they are all part of the package. According to the experts, Next JS doesn’t need much setting up, making it convenient and portable.

Electron integrates with all the tools and frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue, to name just a few. You have the option of building all your cross platform apps from a single code base. Since Chromium is used as a rendering engine, you get access to numerous developer tools, such as hot reloading, automatic error detection, etc.

Community support

Next JS is backed by Zeit, and is a framework that is continuously monitored by developers. However, it is less popular than the electron. On github, Electron is winning the battle with 11.3k+ forks and 84.3k stars, as against the 7.8k forks and 50.5k stars of Next JS.

Additionally, with Microsoft’s backing, open source technology, and minimum entry barriers, Electron commands more popularity here.

Documentation

When it comes to documentation, developers have a consensus that Electron has a complicated, difficult-to-understand, and even overwhelming way of presenting its knowledge database, especially for beginners. This does not sit well with the community.

This is one major drawback of Electron. Pro-active developers of the community have tried their best to streamline things, but until the official docs are altered, this point goes in favor of Next JS.

Next JS has worked on improving its documentation since its release. The sidebar navigation menu enables users to jump to their required page and extract the necessary inputs with the utmost ease. There are new updates, proper segmentation, and presentation of information done by the authors and contributors.

Security

Next JS optimizes your application’s security and prevents any accidental publishing of your app’s non-pages. However, in Electron, when the existing applications are migrated to desktop applications, the data gets stored locally, thereby maintaining good security levels.

There are other features in these frameworks, like in Next JS, you have automatic code splitting, a static site generator, SEO optimized pages, etc. Electron offers a huge range of APIs, the Chromium engine, simple code management of code, and an easy debugging process.

If you’re looking to build a true Javascript based cross-platform application like WhatsApp, Twitch, Microsoft Teams, and Figma, then Electron is perfect for you.

And if you’re looking for an application that utilizes robust server-side rendering for consumer-facing content delivery platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Deliveroo, then Next JS should be your choice.

For further assistance in answering Next JS vs Electron, feel free to contact our experts here.