I recommend using an HTML/JS/CSS Framework
Option #1: Electron by GitHub.
Website | GitHub Repo | Releases
It's easier than you think
If you can build a website, you can build a desktop app. Electron is a
framework for creating native applications with web technologies like
JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It takes care of the hard parts so you can
focus on the core of your application.
Option #2: NW.js (previously known as node-webkit).
Website | GitHub Repo | Releases
Call all Node.js modules directly from DOM/WebWorker and enable a new
way of writing applications with all Web technologies.
Electron and NWJS Pros:
AppJS is officially deprecated
Electron is similar to NW.js but newer, more popular and has a bigger community and updates more frequently. I recommend it.
NWJS always uses the latest Versions of Chromium and Node while Electron takes more time to catch up.
NWJS supports [JavaScript Source Protection][1] by compiling it to V8 native code. Electron does not.
NWJS have a Legacy release for Windows XP and Mac OS X 10.6 support.
Electron and NWJS both use MIT license.
You can compare the contributions to electron with NW.js
Electron and NWJS Cons:
- there is no out-of-the-bag run-time solution currently, so you'll have to ship it with your code (~50MB compressed and +100MB uncompressed) or find a way around it.
- depending on your app, Electron/NWJS might considered an overkill especially since its startup time is less than ideal, just something to take into account.
- no native look, you'll have to create your own UI elements using CSS or using some framework.
Option #3: DeskGap.
Website | GitHub Repo | Releases
DeskGap is a framework for building cross-platform desktop apps with
web technologies (JavaScript, HTML and CSS).
To enable native capabilities while keeping the size down, DeskGap
bundles a Node.js runtime and leaves the HTML rendering to the
operating system‘s webview.
Lightweight since the webview is provided by the operating system.
The API is still quite limited (pretty much a work in progress).
Requires new OS versions.
