Understanding Tauri and Its Advantages

For those seeking a framework for building cross-platform applications, Electron is likely a familiar name. It has played a vital role in popularizing the creation of "universal" apps, allowing developers to use JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create fully functional desktop applications.

However, Electron does come with its own set of challenges:

• Resource Intensive: Electron apps tend to consume more resources than native applications since they package a complete web browser along with the application code, resulting in higher memory usage.
• Large File Size: Due to the inclusion of the Chromium engine, Electron applications often have larger file sizes, posing problems for users with limited bandwidth.
• Slower Startup Time: The time it takes to launch the Chromium engine can lead to slower startup times compared to native applications.

In contrast, Tauri offers several compelling features:

• Smaller File Size: Tauri applications are generally more lightweight, as they do not include a full web browser.
• Improved Performance: Applications built with Tauri perform better in terms of launch speed and memory consumption.
• Diverse Language Options: While Electron is primarily JavaScript-focused, Tauri allows developers to use languages like Rust, which is renowned for its performance and memory safety.

It's worth noting that Tauri also shares some limitations with Electron when compared to native solutions. For those interested, numerous resources provide detailed insights into these advantages and disadvantages.

Tauri's SerialPort Plugin Journey

After a year of development, I can confidently say that choosing Tauri was a great decision. Within weeks, I had a fully functional project with an attractive installer. The application size was around 10MB, and it launched in under 2 seconds. This experience allowed me to leverage my Rust knowledge to create a visually appealing application without needing extensive frontend skills.

To enable communication with devices through serial ports, I utilized Rust and its libraries, especially praising the team behind serialport-rs for their excellent cross-platform serial port library. This library was crucial in ensuring that my application operated smoothly across various operating systems.

Recognizing the need for accessibility, I aimed to bridge the gap for those who might not be familiar with Rust but prefer to work within the JavaScript ecosystem. This realization led me to explore ways to simplify serial communication for a wider audience.

One of the features I value in Tauri is its Plugins ecosystem, which allows for the creation of reusable extensions. Inspired by this, I began developing a plugin aimed at streamlining the integration of Rust code with the user experience. Although still in its early stages, this plugin aspires to make backend functionality easily accessible to frontend developers accustomed to JavaScript.

I am excited to share this plugin with anyone in need of serial communication solutions. I hope it proves valuable, and I invite contributions and suggestions to enhance future releases. Your feedback—whether about successful installations or improvement ideas—is invaluable. Let’s build a collaborative community around this project!

Exploring Further with YouTube

To further assist with your understanding of serial communication and application development, I recommend checking out these insightful YouTube videos:

The first video titled "Serial Monitor Nextjs and Tauri" provides an overview of using Tauri with Next.js for serial communication.

The second video, "Create a Desktop App With JavaScript & Electron," dives into the process of building desktop applications using JavaScript and Electron.

Thank you for reading! 🙏