Proton Native
Build desktop apps with React syntax and React Native-style components, without Electron.
- Stars
- 10.9k
- Forks
- 348
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 3.8 years ago
- Type
- Framework
No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.
What it is
Proton Native is a framework that lets developers write desktop applications using React and the same component style as React Native. It aims to produce cross-platform desktop apps without bundling a full Chromium browser the way Electron does. The author has said they no longer have time to maintain it, and a community fork exists.
- Build a desktop calculator-style app using React components (the README shows a calculator screenshot)
- Create a desktop client that reuses React state libraries such as Redux
- Prototype a cross-platform desktop tool with hot reloading during development
- Explore example apps in the examples/ folder of the repository
Great for
- React developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new UI toolkit
- Developers already familiar with React Native components
- People who want to reuse existing React libraries such as Redux in a desktop app
- Developers who prefer to avoid Electron's footprint
Not ideal for
- Teams that need a actively maintained framework: the README says the original author lacks time to maintain it and points to a fork, and the last push was January 2023
- Projects needing a stable production release: no latest release is listed in the metadata
- Beginners new to both React and desktop development, since setup and debugging are not covered in the README
How to get it
- 1
See the README
You'll need: Node.js
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/kusti8/proton-native - 2
Run it
- Read the documentation at https://proton-native.js.org for setup instructions
- Look at the examples/ folder in the repository for a starting app
- Follow the documented steps to run an example
- Consider checking the community fork at https://github.com/proton-nativejs/proton-native for current development
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Start from the examples/ directory rather than an empty project
- Use the hot reloading feature listed in the README during development
- Reuse existing React libraries such as Redux, as the README states they work
- Check the V2 writeup linked in the README for newer components and styling changes
Downloads
Strengths
- Uses React and React Native-style components, so familiar patterns carry over
- Lists MIT licensing, which permits broad reuse
- Advertises compatibility with normal Node.js packages and hot reloading
Trade-offs
- The README announces the original maintainer has no time to work on it, so updates are uncertain
- Last push date in the metadata is January 2023 and no release is listed
- The README is brief and points to external documentation for setup details
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| proton-native (this) | 10.9k | Framework | intermediate | 3.8 years ago | React developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new UI toolkit |
| electron | 124k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Web developers who want to ship a desktop app using skills they already have |
| nw.js | 41.1k | Framework | beginner | 14 days ago | Web developers who want to turn an existing web app into a desktop app |
| Avalonia | 31.7k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | C# developers who already know XAML or WPF |
| DevToys | 32.2k | App | beginner | 1 months ago | Developers who often decode, encode, or format small pieces of data |
| NextChat | 88.9k | App | beginner | 17 days ago | People who want one chat window for several AI models |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.