Crafting a Sleek Desktop Application with React, Tauri, Vite, and TypeScript

Welcome to the world of modern desktop application development! In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of creating a simple yet robust desktop application using a powerful stack: React, Tauri, Vite, and TypeScript. We’ll ensure our app is set up correctly from the get-go, including adjusting settings for packaging and distribution. Let’s dive in!

Prerequisites:

• Node.js (LTS version)
• Visual Studio Code or another IDE with TypeScript support
• Basic knowledge of React and TypeScript

Step 1: Install Rust and Cargo

Tauri is a framework for building desktop applications with web frontends that relies on Rust. Here’s how to install Rust and its package manager, Cargo:

1. Download and Install Rust: Visit the Rust install page and follow the instructions for your operating system. On Unix-like OS, you can usually install Rust with the following command:

   curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

   On Windows, download and run the rustup-init.exe from the same page.

2. Update Rust Toolchain: To ensure you’re using the latest version, update the toolchain:

   rustup update

3. Verify the Installation: Confirm that Rust and Cargo are installed:

   rustc --version
   cargo --version

Step 2: Scaffold the React + TypeScript Project with Vite

Next, create a new React project using Vite and TypeScript:

npm create vite@latest my-tauri-app -- --template react-ts
cd my-tauri-app

Step 3: Install Project Dependencies

Install the npm dependencies that come with the template:

npm install

Step 4: Initialize Tauri

Now, let’s add Tauri to your project:

npm install @tauri-apps/cli
npx tauri init

Ensure you are in the root directory of your React project and follow the instructions in the terminal.

Step 5: Configure Vite to Use Port 3000

Modify Vite’s configuration to use port 3000. In the vite.config.ts file:

import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';

// https://vitejs.dev/config/
export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [react()],
  server: {
    port: 3000,
  },
});

Step 6: Run the Development Server

To check your React app, start Vite’s development server:

npm run dev

Your app will be available at http://localhost:3000.

Step 7: Configure Tauri Settings

Before building and packaging the app, adjust Tauri’s settings to suit our project’s structure:

1. Set a Unique Bundle Identifier: Edit the src-tauri/tauri.conf.json file:

   "tauri": {
     "bundle": {
       "identifier": "com.innotek.myapp"
     },
     // other configurations...
   }

2. Point to the Correct Dist Directory: Still in tauri.conf.json, update the build’s dist directory to Vite’s output:

   "build": {
     "distDir": "../dist"
   },

Step 8: Launch the app with Tauri

Compile your React app and launch it within a Tauri window:

npm run build
npx tauri dev

You’ll see Vite’s default App component but now inside a native window! Hot Module Reload also works here so any change you make to App.tsx will be immediately reflected in the Tauri window.

Step 10: Package Your Application

Finally, package your application into a distributable format:

npx tauri build

The output will be in src-tauri/target/release/bundle/.

Conclusion

You’ve just built a sleek, type-safe desktop application using React, Tauri, Vite, and TypeScript! This combination offers a modern approach to developing lightweight, cross-platform desktop applications that are maintainable and secure.

To further refine your app, consider incorporating state management tools, and delve into Tauri’s advanced features such as update handling and system tray integration.

We hope this tutorial sets you up for success in your desktop app development journey. Have fun coding!

If you need a ready-to-use starter template, check out our my-tauri-app repository.

Further Learning:

Here are some resources for a deeper dive:

React Documentation

Tauri Documentation

TypeScript Documentation

Feedback and Questions:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this tutorial. Reach out with questions or feedback through our website or leave a comment on our LinkedIn post.