Hi! I try KVision. It looks like I can build web application and Electron application on single code...

# kvision

[Mikhail Buzuverov]

Hi!
I try KVision. It looks like I can build web application and Electron application on single code base. I downloaded kvision-examples and tried template-electron . If I run task runApp it is absolutely OK and the app works. But if I run task browserRun the application starts on local port 3000, but app is not working, in browser's console I see error: require is not defined . See screenshot. I don't modify code of example, it is my first checkpoint: run web variant and desktop variant of the app. Could you help me?

[Robert Jaros]

Hi,
Electron gives your application access to both browser and electron API. Your app will not run in the browser if you use electron API because the browser can't support it.

[Robert Jaros]

You can create web and electron app with a single code base as long as you are using only browser api.

[Robert Jaros]

The template-electron application uses electron API, so you can not just run it in the browser.

[Robert Jaros]

You need to make the following changes to create an application for both the browser and electron:
1. Remove kvision-electron module from build.gradle.kts
2. Add implementation(npm("electron", "^15.3.5")) dependency (this is transitive dependency of the kvision module, so now you need to provide it manually)
3. Fix all compilation errors in the ElectronApp.kt (this will remove all electron API usage from your app)
4. Remove (or comment) webpack.config.d/electron.js file

[Robert Jaros]

You will be able to run both browserRun and runApp gradle tasks

[Robert Jaros]

I've also noticed latest kotlin version disables automatic npm scripts, so Electron is not installed properly. Had to add this to the build.gradle.kts to make it work again:

rootProject.plugins.withType<org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.targets.js.yarn.YarnPlugin> {
    rootProject.the<org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.targets.js.yarn.YarnRootExtension>().ignoreScripts = false
}

[Robert Jaros]

see: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/KT-49505

[Mikhail Buzuverov]

Oh, thank you very much. I fixed electron installation by hands (running install.js), so it is helpful advice 🙂
And thank you for explanation how to make it work in webapp