Electron Base Skill

Build secure, modern desktop applications with Electron 33, Vite, React, and TypeScript.

Quick Start

1. Initialize Project

# Create Vite project
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react-ts
cd my-app

# Install Electron dependencies
npm install electron electron-store
npm install -D vite-plugin-electron vite-plugin-electron-renderer electron-builder

2. Project Structure

my-app/
├── electron/
│   ├── main.ts           # Main process entry
│   ├── preload.ts        # Preload script (contextBridge)
│   └── ipc-handlers/     # Modular IPC handlers
│       ├── auth.ts
│       └── store.ts
├── src/                  # React app (renderer)
├── vite.config.ts        # Dual-entry Vite config
├── electron-builder.json # Build config
└── package.json

3. Package.json Updates

{
  "main": "dist-electron/main.mjs",
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "vite",
    "build": "vite build",
    "preview": "electron .",
    "package": "electron-builder"
  }
}

Architecture Patterns

Main vs Renderer Process Separation

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     MAIN PROCESS                            │
│  (Node.js + Electron APIs)                                  │
│  - File system access                                       │
│  - Native modules (better-sqlite3)                          │
│  - System dialogs                                           │
│  - Protocol handlers                                        │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┘
                      │ IPC (invoke/handle)
                      │ Events (send/on)
┌─────────────────────▼───────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   PRELOAD SCRIPT                            │
│  (contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld)                          │
│  - Type-safe API exposed to renderer                        │
│  - No direct ipcRenderer exposure                           │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┘
                      │ window.electron.*
┌─────────────────────▼───────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  RENDERER PROCESS                           │
│  (Browser context - React app)                              │
│  - No Node.js APIs                                          │
│  - Uses window.electron.* for IPC                           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Type-Safe IPC Pattern

The preload script exposes a typed API to the renderer:

// electron/preload.ts
export interface ElectronAPI {
  auth: {
    startOAuth: (provider: 'google' | 'github') => Promise<void>;
    getSession: () => Promise<Session | null>;
    logout: () => Promise<void>;
    onSuccess: (callback: (session: Session) => void) => () => void;
    onError: (callback: (error: string) => void) => () => void;
  };
  app: {
    getVersion: () => Promise<string>;
    openExternal: (url: string) => Promise<void>;
  };
}

// Expose to renderer
contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('electron', electronAPI);

// Global type declaration
declare global {
  interface Window {
    electron: ElectronAPI;
  }
}

Security Best Practices

REQUIRED: Context Isolation

Always enable context isolation and disable node integration:

// electron/main.ts
const mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({
  webPreferences: {
    preload: join(__dirname, 'preload.cjs'),
    contextIsolation: true,    // REQUIRED - isolates preload from renderer
    nodeIntegration: false,    // REQUIRED - no Node.js in renderer
    sandbox: false,            // May need to disable for native modules
  },
});

NEVER: Hardcode Encryption Keys

// WRONG - hardcoded key is a security vulnerability
const store = new Store({
  encryptionKey: 'my-secret-key',  // DO NOT DO THIS
});

// CORRECT - derive from machine ID
import { machineIdSync } from 'node-machine-id';

const store = new Store({
  encryptionKey: machineIdSync().slice(0, 32),  // Machine-unique key
});

Sandbox Trade-offs

Native modules like better-sqlite3 require sandbox: false. Document this trade-off:

webPreferences: {
  sandbox: false, // Required for better-sqlite3 - document security trade-off
}

Modules requiring sandbox: false:

• better-sqlite3
• node-pty
• native-keymap

Modules working with sandbox: true:

• electron-store (pure JS)
• keytar (uses Electron’s safeStorage)

OAuth with Custom Protocol Handlers

1. Register Protocol (main.ts)

// In development, need to pass executable path
if (process.defaultApp) {
  if (process.argv.length >= 2) {
    app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient('myapp', process.execPath, [process.argv[1]]);
  }
} else {
  app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient('myapp');
}

2. Handle Protocol URL

// Single instance lock (required for reliable protocol handling)
const gotTheLock = app.requestSingleInstanceLock();

if (!gotTheLock) {
  app.quit();
} else {
  app.on('second-instance', (_event, commandLine) => {
    const url = commandLine.find((arg) => arg.startsWith('myapp://'));
    if (url) handleProtocolUrl(url);
    if (mainWindow?.isMinimized()) mainWindow.restore();
    mainWindow?.focus();
  });
}

// macOS handles protocol differently
app.on('open-url', (_event, url) => {
  handleProtocolUrl(url);
});

function handleProtocolUrl(url: string) {
  const parsedUrl = new URL(url);

  if (parsedUrl.pathname.includes('/auth/callback')) {
    const token = parsedUrl.searchParams.get('token');
    const state = parsedUrl.searchParams.get('state');
    const error = parsedUrl.searchParams.get('error');

    if (error) {
      mainWindow?.webContents.send('auth:error', error);
    } else if (token && state) {
      handleAuthCallback(token, state)
        .then((session) => mainWindow?.webContents.send('auth:success', session))
        .catch((err) => mainWindow?.webContents.send('auth:error', err.message));
    }
  }
}

3. State Validation for CSRF Protection

// Start OAuth - generate and store state
ipcMain.handle('auth:start-oauth', async (_event, provider) => {
  const state = crypto.randomUUID();
  store.set('pendingState', state);

  const authUrl = `${BACKEND_URL}/api/auth/signin/${provider}?state=${state}`;
  await shell.openExternal(authUrl);
});

// Verify state on callback
export async function handleAuthCallback(token: string, state: string): Promise<Session> {
  const pendingState = store.get('pendingState');

  if (state !== pendingState) {
    throw new Error('State mismatch - possible CSRF attack');
  }

  store.set('pendingState', null);
  // ... rest of auth flow
}

Native Module Compatibility

better-sqlite3

Requires rebuilding for Electron’s Node ABI:

# Install
npm install better-sqlite3

# Rebuild for Electron
npm install -D electron-rebuild
npx electron-rebuild -f -w better-sqlite3

Vite config – externalize native modules:

// vite.config.ts
electron({
  main: {
    entry: 'electron/main.ts',
    vite: {
      build: {
        rollupOptions: {
          external: ['electron', 'better-sqlite3', 'electron-store'],
        },
      },
    },
  },
});

electron-store

Works with sandbox enabled, but encryption key should be machine-derived:

import Store from 'electron-store';
import { machineIdSync } from 'node-machine-id';

interface StoreSchema {
  session: Session | null;
  settings: Settings;
}

const store = new Store<StoreSchema>({
  name: 'myapp-data',
  encryptionKey: machineIdSync().slice(0, 32),
  defaults: {
    session: null,
    settings: { theme: 'system' },
  },
});

Build and Packaging

electron-builder.json

{
  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/master/packages/app-builder-lib/scheme.json",
  "appId": "com.yourcompany.myapp",
  "productName": "MyApp",
  "directories": {
    "output": "release"
  },
  "files": [
    "dist/**/*",
    "dist-electron/**/*"
  ],
  "mac": {
    "category": "public.app-category.productivity",
    "icon": "build/icon.icns",
    "hardenedRuntime": true,
    "gatekeeperAssess": false,
    "entitlements": "build/entitlements.mac.plist",
    "entitlementsInherit": "build/entitlements.mac.plist",
    "target": [
      { "target": "dmg", "arch": ["x64", "arm64"] }
    ],
    "protocols": [
      { "name": "MyApp", "schemes": ["myapp"] }
    ]
  },
  "win": {
    "icon": "build/icon.ico",
    "target": [
      { "target": "nsis", "arch": ["x64"] }
    ]
  },
  "linux": {
    "icon": "build/icons",
    "target": ["AppImage"],
    "category": "Office"
  }
}

macOS Entitlements (build/entitlements.mac.plist)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-jit</key>
  <true/>
  <key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory</key>
  <true/>
  <key>com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation</key>
  <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Build Commands

# Development
npm run dev

# Production build
npm run build

# Package for current platform
npm run package

# Package for specific platform
npx electron-builder --mac
npx electron-builder --win
npx electron-builder --linux

Known Issues and Prevention

1. “Cannot read properties of undefined” in Preload

Cause: Accessing window.electron before preload completes.

Fix: Use optional chaining or check for existence:

// In React component
useEffect(() => {
  if (!window.electron?.auth) return;

  const unsubscribe = window.electron.auth.onSuccess((session) => {
    setSession(session);
  });

  return unsubscribe;
}, []);

2. NODE_MODULE_VERSION Mismatch

Cause: Native module compiled for different Node.js version than Electron uses.

Fix:

# Rebuild native modules for Electron
npx electron-rebuild -f -w better-sqlite3

# Or add to package.json postinstall
"scripts": {
  "postinstall": "electron-rebuild"
}

3. OAuth State Mismatch

Cause: State not persisted or lost between OAuth start and callback.

Fix: Use persistent storage (electron-store) not memory:

// WRONG - state lost if app restarts
let pendingState: string | null = null;

// CORRECT - persisted storage
const store = new Store({ ... });
store.set('pendingState', state);

4. Sandbox Conflicts with Native Modules

Cause: Sandbox prevents loading native .node files.

Fix: Disable sandbox (with documented trade-off) or use pure-JS alternatives:

webPreferences: {
  sandbox: false, // Required for better-sqlite3
  // Alternative: Use sql.js (WASM) if sandbox required
}

5. Dual Auth System Maintenance Burden

Cause: Configuring better-auth but using manual OAuth creates confusion.

Fix: Choose one approach:

• Use better-auth fully OR
• Use manual OAuth only (remove better-auth)

6. Token Expiration Without Refresh

Cause: Hardcoded expiration with no refresh mechanism.

Fix: Implement token refresh or sliding sessions:

// Check expiration with buffer
const session = store.get('session');
const expiresAt = new Date(session.expiresAt);
const bufferMs = 5 * 60 * 1000; // 5 minutes

if (Date.now() > expiresAt.getTime() - bufferMs) {
  await refreshToken(session.token);
}

7. Empty Catch Blocks Masking Failures

Cause: Swallowing errors silently.

Fix: Log errors, distinguish error types:

// WRONG
try {
  await fetch(url);
} catch {
  // Silent failure - user has no idea what happened
}

// CORRECT
try {
  await fetch(url);
} catch (err) {
  if (err instanceof TypeError) {
    console.error('[Network] Offline or DNS failure:', err.message);
  } else {
    console.error('[Auth] Unexpected error:', err);
  }
  throw err; // Re-throw for caller to handle
}

8. Hardcoded Encryption Key

Cause: Using string literal for encryption.

Fix: Derive from machine identifier:

import { machineIdSync } from 'node-machine-id';

const store = new Store({
  encryptionKey: machineIdSync().slice(0, 32),
});

Vite Configuration

Full vite.config.ts

import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite';
import electron from 'vite-plugin-electron/simple';
import { resolve, dirname } from 'path';
import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';

const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
const __dirname = dirname(__filename);

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [
    react(),
    tailwindcss(),
    electron({
      main: {
        entry: 'electron/main.ts',
        vite: {
          build: {
            outDir: 'dist-electron',
            rollupOptions: {
              external: ['electron', 'better-sqlite3', 'electron-store'],
              output: {
                format: 'es',
                entryFileNames: '[name].mjs',
              },
            },
          },
        },
      },
      preload: {
        input: 'electron/preload.ts',
        vite: {
          build: {
            outDir: 'dist-electron',
            rollupOptions: {
              output: {
                format: 'cjs',
                entryFileNames: '[name].cjs',
              },
            },
          },
        },
      },
      renderer: {},
    }),
  ],
  resolve: {
    alias: {
      '@': resolve(__dirname, 'src'),
    },
  },
  build: {
    outDir: 'dist',
  },
  optimizeDeps: {
    include: ['react', 'react-dom'],
  },
});

Dependencies Reference

Production Dependencies

{
  "dependencies": {
    "electron-store": "^10.0.0",
    "electron-updater": "^6.3.0"
  },
  "optionalDependencies": {
    "better-sqlite3": "^11.0.0",
    "node-machine-id": "^1.1.12"
  }
}

Development Dependencies

{
  "devDependencies": {
    "electron": "^33.0.0",
    "electron-builder": "^25.0.0",
    "electron-rebuild": "^3.2.9",
    "vite-plugin-electron": "^0.28.0",
    "vite-plugin-electron-renderer": "^0.14.0"
  }
}

Security Checklist

Before release, verify:

• contextIsolation: true in webPreferences
• nodeIntegration: false in webPreferences
• No hardcoded encryption keys
• OAuth state validation implemented
• No sensitive data in IPC channel names
• External links open in system browser (shell.openExternal)
• CSP headers configured for production
• macOS hardened runtime enabled
• Code signing configured (if distributing)
• No empty catch blocks masking errors

Related Skills

• better-auth – For backend authentication that pairs with Electron OAuth
• cloudflare-worker-base – For building backend APIs
• tailwind-v4-shadcn – For styling the renderer UI