[Bug]: BrowserWindow.webPreferences.additionalArguments cannot contain a "\" (broken since v14.x.y)

[reZach]

Preflight Checklist

• I have read the Contributing Guidelines for this project.
• I agree to follow the Code of Conduct that this project adheres to.
• I have searched the issue tracker for a feature request that matches the one I want to file, without success.

Electron Version

14.0.0

What operating system are you using?

Windows

Operating System Version

Windows 10 Pro Version 20H2

What arch are you using?

x64

Last Known Working Electron version

13.3.0

Expected Behavior

I expect that I am able to pass in a string into additionalArguments that contains a "\". This functionality is no longer working in v14.0.0 (I also tested and see that it is broken in v16.0.0 as well).

Sample snippet (full repo is in "Additional Information" section)

let win = new BrowserWindow({
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    title: "Title",
    webPreferences: {      
      additionalArguments: ["test"], // okay      
      additionalArguments: [`path:${app.getPath("userData")}`], // breaks
      preload: path.join(__dirname, "preload.js")      
    }
  });

Actual Behavior

I piggy-back off of additionalArguments in order to send a filepath to code that executes in the preload script.

I expect this to work

let win = new BrowserWindow({
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    title: "Title",
    webPreferences: {      
      additionalArguments: [`path:${app.getPath("userData")}`],
      preload: path.join(__dirname, "preload.js")      
    }
  });

Testcase Gist URL

No response

Additional Information

Problem file in repo exists @app/electron/main.js

Steps to repro

git clone https://github.com/reZach/bad-upgrade.git
cd bad-upgrade
npm i
npm run dev

[reZach]

@jkleinsc checking in - has there been any progress on this?

[Arkellys]

I have a similar problem with Electron 19.0.4, except it's not the \ that breaks it but the prefix used.

additionalArguments: ["test\\"] // Works
additionalArguments: [app.getPath("userData")] // Works
additionalArguments: [`appFolderPath=${app.getPath("userData")}`] // Doesn't work

I managed to make it work only when I write the prefix starting with a specific pattern, either X: or -- (like the other arguments):

additionalArguments: [`X:${app.getPath("userData")}`]
additionalArguments: [`P:ath=${app.getPath("userData")}`]
additionalArguments: [`--appFolderPath=${app.getPath("userData")}`]

Is this a bug or is there a reason for it?

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale. If this issue is still affecting you, please leave any comment (for example, "bump"), and we'll keep it open. If you have any new additional information—in particular, if this is still reproducible in the latest version of Electron or in the beta—please include it with your comment!

[github-actions]

This issue has been closed due to inactivity, and will not be monitored. If this is a bug and you can reproduce this issue on a supported version of Electron please open a new issue and include instructions for reproducing the issue.