Build web. Ship anywhere.
Build desktop and mobile applications using web technologies you already know. No cross-compilation or config hell. No manual dependencies. Just you and your beautiful app.
Most cross-platform frameworks make you choose — either great DX or great results. Electron ships Chromium (150MB+). Tauri requires Rust. Capacitor mostly targets mobile.
webnative is different:
- JavaScript everywhere — TypeScript/JavaScript for both frontend and backend
- Native WebView — uses the system's WebView, not a bundled browser
- One codebase — same code for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
- Smart API abstraction — backend runs locally on desktop, seamlessly switches on mobile
- Zero friction — the framework pushes really hard to give you 'works like magic' dx while you can focus on your app
npm install -g @mindw1n/webnative
webnative init my-app && cd my-app
webnative build linuxOn desktop, your frontend communicates with a local Node.js backend via IPC. On mobile, the same frontend code talks to a remote API or on-device apis. webnative handles the switching — you just write your app.
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Linux (self-contained) | ✅ v1 |
| Windows (self-contained) | ✅ v2 |
| Android | ✅ v3 |
| Windows (setup) | 🔜 v4 |
| Linux (flatpak) | 🔜 v5 |
| iOS | 🔜 v6 |
| macOS | 🔜 v7 |
- Node.js 22+
- Docker (sometimes needed for cross-compilation)
webnative is actively looking for contributors! If you're interested in helping out, you can:
- Pick up an open issue or suggest a new one
- Help bring a new platform to life
- Improve docs or examples
To get started, fork the repo, make your changes, and open a PR. For bigger changes, open an issue first so we can discuss the direction.
All skill levels welcome — if you're curious about how it works, just reach out.