# Tauri — Smaller, Faster, More Secure Desktop Apps in Rust

> Tauri lets you build smaller, faster, and more secure desktop and mobile applications with any web frontend. Rust backend + OS native WebView (no bundled Chromium) produces ~3MB binaries compared to Electron 150MB.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

Prereqs: Rust toolchain (via rustup), Node.js.
```bash
# Create project
npm create tauri-app@latest
# Pick frontend: Vanilla/React/Vue/Svelte/Solid
cd my-app
npm install
npm run tauri dev
```

Call Rust from frontend:
```rust
// src-tauri/src/main.rs
#[tauri::command]
fn greet(name: &str) -> String {
  format!("Hello, {}!", name)
}

fn main() {
  tauri::Builder::default()
    .invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![greet])
    .run(tauri::generate_context!())
    .expect("error while running tauri app");
}
```

```ts
import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
const msg = await invoke<string>("greet", { name: "William" });
```

## Intro

Tauri is a toolkit for building smaller, faster, and more secure desktop and mobile applications with a web frontend. Instead of bundling Chromium (like Electron), Tauri uses the the OS native WebView (WebKit on macOS/Linux, WebView2 on Windows) and a Rust backend.

- **Repo**: https://github.com/tauri-apps/tauri
- **Stars**: 105K+
- **Language**: Rust
- **License**: Apache 2.0 / MIT

## What Tauri Does

- **Rust backend** — filesystem, shell, network, native APIs
- **Commands** — TypeScript → Rust function calls
- **System tray** — cross-platform tray icons
- **Menus** — native menu bar, context menus
- **Updater** — cryptographically signed auto-updates
- **Sidecar binaries** — ship extra executables
- **Mobile (v2)** — iOS and Android targets
- **Permissions** — granular allowlist per capability

## Architecture

One process split into Core (Rust) + WebView (HTML/JS). Frontend calls Rust commands via IPC. Tauri v2 introduces a plugin system, mobile support, and fine-grained capability-based permissions (replacing the v1 allowlist).

## Self-Hosting

```bash
npm run tauri build
# Produces platform-specific installers in src-tauri/target/release/bundle/
# .msi / .dmg / .app / .deb / .rpm / .AppImage
```

## Key Features

- 3-10MB binaries (vs Electron 150MB)
- Rust backend (memory-safe, fast)
- Mobile support (iOS/Android)
- Capability-based security
- Code signing (Windows + macOS)
- Cross-platform installers
- Plugin ecosystem
- ~80MB idle memory

## Comparison

| Framework | Size | Language | Mobile | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tauri | 3-10MB | Rust + JS | Yes (v2) | OS WebView |
| Electron | ~150MB | JS | No | Chromium + Node |
| Wails | ~8MB | Go + JS | No | OS WebView |
| Neutralino | ~2MB | C++ + JS | No | OS WebView |

## FAQ

**Q: What do I do about WebView inconsistencies?**
A: Rendering differs across macOS Safari, Windows Edge, and Linux WebKitGTK. Test every target. Tauri 2 is improving consistency.

**Q: Do I have to learn Rust?**
A: Not for basic commands. You only write Rust when customizing native features. Most web developers pick it up within a few days.

**Q: What's the difference between v1 and v2?**
A: v2 adds mobile support, a new permission system, and a plugin architecture. v1 is desktop-only.

## Sources & Credits

- Docs: https://tauri.app/
- GitHub: https://github.com/tauri-apps/tauri
- License: Apache 2.0 / MIT

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/tauri-smaller-faster-more-secure-desktop-apps-rust-70e5a5ec
Author: Script Depot