[francisl]

As a full time web developer, I liked the idea of electron. Even if I dislike electron apps that I need to use at work (like slack memory glutton).

It gave me the impression that I can build desktop app faster by reusing my skills. When it was time to build some side project, I did them in electron.

Recently I decided to learn c#, for unity initially, but I decided to try xamarin. This change all my perceptions. Not only building the core was way more enjoyable that with js/babel/nameit. Prototyping the native interface was faster, and developing the final UI was also more productive. Not to mention the final product looked better.

Comparing developer productivity is hard, but based on my own experience, I would say that it would have taken twice the time on electron the finish the same app in the same time. Compare to my other similar electron project, it load faster, don’t use cpu cycle on idle and consume ¼ of memory.

Maybe there is better idea than xamarin, but at least is seems like a better idea than electron. Now I see more electron as a fast way to have a webapp on the desktop or a fad based excuse to not learn something new.

On the other hand, calling a "cancer" is quite absurd.