[dspillett]

> Then learn a new language?

Learn a new language (Python/C++/other) in order to learn and use a different framework (Qt)? Thanks for your advice I'll down tools right now and get on with that using my time the way I want to.

(Actually I've never developed anything using Electron yet, though some personal projects may get implemented that way in future should they ever get off the ground)

I fully understand much of the criticism of Electron and similar: the results are rather bulky in terms of both package size and memory use (and if you aren't careful sometimes CPU use) which can add up to quite a performance hit if running a number of small apps/tools that are large because of the framework. For interactive (or script-called) non-resident utilities startup time can be a significant issue too.

But there are a lot of entitled people out there who seem to be of a mind that because they don't like Electron (for those reasons or whatever else) they have the right to demand that developers stop using it. If you don't want to use an Electron driven application then the solution is to not use that Electron driven application. There are no doubt alternatives out there. If not then the deep knowledge you have that makes you an expert on why it would be better developed other ways should allow you to write your own and compete.

This is true for both paid-for services like this (show them who is boss by collectively voting with your wallets) and free and/or open source options (in which case making demands of the creator/maintainer seems even more egregious IMO).

</rant>

[rhodysurf]

Isn’t it just as entitled to refuse learning something because you will only use the language you want? Even if it’s forcing a square peg in a round hole?

Cmon tho, any competent engineer can switch between languages without many issues.

[hajile]

The basics of switching to a language in the same/similar paradigm isn't that hard. Re-learning tooling, libraries, etc takes a very long time. I can rattle off reams of stuff in the languages I know, but I'd have to spend hours searching for that same stuff in other languages.

[rhodysurf]

Thats very true. The tooling and dependency part about switching sucks for sure.

[dspillett]

> Isn’t it just as entitled to refuse learning something because you will only use the language you want?

Not really IMO. If users don't like it, they can usually use something else.

A point I didn't make clear at all is "you have used Electron, eww" is a poor judgement. "It is too slow for my needs, look at this benchmark" or "it takes too much RAM, look at the problem this causes" or "it takes a while to load, look at this metric that shows the effect it has on me" are all valid and constructive criticisms. "I don't like part of what, to me as a user should be a black box, is made with" isn't (if it works for you, it works, if it doesn't for a practical reason then it doesn't, how it is made and how the maintainers might solve your issue if they chose to address it is their problem). If going from a fellow developers PoV then by all means give constructive critique but "you use Electron, you a stupid" (a tone I've seen a fair few times) isn't that, and as a developer if you want an X made a different way go make an X that way (or, back to user-land, go find one made that way, there will probably be other options).

> Even if it’s forcing a square peg in a round hole?

This can be a problem created by switching language (or framework, or other) without sufficient acclimation time: you end up using the new tools like they were your old tools, which might produce something that works badly because the new options are not optimal for that construction pattern or at least that pattern does not use the other tools to their best advantage. Have you never heard the pained yelps of "but... that just isn't Pythonic!" or similar?

> Cmon tho, any competent engineer can switch between languages without many issues.

Depending on experience level, that is rarely without at least some context switching cost even if you are already familiar with what you are switching to. Maybe you are a natural star engineer for whom this is as close to zero as makes no odds, but most of use are not quite that perfect!