reducing memory and resource usage of app [research]

[kehiy]

Electron JS is an open-source framework that is used for building desktop applications that can work on multiple platforms. The framework became quite popular due to its cross-platform capability, which makes it possible to build an app once, and it works seamlessly on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.

However, one of the major issues that developers face while using Electron JS is that it consumes a lot of system resources, leading to lagging and slow performance. This issue has been perceived by many as a drawback of the framework but is possible to optimize it to reduce resource usage.

Here are some reasons why Electron JS tends to use a lot of resources:

1. Chromium Browser

Electron JS uses the Chromium browser as its rendering engine, and it's a significant contributor to the high resource usage. Chromium's primary purpose is to render web pages and support various HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features associated with building web pages. As a result, it demands a lot of computational resources to function, leading to high usage.

2. Multiple Processes

Electron JS runs on multiple processes, which contributes to high memory usage, processing capacity, and battery power consumption. The framework uses a single main process that loads the app and its functionalities and additional child processes for rendering the user interface.

3. Third-Party Libraries

Electron JS requires the integration of third-party libraries for various functionalities, and some of these libraries tend to be bulky, leading to high usage of system resources. These libraries are necessary for achieving quick development and adding features to the app, but they tend to add up the app’s weight.

To reduce the resource usage of Electron JS, several solutions have been suggested. Here are a few that can be useful:

1. Optimizing Code

One of the primary ways of reducing resource usage is through optimizing code. This involves removing redundant code, optimizing algorithms, and ensuring that the codebase is clean and easy to debug. By creating efficient code, the application uses fewer resources, which leads to improved performance.

2. Limiting Background Processes

Background processes and tasks consume a lot of system resources in Electron JS. Therefore, it's advisable to limit them to the necessary minimum. Background tasks should save battery and memory by running at the best possible time.

3. Using Web Workers and Asynchronous Programming

Developers can reduce the resource usage of their apps by using web workers instead of traditional threads. Web workers allow tasks to be executed in a separate thread, which reduces the processing load on the main thread. Asynchronous programming is another technique that developers can use to optimize the code and improve the performance of the application.

4. Integrating Streamlined Libraries

Electron JS developers can integrate lightweight libraries that serve the same purpose as bulky libraries, thereby reducing the application's overall weight. Developers need to research and choose lightweight libraries that meet the app's requirements.

In conclusion, Electron JS is an excellent cross-platform framework that empowers developers to create great desktop applications. However, the framework tends to consume a lot of system resources, leading to slow performance. Developers need to optimize code, limit background processes, use web workers, and streamline the use of third-party libraries to reduce resource usage. By following these tips, developers can ensure that their Electron JS apps consume fewer resources and have better usability, satisfying both users and system administrators.

[kehiy]

some research derived from existing documents on the internet.
we can implement them and make DNSChanger more lightweight.