# gluon-framework/gluon

A new framework for creating desktop apps from websites, using system installed browsers and NodeJS

Repository: https://github.com/gluon-framework/gluon
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/gluon-framework-gluon
Homepage: https://gluonjs.org
Language: JavaScript
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: framework, javascript, nodejs, web
Archived: true
Last push: 2023-11-08T03:29:05+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 35, longevity 97
- inputs: {"age_days": 1365, "days_push": 1029, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, archived
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3052, forks 78 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:39.674578+00:00)

## What it is
Gluon is a JavaScript framework for building desktop apps from websites, using system-installed browsers (Chromium and Firefox based) as the frontend instead of bundled browsers or webviews, with a NodeJS backend. It offers a simple API including IPC, expose, store, and idle/hibernation features, with tiny bundle sizes and cross-platform support.

## Use cases
- build a desktop app from a website without bundling chromium
- electron alternative with tiny bundle size
- create desktop apps using firefox as the frontend
- rapidly prototype a desktop app with node backend
- share data between node backend and web frontend
- reduce memory usage by hibernating app windows
- build cross-platform desktop apps with javascript

## When to choose
- you want small app bundles by relying on system-installed browsers
- you need Firefox as well as Chromium support
- you want an Electron-like stack without bundling a browser
- you value fast build times and a minimal API

## When to avoid
- you need a fully self-contained app with a guaranteed browser engine
- you need consistent rendering across all user machines
- you require a mature, battle-tested framework for production-critical apps
- your target platform lacks a supported system browser

## Facets
- artifact type: framework
- maturity: active
- function: desktop-framework, web-framework, http-server
- domain: web-development, desktop-applications, cross-platform, developer-tools
- platform: windows, cross-platform, bun
- tags: electron-alternative, system-browsers, ipc, firefox-support, chromium, tiny-bundle, javascript, nodejs, linux, macos, deno

## Member repositories
- gluon-framework/gluon (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:39.674578+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T07:28:52.894726+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/gluon-framework/gluon (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:39.674578+00:00, sha 356e8ba1728e)
  - homepage: https://gluonjs.org (fetched 2026-08-29T09:44:15.468445+00:00, sha 79486fcba644)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.