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Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:23 am
by MikeHart
Hi folks,
before I do invest in a license for SB... can I export desktop apps aka executables from SB? The documentation doesn't mention anything like that, only WebApp, Android and IOS.
I am not talking about a PWA, but an executable like you would create using Cordova or similar tools.
Thanks in advance for any answer.
Cheers
Michael
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:26 am
by Fred
For desktop app, you can use PureBasic which is very close syntax wise and create app for linux windows and osx
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:40 am
by MikeHart
Hi Fred,
and thanks for the quick reply. I was hoping it would do that as the eco system regarding 3rd party libs in the javascript space is rather large.
Anyway, my question is answered, thanks again.
Cheers
Michael
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 12:16 pm
by Caronte3D
As Fred said, PureBasic is better for desktop applications, but nothing prevents you from also making desktop applications with SpiderBasic.

Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 3:56 pm
by plouf
PureBasic is the way to go for sure
however is you need something simple , you can use one of tens of option of html->app like cordova itself
neutralino.js etc etc
will wrap html into an "app"
But for sure real app has some advantages ..
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:15 pm
by Dirk Geppert
I think I once saw something from Peter on how to turn Spiderbasic apps into desktop apps with NodeJs. It looked very simple. But unfortunately I don't have a link to it.
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:20 pm
by plouf
it was neutralinojs.org
Dirk Geppert wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:15 pm
I think I once saw something from Peter on how to turn Spiderbasic apps into desktop apps with NodeJs. It looked very simple. But unfortunately I don't have a link to it.
it was neutralinojs.org
but there are hundrends more
cordova itself can craete windows apps, but need more steps, electronjs.org simple , todesktop.com even simpler (this not free) etc...
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:36 pm
by Peter
Dirk Geppert wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:15 pm
I think I once saw something from Peter on how to turn Spiderbasic apps into desktop apps with NodeJs. It looked very simple. But unfortunately I don't have a link to it.
How to run a SB-WebApp as a Desktop-Application
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2024 5:26 pm
by tj1010
You can also do it with one line of Python and not have to deal with flavor-of-the-week JS platforms and bulky installs.. You can even pack everything in to one executable with pyinstaller so end-users don't need to install anything besides your product..
It'd make a whole lot more sense to just do it in PB, though.. Making a desktop product that uses browser processes is wasteful
Re: Can I create Desktop apps?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:59 pm
by Quin
tj1010 wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 5:26 pm
It'd make a whole lot more sense to just do it in PB, though.. Making a desktop product that uses browser processes is wasteful
Fully agreed, use PB if you want blazing fast and super small and portable executables for all major desktop platforms. If you need HTML/CSS, PB has WebViewGadget/WebGadget
