What is nw?

NW.js (formerly known as node-webkit) lets you call all Node.js modules directly from DOM and enables writing applications with web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It provides a way to package these web technologies into a desktop application.

Key features of NW.js include:

  • Full Access to Node.js APIs: Applications have full access to Node.js APIs, enabling file system access, network operations, and more.

  • Native UI: It uses Chromium as its rendering engine, allowing developers to create user interfaces with native-like performance and appearance.

  • Cross-Platform Development: NW.js supports cross-platform development for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Packaging and Distribution: NW.js applications can be packaged and distributed as standalone executables.

  • JavaScript Contexts: NW.js offers the possibility to run JavaScript code in different contexts, either within the browser context or within the Node.js context (Node context). This can have security implications.

  • Debugging: Regular debugging tools can be used for development.