electron-development-v2

---
name: electron-development-v2
description: "Electron Development workflow skill. Use this skill when the user needs Master Electron desktop app development with secure IPC, contextIsolation, preload scripts, multi-process architecture, electron-builder packaging, code signing, and auto-update and the operator should preserve the upstream workflow, copied support files, and provenance before merging or handing off."
version: "0.0.1"
category: development
tags: ["electron-development-v2", "electron-development", "master", "electron", "desktop", "app", "development", "secure"]
complexity: advanced
risk: caution
tools: ["codex-cli", "claude-code", "cursor", "gemini-cli", "opencode"]
source: community
author: "sickn33"
date_added: "2026-04-16"
date_updated: "2026-04-25"
---

# Electron Development

## Overview

This public intake copy packages `plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills/skills/electron-development` from `https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills` into the native Omni Skills editorial shape without hiding its origin.

Use it when the operator needs the upstream workflow, support files, and repository context to stay intact while the public validator and private enhancer continue their normal downstream flow.

This intake keeps the copied upstream files intact and uses the `external_source` block in `metadata.json` plus `ORIGIN.md` as the provenance anchor for review.

# Electron Development You are a senior Electron engineer specializing in secure, production-grade desktop application architecture. You have deep expertise in Electron's multi-process model, IPC security patterns, native OS integration, application packaging, code signing, and auto-update strategies.

Imported source sections that did not map cleanly to the public headings are still preserved below or in the support files. Notable imported sections: Core Expertise Areas, Application Lifecycle Management, Common Issue Diagnostics, Limitations.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this section as the trigger filter. It should make the activation boundary explicit before the operator loads files, runs commands, or opens a pull request.

- Building new Electron desktop applications from scratch
- Securing an Electron app (contextIsolation, sandbox, CSP, nodeIntegration)
- Setting up IPC communication between main, renderer, and preload processes
- Packaging and distributing Electron apps with electron-builder or electron-forge
- Implementing auto-update with electron-updater
- Debugging main process issues or renderer crashes

## Operating Table

| Situation | Start here | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First-time use | `metadata.json` | Confirms repository, branch, commit, and imported path through the `external_source` block before touching the copied workflow |
| Provenance review | `ORIGIN.md` | Gives reviewers a plain-language audit trail for the imported source |
| Workflow execution | `SKILL.md` | Starts with the smallest copied file that materially changes execution |
| Supporting context | `SKILL.md` | Adds the next most relevant copied source file without loading the entire package |
| Handoff decision | `## Related Skills` | Helps the operator switch to a stronger native skill when the task drifts |

## Workflow

This workflow is intentionally editorial and operational at the same time. It keeps the imported source useful to the operator while still satisfying the public intake standards that feed the downstream enhancer flow.

1. Analyze the project structure and identify process boundaries.
2. Enforce security defaults: contextIsolation: true, nodeIntegration: false, sandbox: true.
3. Design IPC channels with explicit whitelisting in the preload script.
4. Implement, test, and build with appropriate tooling.
5. Validate against the Production Security Checklist before shipping.
6. Confirm the user goal, the scope of the imported workflow, and whether this skill is still the right router for the task.
7. Read the overview and provenance files before loading any copied upstream support files.

### Imported Workflow Notes

#### Imported: Instructions

1. Analyze the project structure and identify process boundaries.
2. Enforce security defaults: `contextIsolation: true`, `nodeIntegration: false`, `sandbox: true`.
3. Design IPC channels with explicit whitelisting in the preload script.
4. Implement, test, and build with appropriate tooling.
5. Validate against the Production Security Checklist before shipping.

---

#### Imported: Core Expertise Areas

### 1. Project Structure & Architecture

**Recommended project layout:**
```
my-electron-app/
├── package.json
├── electron-builder.yml        # or forge.config.ts
├── src/
│   ├── main/
│   │   ├── main.ts             # Main process entry
│   │   ├── ipc-handlers.ts     # IPC channel handlers
│   │   ├── menu.ts             # Application menu
│   │   ├── tray.ts             # System tray
│   │   └── updater.ts          # Auto-update logic
│   ├── preload/
│   │   └── preload.ts          # Bridge between main ↔ renderer
│   ├── renderer/
│   │   ├── index.html          # Entry HTML
│   │   ├── App.tsx             # UI root (React/Vue/Svelte/vanilla)
│   │   ├── components/
│   │   └── styles/
│   └── shared/
│       ├── constants.ts        # IPC channel names, shared enums
│       └── types.ts            # Shared TypeScript interfaces
├── resources/
│   ├── icon.png                # App icon (1024x1024)
│   └── entitlements.mac.plist  # macOS entitlements
├── tests/
│   ├── unit/
│   └── e2e/
└── tsconfig.json
```

**Key architectural principles:**
- **Separate entry points**: Main, preload, and renderer each have their own build configuration.
- **Shared types, not shared modules**: The `shared/` directory contains only types, constants, and enums — never executable code imported across process boundaries.
- **Keep main process lean**: Main should orchestrate windows, handle IPC, and manage app lifecycle. Business logic belongs in the renderer or dedicated worker processes.

---

### 2. Process Model (Main / Renderer / Preload / Utility)

Electron runs **multiple processes** that are isolated by design:

| Process | Role | Node.js Access | DOM Access |
|---------|------|----------------|------------|
| **Main** | App lifecycle, windows, native APIs, IPC hub | ✅ Full | ❌ None |
| **Renderer** | UI rendering, user interaction | ❌ None (by default) | ✅ Full |
| **Preload** | Secure bridge between main and renderer | ✅ Limited (via contextBridge) | ✅ Before page loads |
| **Utility** | CPU-intensive tasks, background work | ✅ Full | ❌ None |

**BrowserWindow with security defaults (MANDATORY):**
```typescript
import { BrowserWindow } from 'electron';
import path from 'node:path';

function createMainWindow(): BrowserWindow {
  const win = new BrowserWindow({
    width: 1200,
    height: 800,
    webPreferences: {
      // ── SECURITY DEFAULTS (NEVER CHANGE THESE) ──
      contextIsolation: true,     // Isolates preload from renderer context
      nodeIntegration: false,     // Prevents require() in renderer
      sandbox: true,              // OS-level process sandboxing

      // ── PRELOAD SCRIPT ──
      preload: path.join(__dirname, '../preload/preload.js'),

      // ── ADDITIONAL HARDENING ──
      webSecurity: true,          // Enforce same-origin policy
      allowRunningInsecureContent: false,
      experimentalFeatures: false,
    },
  });

  // Content Security Policy
  win.webContents.session.webRequest.onHeadersReceived((details, callback) => {
    callback({
      responseHeaders: {
        ...details.responseHeaders,
        'Content-Security-Policy': [
          "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data:; font-src 'self' data:;"
        ],
      },
    });
  });

  return win;
}
```

> ⚠️ **CRITICAL**: Never set `nodeIntegration: true` or `contextIsolation: false` in production. These settings expose the renderer to remote code execution (RCE) attacks through XSS vulnerabilities.

---

### 3. Secure IPC Communication

IPC is the **only** safe channel for communication between main and renderer processes. All IPC must flow through the preload script.

**Preload script (contextBridge + explicit whitelisting):**
```typescript
// src/preload/preload.ts
import { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } from 'electron';

// ── WHITELIST: Only expose specific channels ──
const ALLOWED_SEND_CHANNELS = [
  'file:save',
  'file:open',
  'app:get-version',
  'dialog:show-open',
] as const;

const ALLOWED_RECEIVE_CHANNELS = [
  'file:saved',
  'file:opened',
  'app:version',
  'update:available',
  'update:progress',
  'update:downloaded',
  'update:error',
] as const;

type SendChannel = typeof ALLOWED_SEND_CHANNELS[number];
type ReceiveChannel = typeof ALLOWED_RECEIVE_CHANNELS[number];

contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('electronAPI', {
  // One-way: renderer → main
  send: (channel: SendChannel, ...args: unknown[]) => {
    if (ALLOWED_SEND_CHANNELS.includes(channel)) {
      ipcRenderer.send(channel, ...args);
    }
  },

  // Two-way: renderer → main → renderer (request/response)
  invoke: (channel: SendChannel, ...args: unknown[]) => {
    if (ALLOWED_SEND_CHANNELS.includes(channel)) {
      return ipcRenderer.invoke(channel, ...args);
    }
    return Promise.reject(new Error(`Channel "${channel}" is not allowed`));
  },

  // One-way: main → renderer (subscriptions)
  on: (channel: ReceiveChannel, callback: (...args: unknown[]) => void) => {
    if (ALLOWED_RECEIVE_CHANNELS.includes(channel)) {
      const listener = (_event: Electron.IpcRendererEvent, ...args: unknown[]) => callback(...args);
      ipcRenderer.on(channel, listener);
      return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener(channel, listener);
    }
    return () => {};
  },
});
```

**Main process IPC handlers:**
```typescript
// src/main/ipc-handlers.ts
import { ipcMain, dialog, BrowserWindow } from 'electron';
import { readFile, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';

export function registerIpcHandlers(): void {
  // invoke() pattern: returns a value to the renderer
  ipcMain.handle('file:open', async () => {
    const { canceled, filePaths } = await dialog.showOpenDialog({
      properties: ['openFile'],
      filters: [{ name: 'Text Files', extensions: ['txt', 'md'] }],
    });

    if (canceled || filePaths.length === 0) return null;

    const content = await readFile(filePaths[0], 'utf-8');
    return { path: filePaths[0], content };
  });

  ipcMain.handle('file:save', async (_event, filePath: string, content: string) => {
    // VALIDATE INPUTS — never trust renderer data blindly
    if (typeof filePath !== 'string' || typeof content !== 'string') {
      throw new Error('Invalid arguments');
    }
    await writeFile(filePath, content, 'utf-8');
    return { success: true };
  });

  ipcMain.handle('app:get-version', () => {
    return process.versions.electron;
  });
}
```

**Renderer usage (type-safe):**
```typescript
// src/renderer/App.tsx — or any renderer code
// The electronAPI is globally available via contextBridge

declare global {
  interface Window {
    electronAPI: {
      send: (channel: string, ...args: unknown[]) => void;
      invoke: (channel: string, ...args: unknown[]) => Promise<unknown>;
      on: (channel: string, callback: (...args: unknown[]) => void) => () => void;
    };
  }
}

// Open a file via IPC
async function openFile() {
  const result = await window.electronAPI.invoke('file:open');
  if (result) {
    console.log('File content:', result.content);
  }
}

// Subscribe to updates from main process
const unsubscribe = window.electronAPI.on('update:available', (version) => {
  console.log('Update available:', version);
});

// Cleanup on unmount
// unsubscribe();
```

**IPC Pattern Summary:**

| Pattern | Method | Use Case |
|---------|--------|----------|
| **Fire-and-forget** | `ipcRenderer.send()` → `ipcMain.on()` | Logging, telemetry, non-critical notifications |
| **Request/Response** | `ipcRenderer.invoke()` → `ipcMain.handle()` | File operations, dialogs, data queries |
| **Push to renderer** | `webContents.send()` → `ipcRenderer.on()` | Progress updates, download status, auto-update |

> ⚠️ **Never** use `ipcRenderer.sendSync()` in production — it blocks the renderer's event loop and freezes the UI.

---

### 4. Security Hardening

#### Production Security Checklist

```
── MANDATORY ──
[ ] contextIsolation: true
[ ] nodeIntegration: false
[ ] sandbox: true
[ ] webSecurity: true
[ ] allowRunningInsecureContent: false

── IPC ──
[ ] Preload uses contextBridge with explicit channel whitelisting
[ ] All IPC inputs are validated in the main process
[ ] No raw ipcRenderer exposed to renderer context
[ ] No use of ipcRenderer.sendSync()

── CONTENT ──
[ ] Content Security Policy (CSP) headers set on all windows
[ ] No use of eval(), new Function(), or innerHTML with untrusted data
[ ] Remote content (if any) loaded in separate BrowserView with restricted permissions
[ ] protocol.registerSchemesAsPrivileged() uses minimal permissions

── NAVIGATION ──
[ ] webContents 'will-navigate' event intercepted — block unexpected URLs
[ ] webContents 'new-window' event intercepted — prevent pop-up exploitation
[ ] No shell.openExternal() with unsanitized URLs

── PACKAGING ──
[ ] ASAR archive enabled (protects source from casual inspection)
[ ] No sensitive credentials or API keys bundled in the app
[ ] Code signing configured for both Windows and macOS
[ ] Auto-update uses HTTPS and verifies signatures
```

**Preventing Navigation Hijacking:**
```typescript
// In main process, after creating a BrowserWindow
win.webContents.on('will-navigate', (event, url) => {
  const parsedUrl = new URL(url);
  // Only allow navigation within your app
  if (parsedUrl.origin !== 'http://localhost:5173') { // dev server
    event.preventDefault();
    console.warn(`Blocked navigation to: ${url}`);
  }
});

// Prevent new windows from being opened
win.webContents.setWindowOpenHandler(({ url }) => {
  try {
    const externalUrl = new URL(url);
    const allowedHosts = new Set(['example.com', 'docs.example.com']);

    // Never forward raw renderer-controlled URLs to the OS.
    // Unvalidated links can enable phishing or abuse platform URL handlers.
    if (externalUrl.protocol === 'https:' && allowedHosts.has(externalUrl.hostname)) {
      require('electron').shell.openExternal(externalUrl.toString());
    } else {
      console.warn(`Blocked external URL: ${url}`);
    }
  } catch {
    console.warn(`Rejected invalid external URL: ${url}`);
  }

  return { action: 'deny' }; // Block all new Electron windows
});
```

**Custom Protocol Registration (secure):**
```typescript
import { protocol } from 'electron';
import path from 'node:path';
import { readFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
import { URL } from 'node:url';

// Register a custom protocol for loading local assets securely
protocol.registerSchemesAsPrivileged([
  { scheme: 'app', privileges: { standard: true, secure: true, supportFetchAPI: true } },
]);

app.whenReady().then(() => {
  protocol.handle('app', async (request) => {
    const url = new URL(request.url);
    const baseDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '../renderer');
    // Strip the leading slash so path.resolve keeps baseDir as the root.
    const relativePath = path.normalize(decodeURIComponent(url.pathname).replace(/^[/\\]+/, ''));
    const filePath = path.resolve(baseDir, relativePath);

    if (!filePath.startsWith(baseDir)) {
      return new Response('Forbidden', { status: 403 });
    }

    const data = await readFile(filePath);
    return new Response(data);
  });
});
```

---

### 5. State Management Across Processes

**Strategy 1: Main process as single source of truth (recommended for most apps)**
```typescript
// src/main/store.ts
import { app } from 'electron';
import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
import path from 'node:path';

interface AppState {
  theme: 'light' | 'dark';
  recentFiles: string[];
  windowBounds: { x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number };
}

const DEFAULTS: AppState = {
  theme: 'light',
  recentFiles: [],
  windowBounds: { x: 0, y: 0, width: 1200, height: 800 },
};

class Store {
  private data: AppState;
  private filePath: string;

  constructor() {
    this.filePath = path.join(app.getPath('userData'), 'settings.json');
    this.data = this.load();
  }

  private load(): AppState {
    try {
      const raw = readFileSync(this.filePath, 'utf-8');
      return { ...DEFAULTS, ...JSON.parse(raw) };
    } catch {
      return { ...DEFAULTS };
    }
  }

  get<K extends keyof AppState>(key: K): AppState[K] {
    return this.data[key];
  }

  set<K extends keyof AppState>(key: K, value: AppState[K]): void {
    this.data[key] = value;
    writeFileSync(this.filePath, JSON.stringify(this.data, null, 2));
  }
}

export const store = new Store();
```

**Strategy 2: electron-store (lightweight persistent storage)**
```typescript
import Store from 'electron-store';

const store = new Store({
  schema: {
    theme: { type: 'string', enum: ['light', 'dark'], default: 'light' },
    windowBounds: {
      type: 'object',
      properties: {
        width: { type: 'number', default: 1200 },
        height: { type: 'number', default: 800 },
      },
    },
  },
});

// Usage
store.set('theme', 'dark');
console.log(store.get('theme')); // 'dark'
```

**Multi-window state synchronization:**
```typescript
// Main process: broadcast state changes to all windows
import { BrowserWindow } from 'electron';

function broadcastToAllWindows(channel: string, data: unknown): void {
  for (const win of BrowserWindow.getAllWindows()) {
    if (!win.isDestroyed()) {
      win.webContents.send(channel, data);
    }
  }
}

// When theme changes:
ipcMain.handle('settings:set-theme', (_event, theme: 'light' | 'dark') => {
  store.set('theme', theme);
  broadcastToAllWindows('settings:theme-changed', theme);
});
```

---

### 6. Build, Signing & Distribution

#### electron-builder Configuration

```yaml
# electron-builder.yml
appId: com.mycompany.myapp
productName: My App
directories:
  output: dist
  buildResources: resources

files:
  - "out/**/*"       # compiled main + preload
  - "renderer/**/*"  # built renderer assets
  - "package.json"

asar: true
compression: maximum

# ── macOS ──
mac:
  category: public.app-category.developer-tools
  hardenedRuntime: true
  gatekeeperAssess: false
  entitlements: resources/entitlements.mac.plist
  entitlementsInherit: resources/entitlements.mac.plist
  target:
    - target: dmg
      arch: [x64, arm64]
    - target: zip
      arch: [x64, arm64]

# ── Windows ──
win:
  target:
    - target: nsis
      arch: [x64, arm64]
  signingHashAlgorithms: [sha256]

nsis:
  oneClick: false
  allowToChangeInstallationDirectory: true
  perMachine: false

# ── Linux ──
linux:
  target:
    - target: AppImage
    - target: deb
  category: Development
  maintainer: your-email@example.com

# ── Auto Update ──
publish:
  provider: github
  owner: your-org
  repo: your-repo
```

#### Code Signing

```bash
# macOS: requires Apple Developer certificate
# Set environment variables before building:
export CSC_LINK="path/to/Developer_ID_Application.p12"
export CSC_KEY_PASSWORD="your-password"

# Windows: requires EV or standard code signing certificate
# Set environment variables:
export WIN_CSC_LINK="path/to/code-signing.pfx"
export WIN_CSC_KEY_PASSWORD="your-password"

# Build signed app
npx electron-builder --mac --win --publish never
```

#### Auto-Update with electron-updater

```typescript
// src/main/updater.ts
import { autoUpdater } from 'electron-updater';
import { BrowserWindow } from 'electron';
import log from 'electron-log';

export function setupAutoUpdater(mainWindow: BrowserWindow): void {
  autoUpdater.logger = log;
  autoUpdater.autoDownload = false; // Let user decide
  autoUpdater.autoInstallOnAppQuit = true;

  autoUpdater.on('update-available', (info) => {
    mainWindow.webContents.send('update:available', {
      version: info.version,
      releaseNotes: info.releaseNotes,
    });
  });

  autoUpdater.on('download-progress', (progress) => {
    mainWindow.webContents.send('update:progress', {
      percent: Math.round(progress.percent),
      bytesPerSecond: progress.bytesPerSecond,
    });
  });

  autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', () => {
    mainWindow.webContents.send('update:downloaded');
  });

  autoUpdater.on('error', (err) => {
    log.error('Update error:', err);
    mainWindow.webContents.send('update:error', err.message);
  });

  // Check for updates every 4 hours
  setInterval(() => autoUpdater.checkForUpdates(), 4 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
  autoUpdater.checkForUpdates();
}

// Expose to renderer via IPC
ipcMain.handle('update:download', () => autoUpdater.downloadUpdate());
ipcMain.handle('update:install', () => autoUpdater.quitAndInstall());
```

#### Bundle Size Optimization

- ✅ Use `asar: true` to package sources into a single archive
- ✅ Set `compression: maximum` in electron-builder config
- ✅ Exclude dev dependencies: `"files"` pattern should only include compiled output
- ✅ Use a bundler (Vite, webpack, esbuild) to tree-shake the renderer
- ✅ Audit `node_modules` shipped with the app — use `electron-builder`'s `files` exclude patterns
- ✅ Consider `@electron/rebuild` for native modules instead of shipping prebuilt for all platforms
- ❌ Do NOT bundle the entire `node_modules` — only production dependencies

---

### 7. Developer Experience & Debugging

#### Development Setup with Hot Reload

```json
// package.json scripts
{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "concurrently \"npm run dev:renderer\" \"npm run dev:main\"",
    "dev:renderer": "vite",
    "dev:main": "electron-vite dev",
    "build": "electron-vite build",
    "start": "electron ."
  }
}
```

**Recommended toolchain:**
- **electron-vite** or **electron-forge with Vite plugin** — modern, fast HMR for renderer
- **tsx** or **ts-node** — for running TypeScript in main process during development
- **concurrently** — run renderer dev server + Electron simultaneously

#### Debugging the Main Process

```json
// .vscode/launch.json
{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "name": "Debug Main Process",
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch",
      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
      "runtimeExecutable": "${workspaceFolder}/node_modules/.bin/electron",
      "args": [".", "--remote-debugging-port=9223"],
      "sourceMaps": true,
      "outFiles": ["${workspaceFolder}/out/**/*.js"],
      "env": {
        "NODE_ENV": "development"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

**Other debugging techniques:**
```typescript
// Enable DevTools only in development
if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
  win.webContents.openDevTools({ mode: 'detach' });
}

// Inspect specific renderer processes from command line:
// electron . --inspect=5858 --remote-debugging-port=9223
```

#### Testing Strategy

**Unit testing (Vitest / Jest):**
```typescript
// tests/unit/store.test.ts
import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';

// Mock Electron modules for unit tests
vi.mock('electron', () => ({
  app: { getPath: () => '/tmp/test' },
}));

describe('Store', () => {
  it('returns default values for missing keys', () => {
    // Test store logic without Electron runtime
  });
});
```

**E2E testing (Playwright + Electron):**
```typescript
// tests/e2e/app.spec.ts
import { test, expect, _electron as electron } from '@playwright/test';

test('app launches and shows main window', async () => {
  const app = await electron.launch({ args: ['.'] });
  const window = await app.firstWindow();

  // Wait for the app to fully load
  await window.waitForLoadState('domcontentloaded');

  const title = await window.title();
  expect(title).toBe('My App');

  // Take a screenshot for visual regression
  await window.screenshot({ path: 'tests/screenshots/main-window.png' });

  await app.close();
});

test('file open dialog works via IPC', async () => {
  const app = await electron.launch({ args: ['.'] });
  const window = await app.firstWindow();

  // Test IPC by evaluating in the renderer context
  const version = await window.evaluate(async () => {
    return window.electronAPI.invoke('app:get-version');
  });

  expect(version).toBeTruthy();
  await app.close();
});
```

**Playwright config for Electron:**
```typescript
// playwright.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';

export default defineConfig({
  testDir: './tests/e2e',
  timeout: 30_000,
  retries: 1,
  use: {
    trace: 'on-first-retry',
    screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
  },
});
```

---

## Examples

### Example 1: Ask for the upstream workflow directly

```text
Use @electron-development-v2 to handle <task>. Start from the copied upstream workflow, load only the files that change the outcome, and keep provenance visible in the answer.
```

**Explanation:** This is the safest starting point when the operator needs the imported workflow, but not the entire repository.

### Example 2: Ask for a provenance-grounded review

```text
Review @electron-development-v2 against metadata.json and ORIGIN.md, then explain which copied upstream files you would load first and why.
```

**Explanation:** Use this before review or troubleshooting when you need a precise, auditable explanation of origin and file selection.

### Example 3: Narrow the copied support files before execution

```text
Use @electron-development-v2 for <task>. Load only the copied references, examples, or scripts that change the outcome, and name the files explicitly before proceeding.
```

**Explanation:** This keeps the skill aligned with progressive disclosure instead of loading the whole copied package by default.

### Example 4: Build a reviewer packet

```text
Review @electron-development-v2 using the copied upstream files plus provenance, then summarize any gaps before merge.
```

**Explanation:** This is useful when the PR is waiting for human review and you want a repeatable audit packet.



## Best Practices

Treat the generated public skill as a reviewable packaging layer around the upstream repository. The goal is to keep provenance explicit and load only the copied source material that materially improves execution.

- ✅ Always set contextIsolation: true and nodeIntegration: false
- ✅ Always use contextBridge in preload with an explicit channel whitelist
- ✅ Always validate IPC inputs in the main process — treat renderer as untrusted
- ✅ Always use ipcMain.handle() / ipcRenderer.invoke() for request/response IPC
- ✅ Always configure Content Security Policy headers
- ✅ Always sanitize URLs before passing to shell.openExternal()
- ✅ Always code-sign your production builds

### Imported Operating Notes

#### Imported: Best Practices

- ✅ **Always** set `contextIsolation: true` and `nodeIntegration: false`
- ✅ **Always** use `contextBridge` in preload with an explicit channel whitelist
- ✅ **Always** validate IPC inputs in the main process — treat renderer as untrusted
- ✅ **Always** use `ipcMain.handle()` / `ipcRenderer.invoke()` for request/response IPC
- ✅ **Always** configure Content Security Policy headers
- ✅ **Always** sanitize URLs before passing to `shell.openExternal()`
- ✅ **Always** code-sign your production builds
- ✅ Use Playwright with `@playwright/test`'s Electron support for E2E tests
- ✅ Store user data in `app.getPath('userData')`, never in the app directory
- ❌ **Never** set `nodeIntegration: true` — this is the #1 Electron security vulnerability
- ❌ **Never** expose raw `ipcRenderer` or `require()` to the renderer context
- ❌ **Never** use `remote` module (deprecated and insecure)
- ❌ **Never** use `ipcRenderer.sendSync()` — it blocks the renderer event loop
- ❌ **Never** disable `webSecurity` in production
- ❌ **Never** load remote/untrusted content without a strict CSP and sandboxing

## Troubleshooting

### Problem: The operator skipped the imported context and answered too generically

**Symptoms:** The result ignores the upstream workflow in `plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills/skills/electron-development`, fails to mention provenance, or does not use any copied source files at all.
**Solution:** Re-open `metadata.json`, `ORIGIN.md`, and the most relevant copied upstream files. Check the `external_source` block first, then restate the provenance before continuing.

### Problem: The imported workflow feels incomplete during review

**Symptoms:** Reviewers can see the generated `SKILL.md`, but they cannot quickly tell which references, examples, or scripts matter for the current task.
**Solution:** Point at the exact copied references, examples, scripts, or assets that justify the path you took. If the gap is still real, record it in the PR instead of hiding it.

### Problem: The task drifted into a different specialization

**Symptoms:** The imported skill starts in the right place, but the work turns into debugging, architecture, design, security, or release orchestration that a native skill handles better.
**Solution:** Use the related skills section to hand off deliberately. Keep the imported provenance visible so the next skill inherits the right context instead of starting blind.



## Related Skills

- `@00-andruia-consultant` - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
- `@00-andruia-consultant-v2` - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
- `@10-andruia-skill-smith` - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
- `@10-andruia-skill-smith-v2` - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

## Additional Resources

Use this support matrix and the linked files below as the operator packet for this imported skill. They should reflect real copied source material, not generic scaffolding.

| Resource family | What it gives the reviewer | Example path |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `references` | copied reference notes, guides, or background material from upstream | `references/n/a` |
| `examples` | worked examples or reusable prompts copied from upstream | `examples/n/a` |
| `scripts` | upstream helper scripts that change execution or validation | `scripts/n/a` |
| `agents` | routing or delegation notes that are genuinely part of the imported package | `agents/n/a` |
| `assets` | supporting assets or schemas copied from the source package | `assets/n/a` |



### Imported Reference Notes

#### Imported: Application Lifecycle Management

```typescript
// src/main/main.ts
import { app, BrowserWindow } from 'electron';
import { registerIpcHandlers } from './ipc-handlers';
import { setupAutoUpdater } from './updater';
import { store } from './store';

let mainWindow: BrowserWindow | null = null;

app.whenReady().then(() => {
  registerIpcHandlers();
  mainWindow = createMainWindow();

  // Restore window bounds
  const bounds = store.get('windowBounds');
  if (bounds) mainWindow.setBounds(bounds);

  // Save window bounds on close
  mainWindow.on('close', () => {
    if (mainWindow) store.set('windowBounds', mainWindow.getBounds());
  });

  // Auto-update (only in production)
  if (app.isPackaged) {
    setupAutoUpdater(mainWindow);
  }

  // macOS: re-create window when dock icon is clicked
  app.on('activate', () => {
    if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
      mainWindow = createMainWindow();
    }
  });
});

// Quit when all windows are closed (except on macOS)
app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
  if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
    app.quit();
  }
});

// Security: prevent additional renderers from being created
app.on('web-contents-created', (_event, contents) => {
  contents.on('will-attach-webview', (event) => {
    event.preventDefault(); // Block <webview> tags
  });
});
```

---

#### Imported: Common Issue Diagnostics

### White Screen on Launch
**Symptoms**: App starts but renderer shows a blank/white page
**Root causes**: Incorrect `loadFile`/`loadURL` path, build output missing, CSP blocking scripts
**Solutions**: Verify the path passed to `win.loadFile()` or `win.loadURL()` exists relative to the packaged app. Check DevTools console for CSP violations. In development, ensure the Vite/webpack dev server is running before Electron starts.

### IPC Messages Not Received
**Symptoms**: `invoke()` hangs or `send()` has no effect
**Root causes**: Channel name mismatch, preload not loaded, contextBridge not exposing the channel
**Solutions**: Verify channel names match exactly between preload, main, and renderer. Confirm `preload` path is correct in `webPreferences`. Check that the channel is in the whitelist array.

### Native Module Crashes
**Symptoms**: App crashes on startup with `MODULE_NOT_FOUND` or `invalid ELF header`
**Root causes**: Native module compiled for wrong Electron/Node ABI version
**Solutions**: Run `npx @electron/rebuild` after installing native modules. Ensure `electron-builder` is configured with the correct Electron version for rebuilding.

### App Not Updating
**Symptoms**: `autoUpdater.checkForUpdates()` returns nothing or errors
**Root causes**: Missing `publish` config, unsigned app (macOS), incorrect GitHub release assets
**Solutions**: Verify `publish` section in `electron-builder.yml`. On macOS, app must be code-signed and notarized. Ensure the GitHub release contains the `-mac.zip` and `latest-mac.yml` (or equivalent Windows files).

### Large Bundle Size (>200MB)
**Symptoms**: Built application is excessively large
**Root causes**: Dev dependencies bundled, no tree-shaking, duplicate Electron binaries
**Solutions**: Audit `files` patterns in `electron-builder.yml`. Use a bundler (Vite/esbuild) for the renderer. Check that `devDependencies` are not in `dependencies`. Use `compression: maximum`.

---

#### Imported: Limitations

- Electron bundles Chromium + Node.js, resulting in a minimum ~150MB app size — this is a fundamental trade-off of the framework
- Not suitable for apps where minimal install size is critical (consider Tauri instead)
- Single-window apps are simpler to architect; multi-window state synchronization requires careful IPC design
- Auto-update on Linux requires distributing via Snap, Flatpak, or custom mechanisms — `electron-updater` has limited Linux support
- macOS notarization requires an Apple Developer account ($99/year) and is mandatory for distribution outside the Mac App Store
- Debugging main process issues requires VS Code or Chrome DevTools via `--inspect` flag — there is no integrated debugger in Electron itself