Wails Desktop Framework - Technical Reference

Framework Overview

What it is: Go-powered desktop app framework with web frontends, designed as lightweight Electron alternative
Core value: 23MB vs 150MB+ bundle size, 40-80MB RAM vs 150-300MB baseline of Electron
Maturity: Active since 2019, 30k GitHub stars, actively maintained, v3 in alpha

Critical Performance Specifications

Size Comparison (Objective Data)

• Wails: ~10-23MB production builds
• Electron: ~306MB baseline for equivalent functionality
• Memory Usage: Wails 40-80MB vs Electron 150-300MB baseline

Runtime Architecture

• Windows: WebView2 (Edge-based)
• macOS: WebKit
• Linux: WebKit via GTK
• Uses system webview instead of bundling Chrome

Resource Requirements

Time Investment

• Known Go developers: Few days to productivity
• Learning Go: 2-3 weeks minimum before productive development
• Hot reload issues: Expect manual restarts, budget debugging time

Technical Prerequisites

• Go proficiency (mandatory, not optional)
• Platform-specific debugging tools knowledge
• Understanding of webview limitations per platform

Production Configuration

Type-Safe Bindings (Core Feature)

// Go struct automatically generates TypeScript definitions
type User struct {
    ID    int    `json:"id"`
    Name  string `json:"name"`
    Email string `json:"email"`
}

Critical limitation: Complex nested structs generate problematic TypeScript - keep API structures simple

Frontend Framework Support

• React: Works well, complex state management requires careful boundary design
• Vue: Solid choice, Vue 3 Composition API recommended
• Svelte: Lightweight, plays well with Go backend
• Vanilla JS: Avoid unless building minimal applications

Critical Failure Modes

Development Issues (High Frequency)

1. Hot reload failure: Random stops, requires Ctrl+C and wails dev restart
2. Node process memory leak: Windows-specific, RAM grows until restart required
3. Cross-compilation failures: Windows builds on Linux/Mac temperamental
4. Circular import crashes: Between Go and JS, breaks hot reload completely

Debugging Pain Points

• Native crashes: Cryptic errors like "signal 11" with no context
• Platform-specific webview debugging:
  • macOS: Safari dev tools (clunky)
  • Windows: Edge DevTools (better but still limited)
• Integration layer errors: Poor error messages when Go-JS boundary fails

Build System Gotchas

• Windows CGO dependencies: Random failures with dependency resolution
• Code signing: Required for distribution, costs money on Windows
• macOS notarization: Complex process for app store distribution

Multi-Window Support

v2 limitation: Single window only, requires workarounds
v3 alpha: Proper multi-window support, but alpha stability warnings apply
Production decision: Don't bet on v3 for current projects

Comparative Analysis

Aspect	Wails	Electron	Tauri
Bundle Size	10-23MB	306MB+	Similar to Wails
RAM Usage	40-80MB	150-300MB	Similar to Wails
GitHub Stars	30k	117k+	95k
Backend Language	Go	JavaScript/Node	Rust
Learning Curve	Go required	JS knowledge sufficient	Rust required

Decision Criteria

Choose Wails If:

• Resource efficiency critical (mobile/low-end hardware)
• Team has Go expertise or willingness to learn
• Type-safe backend important
• Smaller ecosystem acceptable

Avoid Wails If:

• Team unfamiliar with Go and tight deadlines
• Need mature multi-window support immediately
• Require extensive third-party integrations
• Can't afford 2-3 week Go learning curve

Operational Intelligence

Community Support Quality

• Discord community: Active and helpful for debugging
• Documentation: Well-written, assumes Go knowledge
• GitHub issues: Search before posting, responsive maintainers

Real-World Usage Examples

• Tiny RDM: Redis GUI, demonstrates complex UI patterns
• Production viability: People do ship Wails apps successfully
• Framework comparison data: Available with objective metrics

Hidden Costs

• Go learning investment: Non-negotiable 2-3 week minimum
• Platform-specific debugging skills: Required for production issues
• Code signing/distribution: Additional complexity vs web deployment
• Smaller ecosystem: Fewer community solutions available

Breaking Points

• 1000+ UI spans: Performance degradation affecting debugging
• Complex nested types: TypeScript generation becomes problematic
• Extensive native integrations: Limited compared to Electron ecosystem

Migration Considerations

From Electron: Expect significant architecture changes, not drop-in replacement
Development workflow: More similar to traditional desktop development
Distribution: More complex than web deployment, simpler than native C++

Critical Success Factors

1. Go proficiency: Mandatory before starting
2. Simple API design: Complex types cause binding issues
3. Platform debugging setup: Essential for production issues
4. Realistic timeline: Account for Go learning curve
5. Hot reload expectations: Plan for manual restarts