The Desktop Client Project needs an Application that can easily install and update the Desktop
Client.
It must be compatible cross-platform with Windows, macOS and Linux.
The launcher will be the main application that the user will download from the website. So it
must be a small size app.
To make this application, the team considered the following options.
Considered options
Option A
Use a native app using the Qt library in C++.
Advantages
Using this approach, it will be a speedy app with very low overhead that runs smoothly
cross-platform Windows/Mac/Linux
The Launcher can be used as an Error Catcher
Disadvantages
There are not any projects with this technology at decentraland
Option B
Update directly from Unity and self-update the client.
Advantages
The app can be deployed as a simple game that can self-updated
There is no need to maintain two apps (Desktop Client and Desktop Launcher)
Disadvantages
Some technical doubts about whether Unity can be self-updated without major problems.
Having everything in one app can be a problem. The application has more than one
responsibility, and maybe the Desktop Client can interfere with some functionality of the
Launcher.
The Launcher can't be used as an Error catcher because everything is in one app
The app can be huge in size
Option C
Create an Electron App with React JS
Advantages
Easy to maintain. There are plenty of react projects in decentraland
It has a self-update feature integrated
More features can be added to it, like stats or a section of news and updates.
The Launcher can be used as an Error Catcher
Disadvantages
The app can be a bit heavy in size
Decision
The selected option it's option C, Electron App with React JS. There are
many advantages: for example, that the project can be split up into multiple teams. It has the
self-update feature integrated so the team can deliver the product faster.
