GJSify

Native desktop apps,
in TypeScript

One framework where the Node.js, Web and GNOME ecosystems meet. Write TypeScript once, run it natively on GJS, Node.js, Deno or Bun — across Linux, macOS and Windows. No embedded browser.

Get Started GitHub

$ gjs -m express-webserver.js

  Express.js blog running on GJS

  ➜  Local:    http://localhost:3000/
  ➜  API:      http://localhost:3000/api/posts

  Press Ctrl+C to stop

[12:34:56] GET /
[12:34:56] GET /style.css
[12:34:56] GET /app.js
[12:34:56] GET /api/runtime
[12:34:56] GET /api/posts

import '@gjsify/node-globals';
import express from 'express';
import { posts } from './data/posts.js';

const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

app.get('/api/posts', (_req, res) => {
  res.json({ count: posts.length, posts });
});

app.get('/api/posts/:slug', (req, res) => {
  const post = posts.find((p) => p.slug === req.params.slug);
  if (!post) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Not found' });
  res.json(post);
});

app.use(express.static('public'));

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Express server running at http://localhost:3000');
});

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase express-webserver

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase express-webserver --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase express-webserver --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase express-webserver --runtime deno

import { ControlType, type StoryMeta } from '@gjsify/stories';

// Author a widget's story once — renderer-free metadata + controls.
// The native GTK storybook (gjsify storybook) and the browser one
// both render it from this same source, so the two stay in lockstep.
export const switchRowMeta: StoryMeta = {
  title: 'Boxed Lists/Switch Row',
  description: 'Adw.SwitchRow — a row with a trailing switch.',
  controls: [
    { name: 'title', label: 'Title', type: ControlType.TEXT, defaultValue: 'Automatic updates' },
    { name: 'active', label: 'Active', type: ControlType.BOOLEAN, defaultValue: true },
  ],
};

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase adwaita-storybook

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase adwaita-storybook --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase adwaita-storybook --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase adwaita-storybook --runtime deno

import Adw from 'gi://Adw?version=1';
import { WebGLBridge } from '@gjsify/webgl';
import * as THREE from 'three';
import { RenderPixelatedPass } from 'three/addons/postprocessing/RenderPixelatedPass.js';
import { EffectComposer } from 'three/addons/postprocessing/EffectComposer.js';

const app = new Adw.Application({ application_id: 'gjsify.examples.pixel' });
app.connect('activate', () => {
  const glArea = new WebGLBridge();
  glArea.onReady((canvas) => {
    const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ canvas });
    const scene = new THREE.Scene();
    const camera = new THREE.OrthographicCamera();
    const composer = new EffectComposer(renderer);
    composer.addPass(new RenderPixelatedPass(6, scene, camera));
  });
});

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase three-postprocessing-pixel

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-postprocessing-pixel --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-postprocessing-pixel --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-postprocessing-pixel --runtime deno

import Adw from 'gi://Adw?version=1';
import { WebGLBridge } from '@gjsify/webgl';
import * as THREE from 'three';
import { TeapotGeometry } from 'three/addons/geometries/TeapotGeometry.js';

const app = new Adw.Application({ application_id: 'gjsify.examples.teapot' });
app.connect('activate', () => {
  const glArea = new WebGLBridge();
  glArea.onReady((canvas) => {
    const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ canvas });
    const scene = new THREE.Scene();
    const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(45);
    scene.add(new THREE.Mesh(
      new TeapotGeometry(50, 20),
      new THREE.MeshPhongMaterial({ color: 0xc0c0c0 })
    ));
  });
});

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase three-geometry-teapot

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-geometry-teapot --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-geometry-teapot --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-geometry-teapot --runtime deno

import Adw from 'gi://Adw?version=1';
import { WebGLBridge } from '@gjsify/webgl';
import * as THREE from 'three';
import { LDrawLoader } from 'three/addons/loaders/LDrawLoader.js';

const app = new Adw.Application({ application_id: 'gjsify.examples.ldraw' });
app.connect('activate', () => {
  const glArea = new WebGLBridge();
  glArea.onReady((canvas) => {
    const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ canvas });
    const scene = new THREE.Scene();
    const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(45);

    new LDrawLoader().load('models/car.ldr_Packed.mpd', (model) => {
      model.rotation.x = Math.PI;
      scene.add(model);
    });
  });
});

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase three-loader-ldraw

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-loader-ldraw --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-loader-ldraw --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase three-loader-ldraw --runtime deno

import Adw from 'gi://Adw?version=1';
import { WebGLBridge } from '@gjsify/webgl';
import * as ex from 'excalibur';
import { startGame } from './game.js';

const app = new Adw.Application({
  application_id: 'gjsify.examples.jelly-jumper',
});
app.connect('activate', () => {
  const glArea = new WebGLBridge();
  glArea.onReady(async (canvas) => {
    const game = await startGame(canvas);
    // game.mute();   // toggle audio
    // game.pause();  // toggle pause
  });
});

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase excalibur-jelly-jumper

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase excalibur-jelly-jumper --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase excalibur-jelly-jumper --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase excalibur-jelly-jumper --runtime deno

import Adw from 'gi://Adw?version=1';
import { Canvas2DBridge } from '@gjsify/canvas2d';
import { start } from './fireworks.js';

const app = new Adw.Application({ application_id: 'gjsify.examples.fireworks' });
app.connect('activate', () => {
  const canvasWidget = new Canvas2DBridge();
  canvasWidget.installGlobals();
  canvasWidget.onReady((canvas) => {
    const demo = start(canvas);
    // demo.effectController.particleCount = 60;
    // demo.effectController.autoInterval = 150;
  });
});

Full example →

Terminal

gjsify showcase canvas2d-fireworks

npx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase canvas2d-fireworks --runtime node

bunx @gjsify/cli@latest showcase canvas2d-fireworks --runtime bun

deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest showcase canvas2d-fireworks --runtime deno

One app. Every desktop.

The same TypeScript, the same Adwaita widgets, the same gjsify commands. GJSify talks to the real GTK 4 libraries on each system — no embedded browser, no per-platform rewrite.

GNOME Native GJS on the system libadwaita.

Get started in seconds

Terminal

# See every command, from create to ship
gjsify --help

# Scaffold a new app
gjsify create my-app

# See every command, from create to ship
npx @gjsify/cli@latest --help

# Scaffold a new app
npx @gjsify/cli@latest create my-app

# See every command, from create to ship
bunx @gjsify/cli@latest --help

# Scaffold a new app
bunx @gjsify/cli@latest create my-app

# See every command, from create to ship
deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest --help

# Scaffold a new app
deno run -A --reload --min-dep-age 0 npm:@gjsify/cli@latest create my-app

Getting Started Guide CLI Reference