Discord is moving its desktop app from Electron to Rust for improved speed and memory safety; its CTO shares an image of the Windows app using just 290MB of RAM

Discord's desktop app will soon use substantially less RAM, potentially freeing up resources on your computer.

Discord is transitioning its desktop application from the Electron framework to Rust, a programming language emphasizing speed and memory safety. Chief Technology Officer Stanislav Vishnevskiy announced the move, stating that Rust has been integrated into various parts of Discord's infrastructure and technology since 2018. This shift aims to reduce the desktop app's significant resource consumption, with Vishnevskiy sharing an image of the Windows client using approximately 290MB of RAM, a notable reduction from its typical usage which can exceed 1GB. The company also plans to use Rust for shared application code between desktop and mobile, while mobile will retain its native UI. Discord intends to begin user testing for the Rust-based client soon.

This migration signifies a broader industry trend away from resource-intensive frameworks like Electron towards more performant and memory-safe alternatives such as Rust for desktop applications. Discord's decision, driven by past positive experiences with Rust in its infrastructure, highlights the potential for significant performance gains and improved user experience. The company's integration strategy, aiming for shared Rust code across desktop and mobile, suggests a future where cross-platform development prioritizes code reuse and native performance.

The move is likely to put pressure on other developers relying on Electron, especially for applications that demand high performance or operate on resource-constrained devices. As Discord demonstrates substantial RAM savings, other companies may re-evaluate their technology stacks. The success of this transition could accelerate Rust adoption in client-side application development, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and user-facing performance in the desktop app market.