As an alternative to packaging a Kiss application as a desktop application with Electron, the application can be distributed as a standalone, browser-based package. This approach uses the system’s default web browser as the user interface and requires no additional frameworks beyond Java.
The resulting distribution is a single zip file that works on Linux, macOS, and Windows — a single package for all platforms.
The target system must have the following installed:
No other dependencies are required. The distribution includes its own embedded Tomcat server.
./bld build [Linux / macOS]
or
bld build [Windows]
This compiles the application and deploys it to the embedded Tomcat server.
Run the distribution build script from the project root, passing the desired distribution name as an argument:
./build-dist MyApp
This creates work/MyApp.zip ready for distribution to end users. The name argument determines both the zip filename and the directory name inside the zip.
Launcher script for Linux and macOS. Checks for Java, starts the server, waits for it to be ready, and opens the default web browser.
Shutdown script for Linux and macOS.
Launcher script for Windows.
Shutdown script for Windows.
The embedded Tomcat server with the application pre-deployed in tomcat/webapps/ROOT/.
./start.sh [Linux / macOS]
or
start.bat [Windows]
http://localhost:8080.
./stop.sh [Linux / macOS]
or
stop.bat [Windows]
| Feature | Browser Distribution | Electron Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform from single package | Yes | No (build per OS) |
| Dedicated application window | No (browser tab) | Yes |
| Custom application menus | No | Yes |
| Distribution size | ~30 MB | ~150 MB+ per OS |
| Requires Java | Yes | Yes |
| Requires Node.js / npm | No | Yes |