Using console.log() in Electron app

Question

How can I log data or messages to the console in my Electron app?

This really basic hello world opens the dev tools by default, by I am unable to use console.log('hi'). Is there an alternative for Electron?

main.js

var app = require('app');
var BrowserWindow = require('browser-window');

require('crash-reporter').start();

var mainWindow = null;

app.on('window-all-closed', function() {
  // Mac OS X - close is done explicitly with Cmd + Q, not just closing windows
  if (process.platform != 'darwin') {
    app.quit();
  }
});

app.on('ready', function(){
  mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({ width: 800, height: 600});

  mainWindow.loadUrl('file://' + __dirname + '/index.html');

  mainWindow.openDevTools();

  mainWindow.on('closed', function(){
    mainWindow = null;
  });
});

Answer 1

console.log works, but where it logs to depends on whether you call it from the main process or the renderer process.

If you call it from the renderer process (i.e. JavaScript that is included from your index.html file) it will be logged to the dev tools window.

If you call it from the main process (i.e. in main.js) it will work the same way as it does in Node - it will log to the terminal window. If you're starting your Electron process from the Terminal using electron . you can see your console.log calls from the main process there.