Adding Node.js server to Tauri App as a sidecar

The article discusses the process of integrating a Node.js server as a sidecar in a Tauri app, which can be a challenging task for many developers. The author shares their experience of tackling this challenge and the roadblocks they encountered along the way. Due to the lack of comprehensive resources online, the author had to seek help from the Tauri GitHub discussions, where a maintainer provided guidance that helped resolve the issue. To start the process, one needs to create a Tauri app and a Node.js package, and then convert the Node.js file into an executable file using the pkg command. The executable file needs to be renamed to a specific format required by Tauri, which includes the target triple suffix. The next step is to configure the main file by creating a binaries folder and updating the tauri.conf.json file to include the external binary. The author also provides steps to add the necessary permissions and code to spawn the sidecar, and finally, to run the Tauri app in development mode. By following these steps, one can successfully integrate a Node.js server as a sidecar in a Tauri app. The setup can be verified by opening the app and checking for permission to run Node.js or by visiting the server's status in a browser. Overall, the article aims to provide a clear and comprehensive guide to help Tauri developers overcome the challenges of integrating a Node.js server as a sidecar.