Luna is a desktop application that manages npm dependencies through a modern UI. The presentation discusses: 1) The motivation for creating Luna to address limitations in existing tools and help other developers. 2) The challenges in building something new that fulfills needs and gains community acceptance. 3) The architecture and technology stack of Electron, React, Redux and RxJS that provides testability, maintainability and scalability. 4) The branching model of GitFlow and project structure that keeps development organized.

1. Luna
How to build and maintain
an application in Github
Arvanitis Panagiotis
Front-end engineer

2. Hello!
I am Panagiotis
Front-end engineer at Agile Actors
I love JavaScript/Node JS and Data visualizations.
Twitter: @rvpanoz
Github: github.com/rvpanoz
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3. What is this talk about?
In this presentation I will talk about Luna.
A side project which I started a year ago.
Hope you like it! 😉
3

4. So.. what is Luna?
Luna is a desktop application that manages
npm dependencies through a modern UI.
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5. Ag
en
da
Publishing
Application images
Community feedback
Result
Motivation
Why I started this project
Challenges
The making of
Branching model
Structure
Planning
Open source
Technology stack
Architecture
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03 04
01

6. Motivation
● Understanding the needs
● The challenges
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7. Why I started this project?
● Handle npm dependencies and running npm
commands through a User Interface (UI).
● The applications existed at the time were
incomplete or lack of features (ndm)
* ndm - https://github.com/720kb/ndm
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8. ● Help other developers and collaborate.
● Grow as a developer. Enhance my skills and
knowledge.
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Why I started this project?

9. The
challenges
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10. Create
something new
Create something that did
not exist as I would like it
to be..
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11. Acceptance and
Usefulness
Make other dev’s lives easier
and to be embraced by the
community.
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12. All in one
project
Combine latest technologies
into one project.
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13. Publishing
● Application images
● Community feedback
● Result
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14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17

18. 18

19. ● Twitter
● References
● Github
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Community feedback

20. 20
@RebeccaOrg
Npm cli project lead

21. 21
@maybekatz
Npm cli core team

22. 22
@bitandbang
devRel at Microsoft

23. 23
● Awesome npm
https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome-npm
● Electron apps
https://electronjs.org/apps/luna
● Detailed mention in npm weekly #192
https://medium.com/npm-inc/npm-weekly-192-npm-stats-are-back-meet-lu
na-publish-a-react-component-with-npm-a473c64f1135
● ArchLinux
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/luna/

24. 750+
stars
20+ Issues
from the community
1500+
clones
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25. Problem has been solved!
● Handle npm dependencies fast - not typing the
commands by hand.
● Find updates and security issues immediately.
● Grow as developer.
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26. Planning
● Open source
● Technology Stack
● Architecture
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27. Open source
project
27
1
Licensing Clean code
2
Good README
3
Contributing
guidelines
4

28. Choosing the
technology
stack
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29. ElectronJS
https://electronjs.org/
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Why..?
- One of the best general desktop application framework
- Use web technologies
- Good documentation
- Maintainable

30. ReactJS
https://reactjs.org/
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Why..?
- Most popular Web UI library (V of MVC)
- Very active development

31. ReduxJS
https://redux.js.org/
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Why..?
- One of the most popular and interesting MVC implementation
- Encourages best practices (e.g predictability, aspect orientation)

32. RxJS
https://rxjs-dev.firebaseapp.com/
32
Why..?
- Business logic modeling and implementation in the form of stream
of actions
- Data transformation
- I/O and asynchronous computations management through
streams

33. Material UI
https://material-ui.com/
33
Why..?
- Implements Google’s Material design
- Ready to use React components
- Faster development

34. Webpack
https://webpack.js.org/
34
Why..?
- Bundling
- Code splitting
- Development server

35. So far.. so good!
Time for design.
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36. Architecture
design
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37. 37
Main Process Renderer Process
● Running npm commands using
nodejs child_process module
● Packaging and distributing
● System logging
● Views (React)
● Business logic (RxJS)
● Predictable state management
(Redux)
● Testing (Jest)
Operating system
(Linux/Windows/macOS)
NodeJS
API
Electron IPC
API
NodeJS
API
IPC Electron
API
DOM
creates
communicates
Application architecture

38. 38
Renderer Process (Web page)
Views
Business logic
RxJS
Predictable state
management
I/O
Side effects
Actions
A Unidirectional model
actions in
actions out
Listen for changes
actions out

39. Why this architecture?
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1. Testable
2. Maintainable
3. Scalable
4. Clear responsibilities and concerns

40. The making of
● Branching model
● Structure
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41. The branching model
GitFlow Workflow:
● Two main branches
● Supporting branches
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Why..?
- Changes made through
feature branches
- Continuously support
previous versions
- Familiarity

42. Main branches:
● Master
● Develop
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43. Supporting branches:
● Feature
● Release
● Hotfix
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44. The project structure
44
Why..?
- Clean
- Similar content into separate
folder
- Easy to find things
4 main folders:
● App folder
● Configs folder
● Internals
● Resources

45. 45
app
MainProcess ComponentsStore Models Reducers
ContainersNpm API Presentationalmain.js
App folder structure

46. The next day..
● Collaborate with others passionate developers
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47. 47
Thanks!
Any questions?