Electron vs. Web: A Comparative Analysis of Energy and Performance in Communication Apps

Jonathan Thangadurai, Priyeta Saha, Korawit Rupanya, Rosheen Naeem, Alejandro Enriquez, Gian Luca Scoccia, Matias Martinez, Ivano Malavolta*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Nowadays, remote communication and collaboration apps are indispensable tools for working and recreation. Typically, they can be accessed either via a Web browser or by installing a desktop application. The desktop versions of the most popular communication apps are implemented using a framework called Electron. The primary objective of this research is to critically assess Electron-based communication apps against their Web-based equivalents, to quantify aspects related to energy efficiency and computational demands. An exhaustive multi-factor and multi-treatment experimental design was employed. This structure encompasses unique scenarios that account for platform types, modes of interaction, and interaction durations. The experiment demonstrates that there are differences, with varying effect sizes, in energy consumption and performance between Electron- and Web-based apps. While Electron-based apps exhibit higher CPU utilization and in some cases slightly higher network usage, their Web-based counterparts tend to consume more energy and memory under various configurations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationQuality of Information and Communications Technology
Subtitle of host publication17th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology, QUATIC 2024, Pisa, Italy, September 11–13, 2024, Proceedings
EditorsAntonia Bertolino, João Pascoal Faria, Patricia Lago, Laura Semini
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages177-193
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9783031702457
ISBN (Print)9783031702440
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Event17th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology, QUATIC 2024 - Pisa, Italy
Duration: 11 Sept 202413 Sept 2024

Publication series

NameCommunications in Computer and Information Science
Volume2178 CCIS
ISSN (Print)1865-0929
ISSN (Electronic)1865-0937
NameQUATIC: International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology
PublisherSpringer
Volume2024

Conference

Conference17th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology, QUATIC 2024
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityPisa
Period11/09/2413/09/24

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

Keywords

  • Empirical study
  • Energy consumption
  • Web browser

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