zero-native

zero-native

Build native apps with Zig, secure WebView surfaces, native controls, and OS capabilities. Use web UI where it is strongest, and native surfaces where the operating system should own the experience.

Why zero-native

Native shell, web where it fits

Create native windows, menus, shortcuts, controls, status bars, sidebars, dialogs, and OS capability calls from Zig. WebViews remain first-class for rich product UI, but they are one surface in the app, not the entire model.

Tiny and fast

zero-native apps using the system WebView produce sub-megabyte binaries and use a fraction of the memory you'd expect from a native app framework. No bundled runtime bloating your app.

Choose your web engine

Use the system WebView for lightweight apps, or bundle Chromium via CEF when you need pixel-perfect rendering consistency. Same API, different tradeoff. You choose per project.

Fast native rebuilds

Zig compiles fast. Change your bridge commands, system integrations, or app logic and get a rebuilt binary in seconds. Your frontend still hot-reloads instantly.

Any C library, one import away

Zig calls C directly. No binding generation, no unsafe wrappers, no glue code. Native SDKs, audio codecs, ML runtimes: include the header and call it. When your app needs to go deeper than the built-in APIs, nothing is out of reach.

Cross-platform foundation

Build macOS, Linux, and Windows desktop shells from one Zig codebase. The native layer stays small and explicit while WebView content, native controls, and OS services share one runtime model.

Simpler native layer

No borrow checker. No lifetimes. No fighting the compiler for 20 minutes over a string. Zig is a simple, readable systems language that web developers can pick up in an afternoon.

Get started

zero-native init my_app --frontend next
cd my_app
zig build run

The first run installs the generated frontend dependencies, then opens a native window rendering your HTML. Read the full Quick Start to go from zero to a packaged app.

Learn more

  • Quick Start -- Create, run, and package your first app
  • Web Engines -- System WebView vs. Chromium (CEF)
  • App Model -- Apps, sources, and lifecycle
  • Native Surfaces -- Compose WebView, native chrome, controls, and OS services
  • Native Controls -- Native chrome and utility surfaces around WebViews
  • Capabilities -- Clipboard, notifications, credentials, file drops, and OS services
  • Platform Support -- Current desktop backend support matrix
  • Bridge -- Call native Zig from JavaScript
  • Security -- Permissions, policies, and navigation rules