When developing applications with Tauri, a lightweight framework for building desktop applications using web technologies, you might encounter the need to establish communication between two apps running on different PCs over a Local Area Network (LAN). This article will guide you through setting up communication between two Tauri apps, addressing common issues and providing practical examples.
Understanding the Problem
The main challenge is how to enable two Tauri applications on different machines within a LAN to communicate effectively. This requires networking capabilities that allow data exchange between the two applications without excessive complexity.
Original Code Scenario
To illustrate the challenge, consider the following pseudo-code snippet which aims to send data between two Tauri applications:
// App A (Sender)
async function sendData() {
const response = await fetch('http://<IP_ADDRESS_OF_APP_B>:<PORT>/receive', {
method: 'POST',
body: JSON.stringify({ message: "Hello from App A" }),
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
});
}
// App B (Receiver)
app.post('/receive', (req, res) => {
console.log(req.body.message);
res.send('Message received');
});
This code attempts to send a message from App A to App B. However, without proper configuration, this will not work as intended, and could lead to errors such as connection timeouts or CORS issues.
Setting Up Communication
1. Configure Network Settings
First, ensure both PCs are connected to the same LAN and can ping each other. You can do this by using the command line:
ping <IP_ADDRESS_OF_OTHER_PC>
2. Tauri Configuration
In your Tauri project's tauri.conf.json, allow cross-origin requests by adding the necessary permissions:
{
"tauri": {
"allowlist": {
"http": true
}
}
}
3. Implement the Server on App B
For App B to listen for incoming requests, you can use an Express.js server. Install Express by running:
npm install express
In your App B code, set up a simple server:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = <PORT>;
app.use(express.json());
app.post('/receive', (req, res) => {
console.log(req.body.message);
res.send('Message received');
});
app.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`Server listening on port ${PORT}`);
});
4. Update App A to Send Data
In App A, make sure the fetch request points to the correct IP address and port of App B:
async function sendData() {
const response = await fetch('http://<IP_ADDRESS_OF_APP_B>:<PORT>/receive', {
method: 'POST',
body: JSON.stringify({ message: "Hello from App A" }),
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
});
if (response.ok) {
console.log('Data sent successfully');
} else {
console.error('Failed to send data');
}
}
5. Test the Communication
Run both apps and try sending a message from App A to App B. You should see the message logged in the console of App B.
Additional Tips
- Error Handling: Implement error handling to catch any issues during data transmission.
- Network Security: Consider the security implications of allowing communication over the network. Use HTTPS for secure transmissions when possible.
- Using WebSockets: If your application requires real-time communication, consider using WebSockets for bidirectional communication.
Conclusion
Setting up communication between two Tauri applications over LAN can be straightforward with the right configuration and code. By following the steps outlined above, developers can effectively manage data exchange between applications running on separate PCs.
Useful Resources
By leveraging these resources and following best practices, you can ensure seamless communication between your Tauri applications. Happy coding!
