What it does
Wails is a framework and CLI for packaging Go code with a web-based frontend as a desktop application. It scaffolds projects, builds and bundles the frontend, and provides bindings so JavaScript can call Go methods. Developers can use familiar frameworks such as Svelte, React, Vue, or vanilla JavaScript while adding desktop functions such as native menus and dialogs. It is aimed at teams that want a desktop deliverable without building the interface entirely with a native UI toolkit.
Start from a project template
After installing the Go and Node.js tooling plus the platform-specific WebView dependencies, use the Wails CLI to generate a project. For example, the documented template form is wails init -n myproject -t svelte-ts. The generated project keeps the Go application and web frontend in separate folders. Build the screen with the selected frontend and expose Go methods where local application behavior belongs; Wails generates TypeScript definitions for Go structs and methods that the frontend can call.
An illustrative first project might be a small desktop task list whose interface is written in Svelte while Go reads and writes a local data file. Wails handles the bridge and bundles the application for the target desktop platform.
The platform list includes Windows, macOS, and Linux, but development and packaging still require native dependencies for the chosen system. The official site currently marks Wails v3 as beta, while its v2 documentation is versioned as v2.17.0. This guide follows that v2 documentation rather than treating the beta as a separate product.
Strengths
- Combines a Go backend with common web UI frameworks in one desktop application workflow.
- Provides JavaScript-to-Go method bindings and generated TypeScript definitions.
- Includes native desktop features such as menus and dialogs.
Watch out for
- Developers must install Go, Node.js, and platform-specific WebView or build dependencies.
- Packaging and testing remain operating-system-specific even when the frontend code is shared.
Best for
- Go developers building desktop utilities with a web frontend.
- Teams reusing React, Svelte, Vue, or vanilla JavaScript skills in a desktop application.
Sources
- The Wails Project | Wails (Oct 25, 2026)
- Creating a Project | Wails (Oct 25, 2026)
- Installation | Wails (Oct 25, 2026)
- wailsapp/wails (Oct 25, 2026)
- MIT License (Oct 25, 2026)