Discord is rebuilding its app in Rust, with an early build using about 290 MB of RAM

Technology · First reported 5 Nov, 21:38 · Updated 21:49

Discord says it is replacing Electron in its desktop app with a Rust-based client and plans to begin user testing soon, though it has not announced a release date. An early Windows build was shown using 290.2 MB of memory; Discord has not yet released independent performance measurements.

CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy showed an early Windows build using 290.2 MB of memory. One report says the current Windows client regularly uses more than 500 MB; another says it normally stays under 1 GB.
The rebuild removes Electron from the desktop client, and Discord says it is also dropping React Native on mobile. The mobile apps will keep their native interface while sharing code with desktop through Rust.
Discord is using GPUI, a Rust framework, for the new client rather than Tauri. Vishnevskiy has said Discord has used Rust since 2018.
Discord has shown the new client opening faster in a side-by-side comparison, but the reports note that independent measurements are not available while it remains outside public testing.
Discord says it hopes to start testing with users soon. It has not announced a release date, which platforms will get testing first, or whether early builds will be opt-in.

Summary written by Lux AI from 3 articles

Key facts

Early build memory use: 290.2 MB
Framework being replaced on desktop: Electron
New client framework: GPUI, written in Rust
Testing: Discord hopes to begin user testing soon; no release date has been given.
Mobile approach: Native interface retained, with app code shared through Rust.