Configuration

Most configuration lives in deno.json; window presets live in src/window/config.ts.

deno.json

The scaffolded app ships one deno.json (the root template/deno.json) that wires tasks, the import map, the Deno Desktop config, lint and compilerOptions. It's a project file, not a package file — no name/exports needed unless you publish your own app:

jsonc

{
  "tasks": {
    "maker": "deno run -A src/core/maker/mod.ts",  // CLI: make:* / db:* / build* / bundle* / dev / serve / ui
    "dev": "deno task maker dev",                  // codegen → build UI → desktop app (HMR)
    "serve": "deno task maker serve",              // codegen → server entry (headless-aware)
    "ui": "deno task maker ui",                    // raw Vite dev server (browser tab)
    "test": "deno test -A"
  },
  "lint": {
    "exclude": ["src/ui", "src/database", "src/database/migrations", "src/storage", "src/extensions", "node_modules", "dist"]
  },
  "nodeModulesDir": "auto",
  "desktop": {
    "app": {
      "name": "Deskapp",
      "icons": {
        "macos": "./src/icons/web-app-manifest-512x512.png",
        "windows": "./src/icons/favicon.ico",
        "linux": "./src/icons/web-app-manifest-512x512.png"
      },
      "deepLinks": ["deskapp"]
    },
    "backend": "webview",
    "output": {
      "macos": "./dist/Deskapp.app",
      "windows": "./dist/Deskapp",
      "linux": "./dist/deskapp"
    }
  },
  "imports": {
    "@/": "./src/",
    "@/ui/": "./src/ui/src/",
    "@cliffy/command": "jsr:@cliffy/command@^1.2.1",
    "@libsql/client": "npm:@libsql/client@^0.18.0",
    "@std/assert": "jsr:@std/assert@1",
    "@std/dotenv": "jsr:@std/dotenv@^0.225.8",
    "@std/http": "jsr:@std/http@^1.1.3",
    "@std/path": "jsr:@std/path@^1.1.6",
    "@vitejs/plugin-vue": "npm:@vitejs/plugin-vue@^6.0.8",
    "axios": "npm:axios@^1.20.0",
    "bcryptjs": "npm:bcryptjs@^3.0.3",
    "bootstrap": "npm:bootstrap@^5.3.8",
    "bootstrap-icons": "npm:bootstrap-icons@^1.13.1",
    "croner": "npm:croner@^10.0.1",
    "drizzle-kit": "npm:drizzle-kit@^0.31.10",
    "drizzle-orm": "npm:drizzle-orm@^0.45.2",
    "pinia": "npm:pinia@^4.0.3",
    "playwright": "npm:playwright@^1.61.1",
    "sass-embedded": "npm:sass-embedded@^1.103.1",
    "socket.io-client": "npm:socket.io-client@^4.8.3",
    "typescript": "npm:typescript@^7.0.2",
    "vite": "npm:vite@^8.2.2",
    "vue": "npm:vue@^3.5.42",
    "vue-router": "npm:vue-router@^5.3.1",
    "zod": "npm:zod@^4.5.4"
  },
  "compilerOptions": {
    "strict": false,
    "lib": ["deno.window", "dom", "dom.iterable", "esnext"]
  }
}

Key sections

imports — the import map: @/ → ./src/, @/ui/ → ./src/ui/src/, plus every npm/jsr dependency. Add new deps with deno add npm:something.
desktop.app — display name, per-OS icon paths, deep-link schemes. This is your app identity; the bundler reads it too. The icons configured here are what every window shows in the taskbar/dock — Deno Desktop's BrowserWindowOptions has no per-window icon (see win — Known quirks).
desktop.backend / desktop.output — backend flavor (webview) and per-OS output paths.
lint / nodeModulesDir — what deno lint touches and npm node_modules handling (auto).
compilerOptions — strict: false, with deno.window + DOM libs so the UI's type declarations resolve under deno check as well.
tasks — see the table below.

Tasks (deno.json)

Task	Runs
`maker`	The maker CLI (run `deno task maker` for full command help): `make:` scaffolders, `db:` database commands, and the build/bundle codegen subcommands below.
`dev`	`deno task maker dev` — codegen (schema + bindings) → build UI → `deno desktop --env-file --hmr -A src/main.ts`
`serve`	`deno task maker serve` — codegen → `deno run -A --env-file src/main.ts` (headless-aware server)
`ui`	`deno task maker ui` — raw Vite dev server (browser tab, no `bindings`)
`test`	`deno test -A`

Maker subcommands

The heavy lifting lives in the maker CLI (one script, many subcommands), so deno.json stays at five thin tasks. The relevant ones here:

Maker command	Meaning
`maker codegen`	`db:schema` + `bindings:gen` — regenerate the DB schema and the bindings manifest
`maker bindings:gen`	regenerate `src/core/api/bindings.generated.ts`
`maker build` / `build:win` / `build:mac` / `build:linux`	build UI then `deno desktop`, cross-compiled via `--target <triple>`
`maker bundle` / `bundle:win` / `bundle:mac` / `bundle:linux`	full bundle via `src/core/bundle.ts` (add `--ui=skip` for a headless server-only app)
`maker dev` / `serve` / `ui`	the wrappers above — same as `deno task dev` / `serve` / `ui`

There's no publish task here — deno task maker bundle:* cover distribution.

Windows (`src/window/config.ts`)

Only presets declared in the windows map open at boot — the default template ships just main. Every extra native window is opened on demand with the reusable win.openWindow() API, passing an inline preset:

export interface WindowPreset {
  title: string;
  width: number;
  height: number;
  x?: number;                    // centered if omitted
  y?: number;
  resizable?: boolean;
  alwaysOnTop?: boolean;
  frameless?: boolean;           // creation-only
  noActivate?: boolean;          // creation-only
  transparentTitlebar?: boolean; // creation-only
  route?: string;                // in-app path to navigate to at boot
  chrome?: boolean;              // main window: install default menu/context-menu/tray; false skips it
}

export const windows: Record<string, WindowPreset> = {
  main: { title: "Deskapp", width: 1280, height: 800, resizable: true, route: "/" },
};

// From any handler/controller/button click — opens its own independent window:
await win.openWindow({ title: "Settings", width: 420, height: 320, route: "/settings" });

Each window is independent: its close (×) closes only that window; the app exits when the last one closes. Set chrome: false on the main preset to start without the default app menu, context menu and tray.

Deno 2.9.6 close-button regression

On Deno 2.9.6 (Windows, webview/CEF) the native close button (× / Alt+F4) is a regression and does nothing until the fix in denoland/deno#36718 ships — use Deno 2.9.5 or a newer build to verify. Everything else (SPA navigation, bindings, per-window independence) is unaffected.

Configuration ​

deno.json ​

Key sections ​

Tasks (deno.json) ​

Maker subcommands ​

Windows (src/window/config.ts) ​