TL;DR
Get the latest gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Discord is working to move its desktop client from Electron to Rust, according to CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy. He shared a Windows client image showing 290MB of RAM use, but Discord has not provided a release date or explained the conditions behind that measurement.
Discord plans to replace Electron in its desktop client with a version built around Rust, CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy said, describing the change as a move to get the whole client onto the programming language. Vishnevskiy shared an image of a Windows build using 290MB of RAM, but the company has not said when the new app will ship or detailed the conditions behind that figure.
Electron lets developers create desktop applications using web technologies. Discord’s proposed move would remove Electron from the desktop client, according to Vishnevskiy, who also said that React Native would go away. The mobile app would retain a native user interface while sharing application code with desktop through Rust, he said. That describes Discord’s intended architecture, rather than a completed migration.
Vishnevskiy said Discord has used Rust since 2018, and that parts of its infrastructure, voice technology and current client already rely on it. He called moving the entire client to Rust the company’s “holy grail.” The Windows image he posted showed a client using 290MB of memory; it is an example from a particular build, not a published benchmark comparing equivalent workloads.
The company has not announced a public release date. Vishnevskiy said Discord hopes to get the app into testing with users soon. The source report notes that memory use on the current Windows app can reach 1GB or more for some users participating in several servers, but no controlled comparison or test conditions were provided alongside the new screenshot.
A Lighter Client Could Matter
Desktop apps that use less memory can leave more capacity for other programs, a practical concern for users running Discord alongside games, streaming software or work applications. The screenshot’s 290MB reading suggests the new build may use less RAM in at least one observed state, while the current app can reportedly exceed 1GB in some circumstances. Those figures should not be treated as a direct, like-for-like result without details about the test setup and activity.
The change also matters because Discord is proposing a substantial shift in how it builds and maintains its clients, not just a visual redesign. Rust would become the shared basis for desktop code, while mobile would keep its native interface, according to Vishnevskiy. Whether this leads to a faster or more reliable experience for users will depend on the finished app and how it performs across different devices and workloads. No performance, stability or memory guarantees have been announced.
Products Worth Considering
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) – Wireless Noise‑Cancelling Earbuds with Mic, Immersive Audio, USB‑C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Batte
DJI Mic 3 Wireless Microphone Kit (2 Transmitters, 1 Receiver, Charging Case)
LG UltraGear 34GX90SA-W 34-inch WQHD Curved OLED Gaming Monitor
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Discord’s Existing Rust Work
Discord is not starting from scratch with Rust. Vishnevskiy said the company adopted the language in 2018 and has used it in infrastructure, voice technology and parts of its existing client. The proposed desktop migration extends that work to the full client, while changing the role of Electron and React Native in its application setup.
Electron applications use web technologies to support desktop software across platforms, but the source report describes them as often demanding on system resources. That general concern helps explain Discord’s stated interest in a different implementation; it does not, on its own, establish how much memory the replacement will use for typical users. The available evidence here is a statement from Discord’s CTO and a screenshot, not an independently verified performance study.
““We’ve been early adopters of Rust since 2018 and a lot of our infra, voice tech, and even some of the current client is already Rust, the holy grail was getting the whole client there.””
— Discord CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy, in a post on X
Testing Details Still Pending
Discord has not said when testing will begin, how users will be invited, or when the Rust-based client might become generally available. The company also has not published details about the screenshot’s testing conditions, such as the number of active servers, enabled features, system configuration or measurement method.
As a result, it is not yet possible to tell whether the 290MB reading represents typical use or how it compares with the existing client under the same workload. The migration’s rollout plan, platform coverage and effects on performance or stability also remain unspecified in the source material.
User Testing Is the Next Step
The next stated milestone is testing with users, which Vishnevskiy said Discord hopes to begin soon. The company has not set a date or described whether testing will be limited to Windows or include other desktop platforms. A testing phase could provide more evidence about memory use and day-to-day behavior, but no results have been released.
Readers should look for Discord to share a testing announcement, rollout details and measurements taken under clearly described conditions. Until then, the migration remains a development plan, and the 290MB figure is a screenshot-based observation rather than a confirmed expectation for the full user base.
Key Questions
Is Discord’s new Rust app available now?
No public release date has been announced. Discord’s CTO said the company hopes to get the app into user testing soon.
Will Discord stop using Electron?
CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy said the planned desktop migration means Electron goes away. The change is described as a plan; the full migration has not been reported as complete.
How much RAM does the new client use?
An image shared by Vishnevskiy showed a Windows build using 290MB of RAM. Discord has not provided test conditions or established that this is typical usage.
What happens to Discord’s mobile app?
Vishnevskiy said mobile will keep a native user interface while sharing application code with desktop through Rust. He also said React Native would be removed.
Source: theverge.com
