To combat Electron’s reputation for being resource-intensive, Slack underwent a significant architectural rewrite :
Slack's desktop application is a prime example of an Electron-based architecture , a framework that allows developers to build cross-platform desktop apps using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Core Architecture slack desktop electron
In 2019, Slack launched a massive update (internally called "Sonic"). Before this, every workspace you signed into ran as its own separate Electron process, which was a massive drain on RAM. The rewrite consolidated all workspaces into a single process, leading to: 50% less memory usage . 33% faster load times . 10x faster call joining. Why People Both Love and Hate It The rewrite consolidated all workspaces into a single
A runtime environment that allows the app to interact with your computer's operating system, such as managing files or sending system notifications. Why People Both Love and Hate It A
| Feature | Implementation | |--------|----------------| | | Electron’s sandbox option enabled – renderer processes run with limited privileges | | Enterprise proxy support | Respects system proxy settings (PAC, manual) via Chromium networking stack | | SSO login | Embedded Chromium login popup handles OAuth/SAML redirects | | Data encryption at rest | Local cache encrypted via OS keychain (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager) | | SCIM & EKM | External Key Management – decrypts messages only in memory |