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Discord plans Rust rebuild to replace Electron desktop client

By One Percent LowsCovered by 5 outlets
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TL;DR

Discord is rebuilding its desktop client in Rust using GPUI, which may significantly reduce RAM usage from 4 GB to approximately 290 MB, according to CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy.

Discord is rebuilding its desktop client in Rust to replace its current Electron-based framework. Discord co-founder and CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy confirmed the move, noting that the company has used Rust for infrastructure and voice technology since 2018. The new project, referred to as "Discord Phoenix," will use GPUI rather than the Tauri framework.

Discord plans Rust rebuild to replace Electron desktop clientImage: Windows Latest

The transition aims to reduce the high memory consumption associated with Electron. While Discord has acknowledged that its Windows app can reach 4 GB of RAM usage, a Discord employee noted in December 2025 that normal usage is typically under 1 GB. A screenshot shared by Vishnevskiy of the new Rust client shows it using 290.2 MB of RAM. It is unclear if the 4 GB and 290.2 MB measurements were taken under identical conditions.

The rebuild will also remove React Native. While the mobile app will keep its native UI, it will share application code with the desktop version via Rust. The new client is expected to launch without the "Starting" screen because it will no longer need to load Electron libraries. Interactive apps such as Wordle and Putt Party may continue to use embedded web frames within the new client. Discord has not provided a release window for the update.