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Discord’s co-founder shared a video comparing the current Electron app with a new Rust-based Windows client. In the clip, the new client loads its friends list sooner and reports 290.2MB of RAM while running two accounts; Discord has not published a controlled, like-for-like comparison.
Discord has shown a new Rust-based Windows client starting faster than its current Electron app in a video shared by co-founder and CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy. The new client, identified in Windows Task Manager as Discord Phoenix, showed about 290.2MB of RAM use while two accounts were signed in, but Discord has not released a controlled comparison of the two apps.
The roughly 15-second clip, shared by Vishnevskiy and Discord’s official account, shows the Electron app launched first on one ThinkPad running Windows 11. Its window initially appears blank and then displays a startup tip. The Rust client is launched about a second and a half later on another machine; its window appears quickly, and its friends list is loaded before the older client finishes reaching its interface.
Discord employees said both applications were launched from a cold start, rather than one being opened from the system tray. Coral, who leads audio and video at Discord, said the team had been using the new client internally. The memory figure also came with an important qualification: Vishnevskiy said the new client was running two accounts concurrently, a capability the company supports in the new app.
The figures should not be treated as a benchmark. Windows Latest described 290.2MB as about 70% below a 1GB reference point, while noting that this is a snapshot from an early build, not a published, like-for-like test. Its own PCs typically showed the Electron app idling at 1–2GB, but those observations are not a controlled comparison with the new client.
What a Faster Client Could Change
For users, a faster startup and lower memory footprint could make Discord feel more responsive and leave more system resources available for games and other software. The reported ability to keep two accounts active at once could also reduce the friction of switching between personal and work accounts, though the clip does not establish how the client performs across different PCs or during longer sessions.
The demonstration also matters to Windows app developers because it makes a concrete case for revisiting desktop app architecture. Electron lets teams build desktop software using web technologies, but includes Chromium-based components. Discord’s move shows one company testing a native-style alternative; it does not establish that every Windows 11 app should replace Electron. The right choice depends on performance needs, development costs, compatibility and the features each app requires.
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Discord’s Move Beyond Electron
Discord says the new desktop app uses Rust and GPUI, a GPU-accelerated interface framework created by the makers of the Zed code editor. Unlike Electron, GPUI draws the interface without HTML. Discord has used Rust since 2018, according to the source report. The company is not using Tauri for this client: Tauri uses Rust for app logic but displays web-based interfaces through a system webview, WebView2 on Windows.
Discord has also tried changes within Electron. Its September patch notes said an upgrade to Electron 42 cut median CPU use by about 17%, alongside a roughly 4% increase in median memory use. The new client represents a change in architecture rather than another adjustment to the existing Electron app. Discord said it updates the new client in the background, so it does not need the same startup modal; the company said it is not currently handing updates to the Microsoft Store or Windows Update Orchestration Platform.
“The new Discord client using less RAM is just part of the story. Clicking around feels instant, I can’t go back. Check out the boot time.”
— Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord co-founder and CTO
Performance Still Needs Testing
The video is a company-shared demonstration, not a published benchmark. It does not provide matched hardware measurements, repeated startup tests, or longer-term memory and CPU results. Although Discord staff said both launches were cold starts, the clip alone cannot establish how typical the result is across Windows devices or network conditions.
Discord has not stated when the Rust client will be generally available, whether it will replace the Electron app for all Windows users, or whether the reported memory use will hold during heavier use. It is also unclear how the new client compares across a consistent set of features and workloads. The reported 290.2MB figure is an early-build snapshot, not a guaranteed baseline for users.
Awaiting a Public Release and Tests
The next useful milestone is broader access to the new client and independent testing against the existing app under the same conditions. A direct comparison should measure startup time, memory and CPU use over time, account switching and performance during calls or other demanding tasks.
Discord has not announced a release date in the material provided. Until it does, users should treat the clip as an early indication of the client’s potential rather than evidence that the Electron version is being retired on a set schedule. Windows Latest said it plans to test the Rust version when it gets hands-on access.
Key Questions
What did Discord demonstrate?
Discord shared a video in which its new Rust-based Windows client loaded its friends list before the existing Electron app finished starting.
How much RAM did the new client use?
The video showed 290.2MB in Task Manager while two accounts were signed in. This is an early-build snapshot, not a controlled benchmark or a promise about typical usage.
Is Discord’s new client built with Tauri?
No. The source report says Discord chose GPUI, a Rust interface framework, rather than Tauri. Tauri uses a system webview to render HTML-based interfaces.
When will the Rust client be available to everyone?
Discord has not provided a general release date in the source material. The client is described as an early build that the company has used internally.
Source: windowslatest.com
