rdesktop-cef: Chrome/Chromium backend for cross-platform pixel-perfect rendering.
This renderer controls a Chrome/Chromium instance via the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP). It provides identical rendering across Windows, macOS, and Linux since it uses the same Chromium engine everywhere.
Architecture
- Chrome is launched as a headless subprocess
- Communication happens via CDP (WebSocket)
- Pages are created and controlled via the CDP API
- The IPC bridge is injected via
page.evaluate()
Requirements
- Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Chromium must be installed
- The renderer auto-detects the Chrome executable on the system
Trade-offs vs WebView
| Aspect | WebView | Chrome (CDP) |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle size | ~5MB | ~150MB (Chrome required) |
| Rendering | Platform-specific | Identical everywhere |
| Native window | Yes (tao) | Headless (screenshot-based) |
| Performance | Native | Slight overhead (CDP + screenshot) |