Power and Hardware Monitoring
Tap into native power and hardware events with Electron's powerMonitor module to build responsive, battery-aware desktop apps.
Power and Hardware Monitoring is a free Electron Desktop App Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Electron Desktop App Development learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Apps That Sense Their Environment
Great native apps react to power and hardware state: pausing work on battery, saving before sleep, resuming on wake.
The powerMonitor Module
Electron's powerMonitor in the main process emits system power events and reports battery state.
const { powerMonitor } = require('electron');
app.whenReady().then(() => {
console.log(powerMonitor.getSystemIdleState(60));
});Suspend and Resume
Listen for suspend and resume to flush data before sleep and refresh after wake.
powerMonitor.on('suspend', () => saveState());
powerMonitor.on('resume', () => reconnect());Battery vs AC Power
The on-battery and on-ac events let you throttle background work to save battery.
function syncInterval(onBattery) {
return onBattery ? 300000 : 60000;
}
console.log(syncInterval(true));Detecting Idle Time
getSystemIdleTime() returns seconds since the last user input, useful for auto-lock or away status.
function isAway(idleSeconds) {
return idleSeconds > 300;
}
console.log(isAway(420));Idle State
getSystemIdleState(threshold) reports 'active', 'idle', 'locked', or 'unknown' in one call.
Screen Lock Events
The lock-screen and unlock-screen events help you secure sensitive UI when the user steps away.
powerMonitor.on('lock-screen', () => blurSensitiveData());Preventing Sleep
Use powerSaveBlocker to keep the system awake during downloads or media playback, then release it promptly.
const { powerSaveBlocker } = require('electron');
const id = powerSaveBlocker.start('prevent-app-suspension');Releasing Blockers
Always call powerSaveBlocker.stop(id) when the task ends, or you will drain the user's battery.
Notifying the Renderer
Forward power events to the UI over IPC so the renderer can update its status indicators.
Designing for Power Awareness
Combine these signals to build apps that are respectful of resources: defer heavy work on battery, resume cleanly after sleep.
Quick Check
Test your power monitoring knowledge.
Recap
You learned to use powerMonitor for suspend/resume, battery and AC detection, idle time, and screen lock events, plus powerSaveBlocker to keep the system awake responsibly.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Power and Hardware Monitoring” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Power and Hardware Monitoring” is free to read here on the web, and the Electron Desktop App Development course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Electron Desktop App Development course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Power and Hardware Monitoring”?
Tap into native power and hardware events with Electron's powerMonitor module to build responsive, battery-aware desktop apps. You practise Electron Desktop App Development with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Electron Desktop App Development?
No prior experience is required. Electron Desktop App Development on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Power and Hardware Monitoring” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Electron Desktop App Development lesson?
Yes. Every Electron Desktop App Development lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Working with Native Modules
- Tray Applications & Badges
- Screen Capture and Media
- Power and Hardware Monitoring