What is a .NW file?
The .NW file extension is used for a Node-Webkit App Package. This type of file is a package created specifically for use with node-webkit. Node-webkit is a special program that combines the powers of node.js and Chromium. Node.js is a platform that allows you to run JavaScript on the server side, and Chromium is the open-source web browser project that Google Chrome is based on. Together, they let you create and run desktop applications using web technologies like HTML and JavaScript.
A .NW file contains a compressed package of all the necessary files needed to run a node-webkit application. This includes the "package.json" file, which is very important because it tells node-webkit all about the app, like its name, version, and how to start it. Besides the "package.json" file, the package can also contain library files. On Windows, these library files usually have a .DLL extension.
To open a .NW file, you need to have node-webkit installed on your computer. Since the .NW file is an app package for node-webkit, it's not meant to be opened in the traditional sense like a document or image file. Instead, node-webkit uses the information and files contained in the .NW file to run the application as it was designed by the developer. So, when you want to run an application contained in a .NW file, you essentially launch it through node-webkit, which acts as the runtime environment for the app.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .NW file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.