Project Setup

Complete guide to Cargo.toml, tauri.conf.json, capabilities, and directory structure for Tauri v2 apps

Project Setup

This page covers the essential configuration files for a Tauri v2 project. Every example is derived from real working applications.

Directory Structure

A typical Tauri v2 project follows this layout:

my-app/
  Cargo.toml          # Rust dependencies and package config
  build.rs            # Tauri build script (required)
  tauri.conf.json     # Tauri-specific configuration
  capabilities/
    default.json      # Permissions and security capabilities
  src/
    main.rs           # Application entry point
    lib.rs            # Optional library module
  frontend/           # Static loading page (frontendDist target)
    index.html
  binaries/           # Sidecar binaries (if using externalBin)
    node-aarch64-apple-darwin
  .gitignore

Cargo.toml

Minimal Setup

For a lightweight wrapper app, the dependencies are minimal:

[package]
name = "my-app"
version = "0.1.0"
edition = "2021"

[dependencies]
tauri = { version = "2", features = ["devtools"] }
libc = "0.2"

[build-dependencies]
tauri-build = { version = "2", features = [] }

The devtools feature enables the WebView developer tools toggle. The libc crate is needed for process signal handling (SIGTERM, SIGKILL) on Unix systems.

Full-Featured Setup

For an app with more capabilities (dialogs, shell access, private APIs, PTY support):

[package]
name = "zudotext"
version = "0.1.0"
edition = "2021"

[lib]
name = "zudotext_lib"
path = "src/lib.rs"

[dependencies]
tauri = { version = "2", features = ["devtools", "macos-private-api", "webview-data-url"] }
tauri-plugin-dialog = "2"
tauri-plugin-shell = "2"
serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
serde_json = "1"
libc = "0.2"
tokio = { version = "1", features = ["sync", "net"] }

[target.'cfg(target_os = "macos")'.dependencies]
objc2-app-kit = { version = "0.3", features = ["NSWindow"] }
objc2-foundation = { version = "0.3", features = ["NSUserDefaults", "NSString"] }

[build-dependencies]
tauri-build = { version = "2", features = [] }

Common Tauri Features

build.rs

Every Tauri project requires a build.rs file. It is always the same:

fn main() {
    tauri_build::build()
}

This is non-negotiable. Without it, tauri::generate_context!() in your main.rs will fail to compile.

tauri.conf.json

This is the central configuration file for your Tauri app. The structure varies based on your app’s needs.

Lightweight Wrapper (Dev Server)

This pattern wraps an external dev server. The app shows a loading page from frontendDist while the server starts, then navigates to the dev server URL.

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
  "productName": "zmod doc",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "identifier": "com.takazudo.zmod-doc",
  "build": {
    "frontendDist": "./frontend",
    "beforeDevCommand": "cd ../../doc && pnpm dev",
    "devUrl": "http://localhost:32342/"
  },
  "app": {
    "windows": [],
    "security": {
      "csp": null
    }
  },
  "bundle": {
    "active": true,
    "targets": "all",
    "icon": [],
    "category": "DeveloperTool",
    "macOS": {
      "minimumSystemVersion": "10.15"
    }
  }
}

Full-Featured App

An app with its own Vite-built frontend:

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
  "productName": "zudotext",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "identifier": "com.takazudo.zudotext",
  "build": {
    "beforeDevCommand": "pnpm exec vite --config vite.config.ts",
    "beforeBuildCommand": "pnpm exec vite build --config vite.config.ts",
    "devUrl": "http://localhost:37461",
    "frontendDist": "./dist-renderer"
  },
  "app": {
    "macOSPrivateApi": true,
    "windows": [],
    "security": {
      "csp": null
    }
  },
  "bundle": {
    "active": true,
    "targets": "all",
    "category": "DeveloperTool",
    "macOS": {
      "minimumSystemVersion": "10.15"
    }
  }
}

Bundled Sidecar App

An app that bundles a Node.js binary as an external sidecar:

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
  "productName": "Claude Resources",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "identifier": "com.takazudo.claude-resources",
  "build": {
    "frontendDist": "./frontend"
  },
  "app": {
    "windows": [],
    "security": {
      "csp": null
    }
  },
  "bundle": {
    "active": true,
    "targets": "all",
    "icon": [],
    "category": "DeveloperTool",
    "externalBin": ["binaries/node"],
    "macOS": {
      "minimumSystemVersion": "10.15"
    }
  }
}

Key Fields Explained

build

app

bundle

Capabilities (capabilities/default.json)

Capabilities define what your app is allowed to do. Create capabilities/default.json:

{
  "identifier": "default",
  "windows": ["main"],
  "remote": {
    "urls": ["http://localhost:*/**"]
  },
  "permissions": ["core:default", "dialog:default", "shell:default"]
}

Fields

.gitignore

For Tauri projects, add these entries:

/target/
/gen/
/binaries/