@electron-forge/maker-base

This is a base class package you'll only interact with if you're building custom Electron Forge makers for distribution formats not covered by the official makers. The API is straightforward - extend MakerBase, implement `isSupportedOnCurrentPlatform()` and `make()`, and you're mostly there. The TypeScript definitions are helpful and the interface is minimal enough to understand quickly.

However, the learning curve is steeper than expected because the documentation is sparse. You'll spend time digging through existing maker implementations on GitHub to understand patterns like artifact handling, config typing, and platform-specific logic. Error messages are decent but generic - if your `make()` function fails, you get standard JS errors without much Forge-specific guidance.

The package does what it promises, but feels like it assumes you're already deep in the Electron Forge ecosystem. If you're creating a one-off custom maker for your project, expect to reference the source code of official makers frequently. Community support is limited since this is a niche use case - most developers use pre-built makers.

Using @electron-forge/maker-base in practice means extending the `MakerBase` class to create custom Electron Forge makers. The API surface is straightforward - you implement `isSupportedOnCurrentPlatform()` and `make()` - but the documentation is sparse. You'll spend time reading existing maker implementations in the monorepo to understand patterns like return types, file handling, and configuration merging.

The TypeScript support is present but inconsistent. Generic types for config objects help with IntelliSense, but error messages when you misconfigure something are often cryptic. The base class handles some platform checks and file operations, saving boilerplate, but there's no clear guide on edge cases like handling symlinks or managing temporary directories.

Migration between versions has been smooth in my experience, though breaking changes aren't always well-documented. You're better off treating this as an internal Electron Forge API rather than a stable public interface. For simple makers it works fine, but complex scenarios require digging through source code.

As a base class for creating custom Electron Forge makers, this package provides the necessary scaffolding but falls short on developer experience. The TypeScript definitions are present and give you proper type safety, which helps catch errors during development. However, the abstract class structure is straightforward enough that you can extend it without fighting the framework.

The main pain point is documentation. While the source code is readable, there's minimal guidance on implementing custom makers beyond studying existing maker implementations in the monorepo. Error messages when you misconfigure something are generic Node.js errors rather than helpful, context-aware feedback. You'll spend time digging through the electron-forge codebase to understand expected behavior patterns.

IDE autocomplete works well thanks to TypeScript, but the lack of inline JSDoc comments means you're often hovering over method signatures without understanding their purpose or requirements. For straightforward maker implementations it's adequate, but complex custom packaging scenarios require significant trial-and-error.