Building a desktop app begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform frameworks, and the distribution method. Defining a solid MVP and an early prototype helps confirm workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on real hardware.

As the product evolves, reliability, updates, and packaging take center stage. Thoughtful management of file systems, permissions, offline capability, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) keeps the application dependable in daily usage, while a robust update process and crash reporting ease long-term maintenance.