Building a desktop app begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native across Windows/macOS/Linux, cross‑platform options, and how you’ll distribute it. A clear MVP and an early prototype help confirm workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on real hardware.

As the product evolves, reliability, updates, and packaging take center stage. Managing file systems, permissions, offline capability, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) ensures dependable daily use, while an update system and crash reporting ease ongoing maintenance.