Building a desktop application begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform frameworks, and the distribution model. A clearly outlined MVP and an early prototype assist in validating workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on real devices.

As the product evolves, reliability, updates, and packaging take center stage. Thoughtful management of file systems, permissions, offline functionality, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) ensures daily usability, while an update system and crash analytics ease ongoing maintenance.