Building a desktop application begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native across Windows/macOS/Linux, multi-platform frameworks, and the distribution method. A clearly scoped MVP and an initial prototype help confirm 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 capabilities, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) ensures daily reliability, while an update system and crash analytics ease ongoing maintenance.