Building a desktop app begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform frameworks, and how you will distribute it. A clearly defined MVP and an early prototype aid in validating workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on real devices.

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