Building a desktop application begins by selecting an appropriate platform strategy: native options (Windows/macOS/Linux), cross-platform frameworks, and the deployment approach. A clearly outlined MVP and an initial prototype assist in validating workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual hardware.

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 reliability, while an update system and crash reporting ease ongoing maintenance.