Building a desktop app begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform frameworks, and the chosen distribution method. A clearly outlined MVP and an early prototype verify workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual devices.

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