Building a desktop application begins by selecting an appropriate platform strategy: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform frameworks, and the deployment approach. A clearly defined MVP and an early prototype aid in validating workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual 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 reporting ease long-term maintenance.