Building a desktop app begins by selecting an appropriate platform strategy: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform frameworks, and the distribution approach. A clearly defined MVP and an early prototype help verify workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual 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 daily reliability, while a robust update system and crash analytics ease long-term maintenance.