Building a desktop app begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform options, and how it will be distributed. A clearly defined MVP and an early prototype help confirm workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual devices.

As the product evolves, reliability, update processes, and packaging become essential. Proper management of file systems, permissions, offline operation, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) ensures daily usability, while an update system and crash reporting ease ongoing maintenance.