Developing desktop software begins by picking an appropriate platform approach: native options across Windows, macOS, and Linux; cross-platform frameworks; and the distribution method. A clearly scoped MVP and an early prototype help verify workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on real devices.

As the product evolves, reliability, updates, and packaging take center stage. Careful 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 ongoing maintenance.