Creating desktop software starts by choosing an appropriate platform approach: native on Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform options, and how you’ll distribute it. A clear MVP and an early prototype help verify workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on real hardware.

As the product evolves, reliability, update delivery, and packaging take center stage. Managing 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.