Starting with selecting an appropriate platform strategy — native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform options, and deployment method — is the first step in desktop app development. A clearly defined MVP and an initial prototype help verify workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual hardware.

As the product evolves, reliability, release management, and packaging sharpen their importance. Thoughtful management of file access, permissions, offline capabilities, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) ensures daily reliability, while an update system and crash analytics ease ongoing maintenance.