Building desktop software begins by selecting an appropriate platform approach: native for Windows/macOS/Linux, cross-platform options, and the way it's distributed. A clearly defined MVP and an initial prototype assist in validating workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on physical devices.

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