Starting with selecting an appropriate platform strategy is essential for desktop app development: native (Windows/macOS/Linux), cross‑platform frameworks, and how you distribute the product. A clearly defined MVP and an early prototype assist in validating workflows, performance requirements, and the overall user experience on actual devices.

As the product evolves, reliability, updates, and packaging take center stage. Thoughtful management of file systems, permissions, offline functionality, and integrations (device APIs, peripherals, enterprise authentication) ensures daily reliability, while an update system and crash reporting ease long-term maintenance.