Desktop App Development: The Complete Guide

Despite coexisting in a world dominated by mobile and web solutions, desktop apps are still just as important as they were a decade ago.

In March 2025, 36% of global internet traffic came from desktop users, highlighting the continued relevance of this market to this day.

In this article, we’ll cover the breadth of desktop app development, from its fundamental definition to future trends, to help you build innovative software solutions. Keep reading to learn more…

What is a desktop app, and why do they still matter?

Let’s begin by offering a simple definition of a desktop application.

A desktop application – or “app” as they are commonly known – is a software program designed to run locally on devices such as personal computers, laptops, or workstations. Unlike web apps that require an active Internet connection, desktop apps run directly on the computer. 

They are typically accessed through a graphical user interface (GUI), and are commonly supported by operating systems including Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions.

While mobile and web apps have grown rapidly, desktop solutions continue to command a significant market share. Windows still dominates the PC market, while macOS and Linux maintain loyal user bases.

The shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is slowly underway, and growth forecasts for operating systems like Linux suggest that desktop apps will continue to evolve alongside modern web and mobile tools.

But why, you might ask, should we continue to develop desktop apps in 2025? 

The answer lies in their inherent strengths. Desktop apps offer unparalleled performance for resource-intensive tasks like large data processing, 3D modelling, and extensive multimedia editing. 

They are favoured in industries as diverse as engineering, design, finance, and the creative arts, where the reliance on mobile solutions has happened at a much slower pace, or in some areas, rejected entirely.

The local nature of desktop apps means that they often provide a level of security and customisation unachievable on their web or mobile counterparts, meaning that sensitive data remains protected.

Desktop apps are not dead. Quite the contrary. Their evolution continues in tandem with advancements in other platforms, creating a balanced and cohesive digital ecosystem.

Desktop vs. web vs. mobile apps

Before diving into the process of desktop app development, it’s important to understand the key differences between desktop, mobile, and web apps. Each platform has its niche, yet while they often coexist, the underlying technologies and user experiences differ dramatically.

Desktop vs. mobile

Desktop apps are built for larger screens and typically harness the full power of desktop hardware, allowing for more complex processing and multitasking. 

Contrast this against mobile apps, which are designed for portability, optimised for touch-based interactions, and generally face more limitations in connectivity and storage, and the contrast is stark.

While mobile apps are perfect for on-the-go tasks, desktop apps shine when it matters most, handling intensive, resource-demanding operations.

Desktop vs. web

Desktop and web apps also differ significantly in how they execute tasks. 

Desktop apps run locally to provide high performance and offline functionality, while web apps rely on browser-based interfaces and require an active Internet connection. 

Installation is another clear difference. Desktop apps need to be installed, often through a straightforward setup process, whereas web apps are accessed via URLs, with no download required. 

Performance is another key factor. Desktop apps are optimised to utilise device-specific resources, offering faster response times and enhanced access to native features.

The benefits of desktop apps

When faced with the decision to build a desktop app, the advantages extend far beyond nostalgia. Let’s explore why desktop apps might be the perfect choice for many projects:

• Performance – desktop apps are well known for their high performance, capable of handling intensive processing tasks such as large-scale data analysis, complex 3D rendering, and high-resolution video editing with ease. Because they run locally, desktop apps benefit from the full processing power and memory of the host machine, resulting in quicker response times and reduced latency.
• Security – by operating offline or with limited internet dependency, desktop apps offer a reduced exposure to external threats, a particularly crucial aspect when dealing with sensitive or proprietary information. Desktop apps can integrate effective security measures such as encryption, secure APIs, and regular security audits.
• Offline capabilities – a fundamental advantage of desktop apps is their ability to function without an Internet connection. For industries where connectivity is erratic or non-existent, such as remote fieldwork or specialised industrial environments, this can be a decisive factor.
• Control and customisation – since they are not governed by remote servers, users have the freedom to customise functionalities, tweak features, and work in a highly controlled environment. Whether it’s adjusting performance parameters or integrating specialised third-party systems, the level of customisation possible with desktop solutions can be a key differentiator.
• System and local resource integration – desktop apps benefit from deep integration with the host operating system and its peripherals, directly interacting with hardware components, and specialised input devices. Moreover, they can leverage system APIs to offer features that are simply impossible to replicate in a browser-based environment.
• Compatibility – desktop apps can be designed to run efficiently on various operating systems and, if needed, be adapted for cross-platform use with minimal changes to the underlying code. This flexibility often translates into cost savings and easier maintenance, as the same codebase or architecture can be modified to meet changing business needs.

The desktop app development process

The journey of desktop app development is a multifaceted process, with every step requiring careful planning and consideration. To create something that users will value, it’s important to give each step of the process proper care:

Step 1: Concept and requirements

Every successful project begins with a well-defined concept. It is crucial to ask: what problem is your app solving? Who will use it and why?

The five key actions of this stage will help to build out the concept and requirements of your desktop app:

• Purpose and objectives – identify the app’s purpose and define measurable goals. What functions will it perform?
• Target audience – determine the users who will benefit from your app, and gather their feedback early on to identify what they expect from an app. Use structured interviews, surveys, and discussion sessions to capture all relevant details.
• Stakeholder input – engage with key stakeholders to understand business needs, market demands, and potential integration points with existing systems.
• Feasibility analysis – assess technical and economic feasibility by evaluating expected costs, the time required for development, ROI, and any potential risks.
• Decomposition – break the project down into smaller, manageable components. This granularity will mean no aspect is overlooked, and aids in planning iterations.
• Budget and strategy – develop an idea of your budget restraints, and how this will affect your overall strategy. Critical aspects to understand here include whether to build your app in-house, or whether to consider outsourcing the project to a third party developer.

To learn more about outsourcing, and what to look out for, read our guide.

Step 2: App design

The design phase provides more than just a visual exercise. It is the time to map out the functionality and flow of your app, converging both usability and aesthetic appeal to form the user experience.

The key actions at this stage are to create detailed wireframes and prototypes to define navigation flows and layouts.

To visualise these ideas, design tools should be used. Below is a table of popular design tools, their benefits, and recommended use cases:

The design phase goes beyond the visual element. The architecture of a desktop app lays the foundation for its performance and scalability. Desktop apps are designed to work primarily offline, leveraging local system resources for storage and processing.

Apps may run on a single thread or use multi-threading to execute multiple tasks concurrently. Multi-threading can significantly improve performance, particularly for resource-intensive operations, but they require careful management to avoid issues like race conditions or deadlocks.

Effective data management is crucial. Many desktop apps rely on local databases such as SQLite, Realm, MySQL, or PostgreSQL to store and retrieve data efficiently. The choice of database can affect not only performance but also the ease of future expansion or integration with other systems.

The importance of good design really can’t be overstated. Early validation through prototyping will prevent the need for costly rework later. It is also important to consider how the design fits with expected user workflows and the overall system architecture.

Step 3: Selecting languages, platforms, and frameworks

An app’s programming language will act as its technical foundation, and will have huge implications to the entire lifespan of the project.

While your choice of programming language will likely depend on the experience of the developer working on the project, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the right language for your app.

Various languages offer distinct advantages depending on performance requirements and platform preferences, so it is important to understand each, and how they work.

Carefully consider your app’s performance requirements, target operating systems, and developer expertise before making a final decision.

The right development platform or framework can greatly accelerate your project by reducing boilerplate code and easing cross-platform concerns. 

Similar to the language used, your choice of platform may fall down to personal preference and experience. However, having a good understanding of each may open up key benefits that will make your app even better.

Below are the most popular frameworks and platforms for developing desktop apps:

Selecting the right framework depends on your app’s expected complexity, performance benchmarks, and the development ecosystem your team is most comfortable with.

Step 4: Installing an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

An effective IDE is central to a developer’s productivity, serving as a one-stop-shop where code writing, debugging, version control, and testing converge.

The choice of IDE will be heavily dependent on the programming language and platform selected. Below is a table that outlines common IDEs for desktop app development:

The choice of IDE should align with your selected programming language and framework, as well as the overall needs of your development team.

Step 5: Creating the app

Once your concept has been clearly defined, your designs refined, and the requirements thoroughly established, it’s time to bring your app to life.

This phase transforms those blueprints, wireframes, and comprehensive plans into an actual, functioning piece of software. 

But how do you make sure that this transition from paper to programme is as smooth and efficient as possible? Let’s delve into the aspects of coding.

Establish a foundation

One last thing to do before diving into the actual code is to make sure that a strategic plan for modularisation and architecture is in place. 

Developers often use design patterns, such as Model-View-Controller (MVC) or Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM), to achieve separation of concerns, allowing the user interface, app logic, and data management to interact harmoniously without causing a tangled mess.

Regular code reviews, pair programming sessions, and consistent documentation will be indispensable practices throughout development. 

A key practice to implement is to always ask: “Will someone new to this project be able to understand and maintain this code in six months?” If not, it might be time to refactor.

Modules and components

Begin by breaking down your app into logical modules. Each module should encapsulate a specific piece of functionality, be it data handling, user interface interactions, or business logic. 

This approach of dividing the project into smaller, discrete components is often known as modularisation, and will help in the long-term maintainability of your app.

Consider the following table summarising some strategies for organising your desktop code:

Frontend and Backend development

While the frontend and backend code might reside within the same codebase, yet they serve distinct roles in the development process. 

The frontend, often a desktop-specific GUI, is responsible for presenting data and handling user interactions. It is here that platform-specific SDKs shine. For example, using Cocoa for macOS or WPF for Windows means that your interfaces are both visually appealing and highly responsive.

The focus of backend development on logic, data processing, and communication with local resources or peripheral devices, and often involves interacting with local databases, file systems, or system APIs. 

It’s critical that this layer is optimised for performance, given that desktop apps may be required to handle large data sets or intensive processing tasks.

Integrating these two layers is a major technical challenge, and should not be taken lightly. Effective use of design patterns and clear API boundaries between the front and back ends can minimise coupling and allow each module to be developed in parallel.

Integrating third-party libraries and services

Modern desktop apps often do not exist in a vacuum. Third-party libraries, APIs, and services exist to take the strain off redeveloping commonly used functions, which in turn help to improve the functionality and speed of development of a project.

• Libraries – identify well-maintained libraries that address common needs, be it for networking (e.g., libcurl), graphics (e.g., OpenGL bindings), or database interaction (e.g., SQLite libraries). Just make sure to consider licensing issues and compatibility with your chosen programming language and framework.
• API integration – apps may often benefit from integrating external APIs for services such as authentication, payment processing, or data analytics. Create abstraction layers in your code to handle API interactions, so that changes in third-party services do not ripple through your entire codebase.
• Hardware – for apps that require access to specific hardware features (e.g. printers, scanners, or specialised sensors), use platform-specific SDKs. This can often mean interfacing with proprietary drivers or using libraries provided by hardware manufacturers.

Iterative development

Coding is rarely a linear process. 

Iteration, feedback, and collaboration with both technical and design teams are key to a successful app. Schedule regular code reviews and pair programming sessions, and use tools like Jira or Trello for task tracking. 

Two key questions to ask are:

• What can be done to simplify this logic?
• How can this module be decoupled from the overall system?

Security considerations

Given that desktop apps will often handle sensitive data or interact directly with local systems, security should be interwoven throughout your code. 

Employ secure coding practices by:

• Validating all inputs to prevent injection attacks.
• Encrypting data stored on disk and transmitted over networks.
• Following the principle of least privilege in accessing system resources.

Step 6: Testing and debugging

Throughout the process of development, thorough testing is paramount.

A comprehensive testing strategy should encompass unit tests, integration tests, system tests, and user acceptance tests. 

• Developer debugging – use IDE-integrated debuggers and logging tools to identify errors during coding.
• Automated testing – frameworks like JUnit for Java, NUnit for .NET, or PyTest for Python reduce human error and ensure consistent test results.
• Load and stress testing – simulate heavy usage scenarios to determine how your app performs under pressure.
• User feedback – sometimes the best tool is the human eye. Real-world testing with actual users provides invaluable insights that automated tools might miss.

Below is a sample table of testing frameworks:

Step 7: Packaging and distribution

Once testing is complete and the app is running reliably, it is time to start thinking about how to package and distribute the software. 

• Packaging formats – different operating systems require distinct packaging formats. For example, Windows apps might be packaged as .msi installers, while macOS apps use .dmg files.
• Distribution platforms – you may choose to distribute your app via official stores, such as the Microsoft Store or the Mac App Store, or host the installer on your own website.
• Automation – tools like InstallShield, DMG creators, or AppImage for Linux streamline the packaging process and keep things consistent.
• Documentation – provide clear installation guides and user manuals to assist end-users.

Step 8: Tracking progress, maintenance, and updates

Gone are the days when a project was finished the moment it shipped. The ubiquity of the internet has done away with the possibility of an app ever really being in its final state. Ongoing maintenance and iterative updates are essential to long-term success.

The key areas post-launch will focus on monitoring, updating, and improving the app:

• Monitoring – analytical tools such as Azure Monitor will help to track app performance, user engagement, and potential issues in real time.
• Version control – version control systems (such as Git) help to manage and document changes. Couple this with disciplined release management practices to push updates seamlessly.
• User feedback – no project can escape the opinion of the public. Collect and analyse feedback from end-users to guide improvements and bug fixes.
• Ongoing updates – plan for regular updates to the app, aimed at addressing security vulnerabilities, adding new features, and refining existing functionality.
• Maintenance planning – budget for maintenance costs (typically around 10-15% of the initial development budget annually) so that your app remains current and competitive.

How much does it cost to develop a desktop app?

Developing a desktop app is a significant investment, and costs can vary widely based on several key factors. 

Ultimately, the overall cost depends on a number of key factors:

• App type – basic apps can be relatively simple, while complex, enterprise-level software requires extensive customisation.
• Customisation and integrations – features such as high-performance graphics or advanced security layers can increase development time.
• Cross-platform development – while offering long-term savings, the initial development cost may be higher due to the required customisations and testing across environments.
• Developer resources – the location and experience of your development team play a critical role. For example, developers in the UK or Western Europe might have higher hourly rates than those in other regions. Developing in-house, or outsourcing, will also play a big role in the cost of your app. To learn more about the costs of outsourcing, read our article.
• Maintenance and Support: Annual maintenance costs typically run at about 10-15% of the initial development investment.

With all that in mind, the following table can be used as a ballpark guide of desktop app costs:

Real world examples of desktop app success

One need only look at the likes of Slack, Visual Studio Code, and Spotify for examples of hugely successful apps built with cross-platform frameworks.

Slack

Slack, built using Electron – a framework that combines Node.js and Chromium to enable cross-platform development – demonstrates how modern communication tools can leverage cross-platform capabilities.

• Unified experience – despite being essentially a web application inside a desktop container, Slack’s UI is both consistent and responsive across operating systems.
• Rapid updates – the Electron architecture permits frequent updates without the need for platform-specific rewrites.
• Integration – Slack integrates with numerous other desktop and web services, offering seamless file sharing, notifications, and integration with productivity tools.

Slack demonstrates that a well-optimised Electron app can rival native performance when careful attention is given to memory management, background processes, and update mechanisms. 

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is another Electron-based application that stands out for its customisation and performance. As a lightweight code editor, it integrates a vast ecosystem of extensions and supports multiple programming languages. 

• Performance – VS Code is fast and responsive, partly due to its efficient resource management, despite the inherent overhead of the Electron framework.
• Extensibility – the extension marketplace and API make VS Code highly adaptable to diverse development needs.
• Community – with millions of active users, VS Code benefits from continuous feedback and community-driven improvements.

VS Code’s success shows just how important community engagement and modular architecture are. Its customisation capabilities are a critical selling point, and its architecture shows how to balance raw performance with rich functionality.

Spotify

Beloved by millions for its streaming capabilities, Spotify’s desktop application is a masterclass in blending multimedia functionality with user-centric design.

• Rich media handling – Spotify efficiently manages audio and metadata streaming, for a smooth and engaging user experience.
• Responsive UI – despite its complexity, Spotify’s interface is both attractive and responsive, catering to diverse user preferences.
• Customisation – users can tailor playlists, adjust audio settings, and integrate with other apps, reflecting the importance of versatile desktop design.

Spotify shows that desktop apps can successfully handle multimedia and real-time data without significant performance degradation, provided that careful attention is paid to caching strategies and background processing.

What the future holds for desktop app development

Despite the rapid rise of mobile and web apps, desktop apps are far from obsolete. 

The future of desktop app development appears resilient. Demand is growing, especially in domains that require high performance, such as games, data analytics, and creative workflows. 

Emerging technologies are set to further transform desktop apps.

• AI and machine learning – technologies are increasingly being incorporated to add intelligent features, enable automation, and provide personalised user experiences. Desktop apps will continue to adopt these technologies alongside mobile and web apps, carving out their own use cases.
• Cloud integration – beyond basic data synchronisation, future desktop apps will incorporate real-time cloud integration for seamless file sharing and collaborative functionalities. This hybrid approach harnesses the power of local processing while benefiting from the scalability of cloud services.
• Cross-platform development – improvements to this sector will see the continued adoption of frameworks that allow for a single codebase to serve multiple operating systems, streamlining development and maintenance processes.
• Enhanced security – protocols such as containerisation, sandboxing, and improved code signing will offer even stronger safeguards against cyberattacks.

Bring your desktop app to life with GoodCore

The process of building a desktop app is far from easy, but with the support of a dedicated and trusted partner, you can achieve your business goals and app vision.

Speak to our team now for a free consultation about your requirements, or learn more about our desktop app development services.