True, the present age is the age of cell phones and mobile gadgets. But let’s not forget that desktop applications are no less behind in significance. Some of the most useful applications that designers and developers use are desktop applications. Examples include: 

• Visual Studio by Microsoft 
• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 
• Android Studio 
• Adobe XD 

And many more.

Businesses are successfully leveraging these and many others to boost their growth and scalability. Now, imagine having software built just for your business needs, designed around your needs, workflows, and team culture. That’s exactly what a custom desktop software app promises to offer.

For many businesses, it’s a complete journey that starts with their unique idea and evolves into a powerful IT solution. But how does this journey unfold? Curious? In this article, we’ll explore every step of the custom software development process. So, let’s dive in, starting with a quick recap of bespoke desktop applications.

Custom Desktop Software: The Basics 

Starting off, custom desktop software is nothing like a regular desktop application. This software runs specifically on personal computers, laptops, and workstations. As bespoke solutions, this software is designed to meet the unique needs of a business. Such apps significantly help streamline operations and boost productivity.

Examples

Popular examples of custom desktop software include: 

• Oracle MICROS (Point of Sale system) 
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 (CRM software) 
• Zoho (CRM software) 
• Flexcube and Finacle (Banking Core Systems) 

Why do Businesses Choose Custom Desktop Software?

Off-the-shelf software is like an instant solution that you can quickly get hold of and solve the problem at hand. However, bespoke software solutions are built to meet your business’s unique needs. Here’s why businesses choose these IT solutions: 

• Built for Your Environment: Tailored to your OS, hardware, and specific uses. 
• Increased Efficiency: Automates manual desktop processes, saving time. 
• Enhanced Security: Less exposed to common vulnerabilities found in off-the-shelf software. 
• Complete Control: Offers full control in managing updates, data, and functionality. 
• Seamless Integration: Integrates smoothly with your existing desktop tools and systems. 
• Scales with Business: Evolves with the business, incorporating new features and improving performance while staying aligned with your goals. 

The Process of Custom Desktop Software Development

Now, let’s explore the core process of developing bespoke desktop software: 

Step 1: Define the purpose. 

The ‘Need’ is the driving force behind any invention.

The same stands true in the case of software development. Businesses innovate and launch new products or release updates based on their need to stay market competitive.

Likewise, you choose bespoke software development purely out of need. Perhaps you may be struggling with outdated tools or with the management of too many manual tasks. And now you need a solution to automate your processes and streamline communication and collaboration across the organization. This makes it the first step in the development process. Consider asking questions like:

• Why do you want bespoke software? 
• How will it serve your user base? 
• What features do you wish to incorporate to add value to your business? 
• What problem will it solve? (both yours and your audience’s) 
• Will it help with business scalability and growth? 
• Will it offer the long-term benefit that you seek? 
• What outcomes do we expect? 

Step 2: Gather your requirements. 

The next step is turning the stated idea into a practical plan. This phase is generally known as the requirements-gathering phase. The developers and stakeholders meet and collaborate to map out the features, functionalities, and goals of the software.

If you’re building the software in-house, you need not explain much to the developers. But if you’re delegating the task to external developers, make sure to explain your requirements clearly.  

• List down the answers to the above questions to ensure every point is crystal clear to the developers.  
• Brainstorm ideas and have discussions with your team to define the purpose of the software. 
• Collaborate with external developers to ensure the final product is in line with your needs. 

It’s like drafting blueprints when constructing a building. This can include: 

• User roles (who will use the software) 
• Core features (what the software must do) 
• Integration needs (does it need to work with existing systems?) 
• Platform-specific needs (will it run on Windows, Mac, or both?) 

Step 3: Designing the software. 

Following the previous step comes the phase of designing, where you decide the look and feel of the software. This includes both desktop-specific user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). However, flashy graphics and a fancy interface are not always helpful. Ensuring that the software exhibits an intuitive interface and seamless navigation is what’s desired.

This includes: 

• Selecting appropriate technologies (e.g., C# with .NET for Windows or for Python, PyQt is niche; Electron or .NET MAUI are more common for cross-platform). 
• Building a prototype for validating functionality and usability. 
• Incorporating custom features and offline capabilities. 
• Integration with local resources and legacy hardware. 
• Conducting rigorous testing. 
• Packaging for desktop deployment (e.g., EXE or DMG). 
• Delivering installation scripts and documentation. 

Step 4: Building the software. 

Now comes the stage where the actual coding begins. This is where the developers become the heroes and the center of attention. They take the finalized UI designs and technical specifications, work on them, and bring life to the originally stated idea. The best part? It’s not just any common off-the-shelf software, but a solution that revolves around your or your client’s unique needs.

Tech Stack 

• For Windows-based applications, frameworks like .NET (WPF or WinForms) are commonly used.  
• For cross-platform development, tools like Electron with JavaScript/Node.js or Python with PyQt are chosen. 

The Development Process 

The entire process is divided into modules and features: 

• UI Layer: Built using WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation, a UI framework from Microsoft for building Windows desktop applications) or Electron. This helps ensure the desktop app has desktop-native responsiveness.
• Business Logic Layer: This layer is also known as the domain layer. It implements the components that are necessary to handle the rules, calculations, and processes unique to you or your client’s goals.
• Local Database Integration: Tools like SQLite or SQL Server Express are used for data storage. 

The Methodologies 

The development process typically follows Agile or Scrum development methodology. It involves building, testing, and refining the software in sprints. These IT experts pay special attention to incorporating offline functionality, hardware integration (e.g., printers, barcode scanners), and security on the local machine. 

Step 5: Quality Assurance and testing for desktop software. 

No software is launched/released without being tested for bugs and issues.

When testing custom desktop applications, the focus is on local performance, stability, and device compatibility. This is where the QA engineers come into the picture: they are experts who test desktop applications in different environments. These environments are the ones that reflect real user systems (e.g., different Windows versions and limited RAM scenarios).

Common testing includes: 

• Functional Testing: Verifying all features of work as specified (e.g., invoice printing, offline form saving). 
• UI/UX Testing: Ensuring correct responsiveness of desktop controls (e.g., drag-and-drop, keyboard shortcuts). 
• Performance Testing: Checking load time, memory use, and CPU impact on legacy office machines. 
• Security Testing: Ensuring local data encryption, restricted file access, and no occurrence of unwanted network activity. 
• Implementation Testing: Implementing installation and uninstallation testing to verify the proper working of installer packages (.exe or .msi). 

Step 6: Launching the Custom Desktop Software

So, the software’s developed, what’s next? Now comes the packaging of the desktop software using tools like Inno Setup, NSIS, or WiX Toolset for Windows. The deployment of the final version is done either: 

• Through a secure internal network, or 
• Via installation on each machine using IT support or remote deployment tools like Microsoft Intune 

Initially, the developers release a pilot version in one department before rolling it out across the organization. This helps to quickly identify and counter any issues that may arise during use, such as installation errors, system conflicts, or integration problems. 

Step 7: Post-Launch Support and Updates 

Ongoing software support has always remained a crucial part of any software development. Regular updates are required for custom desktop software to: 

• Fix bugs discovered in real-world use (e.g., data sync failures and unexpected crashes). 
• Improve performance with increased usage (e.g., optimized queries and faster data processing). 
• Incorporate new features based on evolving business needs 
• Ensure compatibility with OS updates (e.g., new Windows 11 versions or security patches) 

The Final Deployment

Despite the popularity of mobile apps, desktop apps still exhibit significance, particularly for heavy organizational operations. And while off-the-shelf solutions do offer a way out of a problem, the custom solutions usually have an edge over the former.

Custom desktop software development might seem challenging at first. But given the right approach and a reliable team, it becomes a strategic investment. Such an app is built around your or your client’s needs, streamlining operations and boosting productivity.

Still thinking about how to proceed with your idea? Maybe it’s time to take the first step. Because the road from idea to execution is more accessible than ever. The result? A firm and competitive standing in the tech market.