Beginner’s Guide to Desktop Application Development

Thanks to the revolutionary trend of digitalization, businesses are now more profitable than ever. In this landscape, desktop application development remains integral to building responsive, fast, and efficient desktop software, ultimately adding numbers to the businesses’ profitability.

A desktop application differs slightly from a web application. The former is a program developed to run specifically on a desktop and is not accessible through a web browser. Examples include Media Players, Antiviruses, and Adobe Photoshop.

On the contrary, a web application is essentially a website that provides its users with more than a simple service. Examples include Gmail, Amazon, Etsy, etc.

After this basic understanding of desktop applications, it’s time to explore the types, development process, and associated challenges in greater depth, providing you with clear-cut steps for developing your desktop application. 

Types of Desktop Applications

Desktop applications are broadly categorized into several categories. Here are some of them, together with the examples of the each:  

1. Productivity applications: These apps enhance user efficiency during task performance. Examples include Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, etc.  
2. Graphics and Design Software: These applications help designers visualize their ideas precisely and accurately. Examples include Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Premium Pro.  
3. Gaming applications: These applications allow for the smooth running of the games on devices, providing uninterrupted entertainment. Examples include Blizzard Battle.net, Epic Games Launcher, Steam, etc.  
4. Community Software: Such software makes communication and collaboration a piece of cake, with the numerous audio and video group chat facilities. Examples include Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, etc.  
5. Utility applications ensure system optimization and protection from malware and cybersecurity threats. Examples include Antiviruses, System optimization Tools, and File Compression Tools.  
6. Finance and Account Software ensures the accuracy of financial records and eliminates the hassle of manual financial management. Examples include accounting applications and finance management tools.  

Development Methodologies  

Before proceeding with an in-depth explanation of software development, let’s briefly discuss the two popular approaches to developing a desktop app.  

1. Agile Methodology: It is best suited for projects requiring continuous iterations. This approach ensures the monitoring of updates and gathers feedback, allowing for continuous improvements in complex applications. 
2. Waterfall Methodology: A comparatively linear approach, best suited for simple projects and applications that are more defined and specific, requiring very little improvement. 

Building A Desktop Application

Desktop application development sounds exciting, but it still is a challenging job. So, if you are looking for a step-by-step guide to developing a desktop application for your client, continue reading:   

1. Requirement Analysis  

Outline the client’s requirements for defining the structural framework for the app. It lets you deliver a user-centric solution that best aligns with the business’s customer expectations and demands. This requires focusing on the app’s:  

• Core features  
• Short-term goals (UI/UX design, optimized performance, and overall design)  
• Long-term goals (iterations, maintenance, and reliability) goals   

It’s best to arrange one-on-one sessions with your client and have thorough discussions to better understand the features and app development goals and to ensure that you deliver what is expected of you. 

2. Project Planning   

Prior to coding, decide how you can make the application useful for the intended audience.    

1. Identify the core idea: Do not shoot an arrow in space. Make sure that you understand why you’re coding, what you will code, and how your developed software can serve your client’s customer base.    
2. Know your audience: Next, ensure that you know who will use your application and why. Understand the needs of the intended audience to create a value-giving and customer-centric application.   

3. Design and Prototyping

Never start coding without a proper design; it will only waste time. Focus on providing an intuitive user interface (UI) and a user-friendly user experience (UX).     

1. Function: Make sure that your design throws considerable light on the core features of the required app and its functionality.   
2. Usability: Provide an easy-to-use interface, delivering a seamless app-using experience to the intended audience.   
3. Responsiveness: Ensure that your developed application is responsive on multiple screens and supports different devices’ displays, delivering the same remarkable user experience throughout.    

The following are some tools you can use to design a good UI/UX for your desktop application:   

1. Moqups is a tool for visualizing and validating the concept. It allows you to design mockups, prototypes, and frameworks.    
2. Mockplus is a cloud-based tool for creating interactive prototypes and wireframes. It has several built-in elements (icons and drag-and-drop capabilities) that allow designers to swiftly complete the screen design.    
3. Adobe XD: This tool allows designers to collaborate throughout the design process, making it easier to create apps, websites, and games.    
4. Mockingbird: This tool has a drag-and-drop editor and is best suited for creating prototypes and wireframes.    
5. Figma: Figma is a lightweight and fast tool that allows users to create and collaborate. The tool is suited for efficient prototyping and the creation of hand-off designs.  

4. Development  

Development is not just continuous coding, where you write codes and, BOOM, a developed software comes into being. Prior to coding, some key considerations and requirements need to be addressed to achieve the desired results.

1. Select a Development Framework   

Without a suitable development platform, creating a desktop app from scratch can be time-consuming, no matter how good the tools you use.   

A reliable platform provides easy access to all the necessary tools and dependencies for swiftly developing desktop applications. Electron JS, Cocoa, WPF Toolkit, and others are such development frameworks.   

2. Choose the Right Programming Language   

The development of any application involves a critical selection of the programming language for enterprise applications. Depending on the operating system, you can use multiple languages for a desktop app:   

• For Windows: C#, Java, or C++ with frameworks like .NET or Qt.
• For macOS: Swift and Objective-C with Apple’s Cocoa framework.
• For cross-platform: Electron (JavaScript), Java, or Python with PyQt

5. QA Testing

Once finished with the app coding job, the next critical task is the app testing. Prior to its launch, the app’s testing gives you the satisfaction of whether your developed app is up to the mark or not.    

• Look for any flaws or loopholes.    
• Cross-check on different devices and ensure the app’s supportive on all screen displays.   
• Suggest app-sharing with friends and family to gain real-time insights through feedback.   
• Analyze the overall user experience and look for ways to improve it.

6. Maintenance and Support

App maintenance is crucial for its stable and progressive working. It’s achievable through insights you gain from customer feedback. So, once you’ve handed over the app to your client, suggest its distribution among the intended audience. Selecting the right platforms for this purpose is, however, crucial for ensuring the app’s reach is right on point.

For instance:

• Microsoft Store, in case the app is meant for Windows users. 
• Apple Store is best suited for apps meant for macOS users. 

Also, track the app’s percentage success in the audience. Use analytical tools to monitor, optimize, and maintain the app. Make quick updates when required, so your employer doesn’t lose his audience and visibility in the market. 

Why Enterprises Use Desktop Applications?

Here arises a significant question: How can desktop application development benefit enterprises? So, here’s the answer:  

1. Independence from Network Connectivity: Unlike web browsers, a desktop’s internal processes and information are not impacted by an interrupted network connection. 
2. Better Reliability: Desktop software offers better reliability than a SaaS web app. It gives you complete control over the computer, and confidential files and data remain secure from breach unless given access by choice. 
3. Efficient Performance: Computer-based software offers faster and more efficient performance. When integrated with third-party technology, it can quickly handle complex tasks such as trading, financial operations, rendering, web app-making, etc.   

Challenges in Desktop App Development

Developing a desktop app may appear to be a smooth process, but it’s not. Several challenges can hinder the app’s swift functionality and running. Let’s have a look at some of these:   

1. Continuous Updates: Unlike the web SaaS, desktop apps require manual upgradation, consuming more time and hindering smoother business workflows.   
2. Integration with Other Technologies: Integrating a desktop app with other tools can be a hassle unless the app’s coding offers this functionality.   
3. Application Accessibility: A desktop app is not easily accessible on any device, so it must be installed.   
4. Managed Servers: A computer app requires a managed server to store and maintain data, which can be costly.   
5. Employee Onboarding: A computer-based app is usually feature-rich and robust. However, ensuring that the employees master the app efficiently can be a real hassle, consuming more time and effort.   
6. Resource-Intensive Modern and powerful machinery (which can also be costly is a must for the efficient use of desktop software.   

Summing Up

Desktop application development remains integral to building robust and efficient-working applications. Tailored to meet the users’ requirements, a desktop app ensures better functionality and a seamless user experience. The software is adaptable and flexible and is able to meet the future challenges in this tech era.

You can develop a desktop app yourself, but if you wish to avoid the hassle, outsourcing desktop app development is a considerable option. Many companies are offering offer desktop application development services. As part of the tech industry, they ensure that they offer user-centric solutions with a friendly UI/UX, which benefits both the users and the company.