How to Make a Desktop Application?

Desktop application development is easier when organizations know the steps needed to build them and understand how they differ from other applications.

Desktop applications offer business managers a more secure way to work. They break down walls between their teams and their clients and bring them together, helping both teams understand each other and collaborate more closely than ever before. This, in turn, ensures better outcomes across the board for both parties as a result.

However, how can organizations learn how to create a desktop application quickly and easily? Obviously, they need a solid foundation to do this including; custom software development services, a dedicated development team – and possibly even nearshore software development services.

But there are other questions organizations need to answer once they’ve set this foundation if they want their desktop application to be a true success.

Questions including how does desktop application development differ from web application development? What are the most popular programming languages for desktop application development? What are the benefits of developing a custom desktop application? How can desktop applications be integrated with other software or systems and what are the key considerations when choosing a framework for desktop application development?

The following article will answer all these, but first let’s start with the basics.

What is desktop application development?

Desktop application development involves creating software which can run successfully without the need for an internet connection for operating systems like Windows, macOS and Linux. Developers use languages such as JavaScript, Python, C# and Swift for these applications.

Cross-platform desktop app development, on the other hand, allows developers to create apps for multiple platforms, like iOS and Android, using a single codebase. Frameworks like Flutter, React Native and Xamarin streamline this process by enabling code to be reused with minimal effort on the part of developers which helps reduce development time and provides more consistent user experiences across devices.

Differences: desktop, web and mobile apps

When comparing desktop, mobile and web applications, it’s essential to understand their core distinctions:

• Desktop vs. mobile applications: Obviously the main difference here is in the names of the applications themselves. Desktop applications run on desktops and laptops etc., while mobile applications typically run on mobiles and tablets. However, though mobile devices share similarities with their more stationary counterparts they have limitations in connectivity and storage which need to be considered when developing applications for these platforms.
• Desktop vs. web applications: Desktop applications run locally on computers, whereas web applications are accessed via the internet and delivered from remote servers to local devices.

Learn more about: Cross platform app development frameworks

Types of frameworks used for desktop application development

Choosing the right desktop development platform can boost productivity, reduce boilerplate code and simplify access to essential tools. Here are some top platforms for desktop application development:

Electron JS

This platform – built on Node.js and Chromium – is good for developing desktop applications due to its ability to deliver:

• Cross-platform development with a single codebase for Linux, Windows and macOS.
• A proven open-source structure with a large community for support.
• Automatic updates, crash reporting and analytics capabilities.
• Quick app distribution using Electron Forge.

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)

This platform is a solid choice for any desktop application development project due to its ability to deliver:

• UI creation with XAML while also being compatible with .NET, giving developers access to more extended libraries.
• Responsive layouts and advanced input handling.
• Tried-and-tested layout systems like Canvas and Grid to optimize responsiveness.

WinForms

This platform is a must for any business looking to develop its own desktop application due to its ability to deliver:

• A drag-and-drop editor for easy UI creation.
• Compatibility with .NET enabling it to produce interactive UIs and data visualization through DataGridView.

Cocoa

This platform is good for developing desktop applications as it comes complete with:

• A framework for macOS making it easier for developers to build key UI objects like sliders and text fields.
• High performance capabilities including features like memory management and multithreading.
• Multi-language support and networking capabilities.

Universal Windows Platform (UWP)

This platform is a solid choice for any desktop application development project as it comes with:

• Responsive layouts for Windows 10/11 including compatibility with various controls.
• Proven app distribution capabilities through Microsoft Store including options for monetization.
• Enhanced security through comprehensive resource permission settings.

However, choosing the right framework is only half the battle. To ensure you pick the right desktop development platform that works for your organization, you need to be aware of:

• Project requirements: For cross-platform apps, consider Electron Js. For Windows-specific apps with rich interfaces, WPF or UWP is ideal. For high-performance macOS apps, go with Cocoa.
• Dedicated development team expertise: Choose a platform that aligns with team skills across the entire organization. For this, web developers may prefer Electron Js, while teams using .NET might opt for WPF or WinForms, finally Swift/Objective-C teams should use Cocoa to get the most out of their projects.
• Target audience: Any developers who primarily use Windows should go with WPF, WinForms, or UWP. Meanwhile, macOS users should choose Cocoa, but any organization looking for broader audience appeal should use Electron Js for the best results here.

Organizations should evaluate these factors carefully if they want to select the most suitable platform, leading to a more successful desktop application development as a result.

Programming languages used for desktop applications development

There are three main programming languages commonly used for desktop application development:

C++

C++ allows for fine-grained control over system resources. Although the learning curve can be steep due to manual memory management, frameworks like Qt (a cross-platform application framework) and GTK+ offer robust toolkits for creating sophisticated, native-looking user interfaces across Windows, macOS, and Linux. This enables developers to leverage C++’s speed for computationally intensive tasks.

Ruby

Ruby is primarily known for web development with Ruby on Rails but can also be used for desktop application development. Its emphasis on developer productivity and code readability makes it suitable for scripting, utility tools, and smaller applications. Frameworks such as Shoes (for creating simple cross-platform graphical user interfaces), Ruby/GTK (bindings for GTK+), and wxRuby (bindings for wxWidgets) enable developers to design graphical interfaces. Ruby’s strengths lie in its ability to facilitate rapid prototyping and development for applications where ease of coding is prioritized over raw performance.

Java

Java is a versatile programming language designed for building cross-platform desktop applications, thanks to its “write once, run anywhere” philosophy enabled by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Java applications can run on any operating system with a JVM installed, without requiring modifications. It is widely utilized for enterprise-level business applications, development tools, and scientific software. Key GUI frameworks associated with Java include Swing, a robust and well-established toolkit, and JavaFX, a newer platform that provides a richer experience for modern user interfaces.

IDEs used for desktop applications development

Programmers use a variety of integrated development environment (IDE) software applications that help them develop the best possible desktop applications.

Xcode

Xcode is an IDE created by Apple specifically for macOS. It is primarily used for developing applications for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. As the official and most comprehensive tool for desktop application development on macOS, Xcode includes a wide range of features: a powerful source code editor, a visual UI designer known as Interface Builder, a debugger, performance analysis tools, and extensive documentation. It natively supports Swift and Objective-C, making it essential for creating applications that maintain a native look and feel on Apple platforms.

JetBrains Rider

A cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) for .NET. Although .NET is commonly linked to Windows applications, Rider allows developers to create desktop applications using frameworks such as WPF, Windows Forms, and UWP on Windows. It also enables the development of cross-platform applications with Xamarin.Forms or Avalonia UI. Rider offers intelligent code assistance for C#, F#, and VB.NET, along with integrated debugging, testing tools, and version control system integration.

Eclipse

An open-source integrated development environment (IDE) known for its extensibility and extensive ecosystem of plugins. While it is primarily associated with Java development, Eclipse also supports many other programming languages through these plugins, including C++, Python, PHP, and more. It is widely used for developing desktop applications with Java frameworks like Swing and JavaFX. It offers a rich development environment with advanced code editing, debugging, refactoring tools, and build automation. Its cross-platform compatibility and strong community support make Eclipse versatile for various desktop application projects.

Version control systems used in desktop applications development

A version control system (VCS) tracks file changes over time, enabling collaboration, history management, and rollback capabilities. It remains a crucial part of the development process, which is also true for desktop applications.

Git

A distributed version control system (DVCS) has become the industry standard for tracking changes in source code. Unlike centralized systems, each developer maintains a complete local copy of the entire project history, which includes all versions and branches. This distributed approach allows offline work, faster operations, and strong branching and merging capabilities. It facilitates parallel development and experimental feature work without affecting the main codebase. Git’s flexibility, speed, and robust support for non-linear development have made it popular for projects of all sizes.

SVN

A centralized version control system (CVCS) manages files and directories over time through a single central repository. In this model, a server hosts the entire repository, and developers create working copies on their local machines. All changes made by developers are committed directly back to this central server. SVN tracks every modification, allowing users to revert to previous versions and view the history of changes. Although it is less flexible for complex branching and merging than distributed systems, its simpler, centralized architecture is often preferred by teams that value a single point of truth and straightforward access control.

Mercurial

A DVCS focused on ease of use, offering a consistent command set that makes learning and managing simpler than other DVCS options. It is built to handle large codebases efficiently and securely, making it suitable for projects that require a powerful yet user-friendly distributed version control solution. Its command-line interface is intuitive, and graphical front-ends are also available.

How to develop desktop aplications?

Any organization looking to develop their own desktop application should follow the steps below if they want to implement their new application successfully:

• Create a concept and interest: Have a clear purpose and goals in mind as this will help teams stay motivated through challenges. Passion and clear objectives help drive success.
• Design the application: Plan the app’s purpose, audience and functionality before coding. Tools like Moqups, Mockplus, and Adobe XD can help create prototypes and mockups.
• Select a programming language: Choose the right language that will meet organizational needs.
• Choose a development platform: Selecting a suitable platform saves time and gives any business access to the right tools for building a quality app.
• Install an IDE – Use an IDE like XCode or Visual Studio to write better code and catch errors early.
• Develop the application: Build the app feature by feature, by focusing on features one at a time to avoid confusion and track progress.
• Test the application: Test all features and get feedback from users and professional testers to improve the app.
• Distribute the application: Publish the app on platforms like the Microsoft Store or Apple Store. Alternatively, organizations can always host their new app on their website.
• Track its progress: Use tools like Azure Monitor to track performance and optimize the app after distribution.

Desktop application development with Software Mind

All this is what you need to keep in mind when you’re considering anything in the realm of desktop application development. However, at Software Mind we know that desktop application development is easier said than done, and we also know that undertaking this kind of work can be extremely daunting.

That is where our experienced software experts come in. They can help choose the right desktop application development strategy for you quickly and easily by connecting with you to understand more about why you need to leverage such applications in the first place.

So, what are you waiting for? Our experienced software development team is happy to talk about what a properly implemented desktop application can do for you wherever you are.