These days desktop applications have become quite popular due to many reasons such as better performance. Even though there are many platforms nowadays, Windows stands out from the others. Therefore most developers tend to first release their application to Windows. With the different tools available in the market it is not easy to find the perfect windows program development tool. However, if we manage to get hold of the best tool, it is actually a win. The goal of this article is to enhance your knowledge to build desktop apps for Windows.
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What is desktop app development for Windows?
Developers create programs that we install and use on our personal computers through a process called desktop application development. There are separate applications for different Operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux. Usually, software creators create separate desktop versions of their software for each operating system. Popular categories for desktop applications are Personal productivity software, media creation and editing software, entertainment software. The main advantage of desktop applications are often users do not require internet to use them. In contrast, web applications require internet access for almost everything you can do with it.
Moreover, Windows applications has the ability to closely deal with the Windows operating system. Therefore, windows applications are fast and more secure. Most popular programming languages to build desktop applications are C C++, C#, Java, Python, and Delphi.
Check out our step-by-step approach below if you’re thinking of creating a desktop app for Windows. We’ll walk you through all you need to know, from selecting the correct development tool to testing the application before you are going to deploy it.
Why build desktop apps for Windows?
Despite the platform, there are many advantages to developing a desktop application. You can find some of those advantages below.
- Better performance
- Easy integration
- Easy data storage
- Offline working
- Quick accessibility to operating system features
- Easy hardware integration
- Better security
- Controlled environments
How to build desktop apps for Windows?
The method mostly depends on the framework and programming language of choice. However, using the Delphi programming language gives you the finest and quickest opportunity to advertise and build the ecosystem. You may quickly create any kind of internet-connected or business-focused application with the help of hundreds of included visual and non-visual components.
Let me give a brief overview about how can you use Delphi development tool to build desktop apps for Windows.
- The first thing you have to do is to download the latest Delphi version from the site and make sure to install all the files that will be useful in the future.
- The next step is to make sure that you maintain the Delphi’s Object Pascal throughout the code as required. Checkout the documentation to learn more about it.
- You have to create new folders inside the Package Manager.
- Once you follow all the steps above, you can simply move on with the development. Apart from manual coding, you can also use VCL to bring the components together easily.
Follow the steps below in order to test and release your desktop app for Windows.
How to test and debug a desktop app on Windows?
Testing and debugging are essential parts of any application development effort, despite its platform. Once you have done the development process, developers can compile it in order to test it further. This can be done by using either the IDE or the CLI. By compiling, building, or running your application, software testers can test the application at different stages of development. Further information on this can be read using the documentation.
Users can also debug a program that targets any of the supported target platforms, such as Windows using the built-in Delphi debugger. Delphi comes with an open-source unit test framework called DUnitX, which is based on the NUnit test framework. You may create and run tests against Win32, and Win64 in Delphi applications thanks to the Delphi integration of the DUnitX framework.The DUnitX framework offers a unique collection of techniques for testing scenarios. You can use those techniques to examine a wide range of scenarios. Although you can also make your own unique claims, these methods reflect popular assertions. Moreover, you can also test independent units using Delphi-Mocks.
How to release your application?
It’s time to make your app public after you’ve finished building it! Here is a brief explanation of how to achieve it using the Deployment Manager.
- Choose Windows as the platform on which you want to release the app.
- To submit your app, adhere to the platform’s submission requirements. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the requirements before beginning the procedure because each one is different.
- Your app will be made accessible for download on its app store as soon as it has been approved.
- Publicize your software! Ensure that people are aware of its existence by informing them and marketing it properly.
How is maintenance done?
Maintenance is not quite as hard when it comes to maintaining desktop applications since they’re mostly offline and have less interaction with each other. However, regular maintenance is a must. Since if the security patches are not maintained and if the updates are ignored the application is subject to vulnerabilities ending up in much more advanced issues. Some of the must-dos when maintaining a Windows desktop application are given below.
- Frequent testing
- Updating the OS regularly
- Regularly updating the application
- Keeping an eye on unusual application activity
What does Delphi offer?
Delphi is a Windows program development tool that supports developing cross-platform applications. Delphi has features that allow you to simultaneously design and edit the same form code in many windows across several monitors. Additionally, you can quickly create a master responsive UI layout, and Delphi can then simply adapt platform-and device-specific views without having to repeat the design process. Delphi adapts the IDE to your preferred coding style while using the Object Pascal programming language. Even when you are coding, this Windows software developer provides pointers and tips from inline documentation to aid you.
Design. Code. Compile. Deploy.
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“You have to create new folders inside the Package Manager.”
There is some misphrasing here. GetIt Package Manager is for fetching and installing (or updating) IDE extensions / code libraries / styles, from the online repository. Some are free and some are trial versions