As a desktop developer, choosing the best frameworks for app development is not always the easiest thing to do. Apart from comparing and analyzing the features of different frameworks, you need to take into account the pros and cons that come with using a particular framework. So, how do we go about it?
Here’s a guide to help you develop your desktop application in 2022. In this comprehensive guide, we will try to understand what a desktop application is, what benefits they offer, and what are the 5 best frameworks for app development currently in the market. So, without any further delay, let’s begin!
What is a desktop application?
Desktop applications are software programs that can be run on a standalone computer to perform a specific task by an end-user. They can be any program as long as they run on a desktop computer and offer a user interface for input and output.
Some desktop applications like media players and word processing enable you to perform various tasks, while others, such as gaming applications are developed by app development services for entertainment. Some examples of popular desktop applications are Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Skype, etc.
What is desktop application development?
Desktop application development is a process wherein app development services build applications that can be used on desktops and laptops. Such apps are normally designed for desktop operating systems like macOS, Windows, Linux, etc. These apps usually fall under multiple categories like productivity software (Word Processors), editing & media creation software, entertainment software, etc.
Usually, a desktop software is a native application. Which means that it was specifically designed and built for a particular OS. However, in some cases, app development services can also build cross-platform desktop applications using the best frameworks for app development.
Advantages of desktop application
Developing an application solely for a desktop may seem like an old-fashioned idea, but it offers several added benefits. If you are wondering why you need to approach reputed app development services for your software needs, keep reading.
Here are some benefits of developing a desktop application for your project:
· Increased profitability
· Higher engagement
· Improved visibility in search engines
· Reduced costs
5 Best Frameworks for App Development
Determining the best framework for app development is never a walk in the park. Apart from just analyzing the features and specifications of a particular framework, you are required to acknowledge the advantages and disadvantages that come with using a specific framework. Here are the top 5 frameworks available in the market:
1. WPF
WPF or Windows Presentation Foundation is a framework within the .NET framework that is mainly used by UI UX design services to design and build the graphics of a desktop application. It is implemented to build the user interface for software. WPF has become a favorite among app development services ever since its launch in 2006 in .NET. This is because the runtime libraries of the WPF are usually set in the Windows operating system. A key feature of WPF is its ability to combine and unite various UI components including the adaptive documents, vector graphics, pre-rendered media objects, and rendering 2D and 3D.
2. Electron JS
Electron is a cross-platform development framework developed by GitHub. It uses Node.js and is an excellent choice for developers who want to build desktop applications that work on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Several major brands are using this platform to develop their applications including Microsoft, Facebook Stack, etc. Web developers can also develop software with this framework because they do not need to have any special knowledge or experience from other particular platforms.
3. UWP
UWP is another name among the best frameworks for app development that made the .NET platform famous for desktop application development. Universal Windows Platform (UWP) will enable developers to create applications that can function on several different Microsoft-owned platforms. This means that your software will run on different devices that support Windows applications. UWP is a highly scalable framework. So, if you build an app for desktop, UWP makes it possible to scale it for mobile and other devices. App development services can thus create apps that run smoothly on mobiles, tablets, and even on other devices like Xbox. It is a framework that has significantly enhanced the features and the functionality of Visual Studio.
4. WinForms
WinForms is a class library that has been available in the .NET desktop framework since its very beginning. While initially it was supposed to be a replacement for the Microsoft Foundation Class Library, now it acts as a user interface tier platform. A desktop application built in .NET using WinForms will be an event-driven application. In the WinForms library, all the visual elements come from the overlying control class. This offers additional functionality for location, color, size, text, and events such as clicking a button. All these features make it one of the best frameworks for app development.
5. Cocoa
Cocoa software is a native framework for macOS desktop app development. It is an object-oriented framework used for building a user interface for macOS, iOS, and tvOS. It not only improves the functionality of the interface but also makes it more engaging. But to develop apps through the Cocoa framework, app development services will be required to use development tools that are provided by Apple.
These include Xcode and other programming languages that are used in the development of Windows desktop applications, including Python, Ruby, Perl, and also the AppleScript programming language. These different languages will need links to enable Cocoa to use them, like PasCocoa, PyObjC, and RubyCocoa.
Conclusion
Now that you have decided to develop desktop applications, you need to make sure you have the framework that will work for you. There are several options out there, as we have seen above, and each has advantages and disadvantages. When you are on the lookout for the best frameworks for app development, always remember to consider the following:
- The Features: Some frameworks are full of features, and some only have the basic services. There are app development services that prefer to make their own code, while others love being able to drag and drop.
- Price: If you have a low budget, then the free frameworks will work best for you. But if you can spend more, go for premium options because you will then get more features and more functionalities that will make your applications better.
- The Distribution Model: Decide where you want your app – out on the web, on desktops, tablets, or anything else. Whatever be your choice, you will need a framework that handles the distribution for you. This also includes good auto-updates, cross-platform integrations, and security features.
We hope that this blog post helped shed some light on the diverse choice of desktop application frameworks, and helped you find the best frameworks for app development. If you’re planning to create and successfully launch an application for desktops you can always count on the expert team at Cleffex. We are a professional outsourcing company oriented on custom software development services with over 15 years of experience in software solutions development for various business domains. Fill in the form on our contact us page or start the discussion in the website chat widget and get a professional consultation on your software needs.
