desktop-apps

name	desktop-apps
description	Desktop application development skill - triggered when building desktop apps for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Guides framework selection (Electron, Tauri, .NET MAUI, Qt, Flutter Desktop, WPF), native features, packaging, distribution, and auto-updates.
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, Bash, WebFetch, WebSearch, Agent

Desktop Application Development Skill

When This Skill Activates

• User mentions: desktop app, Windows app, Mac app, Linux app, native app, Electron, Tauri
• During /implement when building for desktop
• When discussing packaging, installers, auto-updates, system tray

Framework Selection Guide

Ask First

1. Target platforms? (Windows only, Mac only, all three, or specific combo)
2. Team expertise? (Web tech, C#/.NET, C++, Dart, Rust)
3. App type? (Utility, data-heavy, media, creative tool, system tool)
4. Native look & feel important? (Yes -> native toolkit, No -> web-based)
5. App size constraints? (Electron = 100MB+, Tauri = 5-10MB)
6. Need system-level access? (File system, USB, hardware, registry)

Framework Decision Tree

Web team + cross-platform?     -> Tauri (Rust + web frontend, tiny bundle)
Web team + maximum ecosystem?  -> Electron (Node.js + Chromium, large bundle)
C#/.NET team + Windows focus?  -> WPF or WinUI 3
C#/.NET team + cross-platform? -> .NET MAUI or Avalonia UI
C++ team + cross-platform?     -> Qt (mature, enterprise)
Dart/Flutter team?             -> Flutter Desktop (Win/Mac/Linux)
Python team?                   -> PyQt6 or Tkinter (simple)
Rust team?                     -> Tauri or Iced

Framework Comparison

Framework	Language	Platforms	Bundle Size	Performance	Native Feel
Tauri	Rust + Web	Win/Mac/Linux	5-10 MB	Excellent	Good (webview)
Electron	JS/TS	Win/Mac/Linux	100-200 MB	Good	Web-like
Flutter Desktop	Dart	Win/Mac/Linux	15-30 MB	Good	Custom (Material/Cupertino)
.NET MAUI	C#	Win/Mac	30-50 MB	Good	Native
WPF	C#	Windows only	10-20 MB	Good	Native Windows
WinUI 3	C#	Windows only	10-20 MB	Excellent	Modern Windows
Qt	C++	All + embedded	20-50 MB	Excellent	Native
Avalonia	C#	Win/Mac/Linux	20-40 MB	Good	Custom
PyQt6	Python	Win/Mac/Linux	50-100 MB	Fair	Native

Desktop-Specific Architecture

Main Process (backend logic, system access, IPC)
  |
  |-- IPC Bridge (secure messaging)
  |
Renderer Process (UI, web technologies or native)
  |
  |-- Local Storage (SQLite, JSON, files)
  |-- System Integration (tray, notifications, shortcuts)
  |-- Auto-Updater

Desktop-Specific Features

• Auto-Update: Electron (electron-updater), Tauri (built-in), Sparkle (Mac)
• System Tray: Minimize to tray, background operation
• File System: Read/write local files, drag & drop, file associations
• Notifications: Native OS notifications
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Global hotkeys, custom shortcuts
• Deep Links: Custom URL protocols (myapp://action)
• Single Instance: Prevent multiple app instances
• Crash Reporting: Sentry, Electron crashReporter

Packaging & Distribution

Platform	Installer	Store	Auto-Update
Windows	NSIS, MSI, MSIX	Microsoft Store	electron-updater, Squirrel
macOS	DMG, PKG	Mac App Store	Sparkle, Tauri updater
Linux	AppImage, Snap, Flatpak, deb, rpm	Snap Store, Flathub	AppImage built-in

Code Signing

• Windows: EV code signing certificate (required for SmartScreen trust)
• macOS: Apple Developer certificate + notarization (required for Gatekeeper)
• Linux: GPG signing for packages (optional but recommended)

Security

• IPC validation: sanitize all messages between processes
• No Node.js in renderer (Electron): use contextBridge + preload
• Content Security Policy for webview-based apps
• Sandboxing: enable by default
• Auto-update over HTTPS with signature verification