The demand for efficient and feature-rich desktop applications is on the rise, and rightly so. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, desktop applications play a vital role in the success of businesses by providing a platform for complex tasks such as software development and performance analysis. As the demand for custom desktop application development grows, the need for skilled developers who can address unique business challenges and specific enterprise needs also rises. A leading cross platform desktop application development company must equip its developers with efficient and effective tools and frameworks to create seamlessly functioning and optimized applications. Utilizing the best cross platform desktop application development frameworks and toolkits is essential to meet these requirements.
Having the right toolkit and framework at your disposal is crucial for building cross platform desktop apps. These resources not only reduce errors but also optimize costs and boost team productivity. With the right tools and frameworks, application developers can streamline their processes, increase communication, and enhance collaboration.
So, Are you ready to take your desktop application development to the next level?
Look no further! We have compiled a list of the top frameworks and toolkits that will empower you to create powerful and visually stunning desktop applications.
These frameworks offer an extensive set of features and functionalities to enable developers of any experience level to quickly construct cross-platform apps with ease. From experienced coders to newcomers looking to start out developing, these tools will speed up workflow and increase productivity.
These frameworks and toolkits have covered you from responsive user interfaces to efficient data management. They provide comprehensive solutions for everything you need, including UI design, data binding, database integration, and much more. With their intuitive APIs and extensive documentation, you can quickly prototype, develop, and deploy robust desktop applications that meet your specific requirements.
Don’t settle for mediocre applications when you can create exceptional ones. Explore our curated collection of the top frameworks and toolkits for desktop application development and revolutionize how you build software. It’s time to unleash your creativity and bring your desktop applications to life like never before.
Desktop Application Development : Overview & Statistics
Desktop app development refers to the process of creating software applications specifically designed to run on desktop computers or laptops. These applications are installed and run directly on the user’s computer, providing a wide range of functionalities and capabilities.
What is Cross Platform Desktop Application Development?
Desktop app development offers several advantages, including enhanced performance, access to system resources, offline functionality, and seamless integration with other desktop applications. It allows developers to leverage the full power of the user’s computer hardware and operating system, providing a rich and immersive user experience.
Desktop applications can be built for different operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, using various programming languages and frameworks. Developers have the freedom to select their ideal technology stack according to requirements, target audience, and platform compatibility.
Desktop Application Development : Statistics
Here are some notable statistics related to desktop app development:
- Despite the growing popularity of mobile and web applications, desktop operating systems still maintain a significant market share. As of 2024, desktop OSs account for approximately 36% of global internet usage, demonstrating their continued relevance in the digital landscape.
- The global enterprise software market continues to expand, with an estimated value of $642.5 billion in 2024. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2024 to 2028, driven by the increasing adoption of enterprise applications to streamline business processes and enhance operational efficiency.
- The PC gaming sector remains robust, with revenues reaching $40.5 billion in 2024. This positions PC gaming as a major segment within the gaming industry, second only to mobile gaming. The demand for high-performance desktop applications to support advanced gaming experiences continues to drive innovation in this sector.
- According to Grand View Research, The market for application development software is expected to grow significantly, reaching $234.7 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6.87% from 2024. This growth is attributed to the increasing need for custom software solutions across various industries, including healthcare, IT, and telecom.
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Which Framework is Used for Desktop Applications?
Modern Desktop application development frameworks are tools that make it easier for developers to build cross platform desktop apps. These frameworks come in different categories, each with its own set of features and benefits.
Let’s dive into different types of the best cross platform desktop app development frameworks category-wise.
1. Cross-Platform Desktop Application Frameworks:
Cross-platform desktop application frameworks are created to assist developers in creating applications that run on multiple operating systems, making them the ideal solution for reaching a wider audience. Here are some of the most popular cross-platform desktop app frameworks:
1. Electron
Electron is a well-known desktop application framework that is based on Node.js and Chromium that is widely used by industry giants such as Slack, Visual Studio Code, and Discord. Electron makes cross platform desktop app development possible using web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript – among others.
Key Features of Electron
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Easy installation and updates
- Extensibility through the use of plugins
- Wide range of development tools and libraries
- Comprehensive documentation and active community support
- Node.js integration for server-side operations
- Chromium engine for rendering web pages
- Used by popular applications such as Slack, Visual Studio Code, and Discord
- Provides access to native features such as system notifications, file system access, and more
- Easy integration with popular front-end frameworks such as React and Angular
2. JavaFX
JavaFX is a cross-platform desktop application framework developed by Oracle. It is a Java-based framework that enables developers to create custom desktop applications with rich graphical user interfaces.
Key Features of JavaFX
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Part of the Java Development Kit (JDK)
- Provides a rich set of graphics and media APIs
- Easy integration with Java and other JVM languages
- Webview support for displaying web pages
- Built-in support for 3D graphics and media playback
- Comprehensive set of UI controls for creating modern and responsive applications
3. Qt
Qt is a cross-platform mobile application development framework developed by The Qt Company. It is a C++ based framework that enables developers to create applications that can run on various operating systems.
Key Features of Qt
- Cross-platform compatibility
- High-performance graphics rendering
- Wide range of UI controls
- Easy integration with other programming languages
- A wide range of widgets and tools for building desktop applications
- Support for 2D and 3D graphics, networking, and multimedia
- Used by popular applications such as Autodesk Maya, Skype, and VirtualBox
4. Tauri
Tauri is an open-source desktop application framework. It enables developers to build cross platform desktop apps using web technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript for desktop apps.
Key Features of Tauri
- Lightweight and fast
- A new and emerging cross-platform desktop application framework
- Built using Rust, a modern systems programming language
- Easy integration with other programming languages
- Extensive security features to protect against common web vulnerabilities
- Support for custom native integrations
- High performance and low memory usage
- Small executable size
- Secure communication between the application and the backend
- Provides a small and efficient runtime for running applications
5. Neutralinojs:
Neutralinojs is an open-source framework that is lightweight and portable for cross-platform desktop application development using web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
Key Features of Neutralinojs
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Lightweight and fast
- Easy installation and updates
- High-security standards
- Small file size and low memory usage
- Easy integration with popular front-end frameworks such as React and Vue
- Support for creating native dialog boxes and system tray icons
- Offers a secure and sandboxed environment for applications
- Allows for the creation of native desktop applications that are easy to package and distribute
6. Flutter on Desktop:
Flutter, created by Google, is an immensely popular mobile application development framework, enabling developers to quickly build high-performing mobile applications using Dart programming language. Flutter also supports desktop application development through its Flutter on Desktop feature.
Key Features of Flutter on Desktop
- Cross-platform compatibility
- High-performance graphics rendering
- Wide range of UI controls
- Easy integration with other programming languages
- Hot reload for fast development cycles
- Support for a wide range of widgets and animations
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7. Xamarin.Forms:
Xamarin.Forms is a cross-platform application development framework developed by Microsoft. It enables desktop developer applications that can run on different platforms with a single codebase.
Key Features of Xamarin.Forms
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Integration with .NET framework
- Wide range of UI controls
- Easy integration with other programming languages
- Built-in support for MVVM architecture
- Integration with Visual Studio and Xamarin Studio
8. NW.js
NW.js is an open-source framework that allows developers to build desktop apps using web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It has several capabilities that make it simple to build and deploy desktop apps, and it works with many different platforms.
Key Features of NW.js
- Cross-platform support
- Easy deployment
- Built-in Node.js integration
- Support for native modules
- Debugging and profiling tools
- Support for multiple windows and tabs2
9. 8th Dev:
8th Dev is a modern programming language that is designed to be simple, efficient, and powerful. It can be used to create desktop applications and provides a number of built-in libraries and modules.
Key Features of 8th Dev
- Simple and easy to learn syntax
- Fast and efficient execution
- Built-in libraries and modules
- Support for object-oriented programming
- Extensive documentation and community support
- Cross-platform support
10. Xojo:
C++, Java, and Python are just a few of the programming languages that may be used to create desktop apps using the Xojo development platform. It has several built-in tools and components that may be used to rapidly and simply build high-quality applications.
Key Features of Xojo
- Uses a single codebase to build applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and the web
- Offers a drag-and-drop designer that allows developers to create user interfaces quickly.
- Supports a wide range of controls, including buttons, labels, and text fields.
- Offers a range of third-party plugins and libraries that extend the functionality of the framework.
- Offers a wide range of pre-built controls, as well as the ability to create custom controls
- Supports both compiled and interpreted code, providing flexibility and ease of use
- Offers a built-in IDE with a debugger and profiler, making it easy to debug and optimize your code.
- It supports plugins, allowing developers to extend the functionality of the framework and add features like encryption or image processing.
11. Haxe
Haxe is a cross-platform language that can be used to develop desktop applications, web applications, and even mobile apps. Haxe includes its own set of libraries and tools for building applications, making it a powerful and flexible option.
Key Features of Haxe
- Static and dynamic typing
- Macros for metaprogramming
- Closures and anonymous functions
- Compiles to optimized machine code, making applications built with Haxe fast and efficient.
- Offers a robust set of libraries and tools for building and deploying desktop applications.
- Haxe applications can be compiled for various platforms, including Linux, Windows, macOS iOS, and Android.
- Haxe is a strongly typed language, which can help to catch errors at compile time rather than runtime.
- Haxe offers support for various programming paradigms, such as object-oriented, functional, and procedural programming.
- Haxe is designed to be easy to learn, with a syntax that is similar to popular languages like Java and C#.
12. Enact
Enact is a JavaScript framework that is designed specifically for building smart TV applications. Enact provides a number of different tools and libraries for building applications that can run on a variety of different TV platforms.
Key Features of Enact
- Responsive design
- Reusable components
- Theming and styling
- Localization support
- Enact applications can be compiled to run on a variety of different smart TV platforms, including webOS, Tizen, and Android TV.
- Enact includes a number of different UI components that can be easily integrated into applications, as well as a powerful layout engine for designing interfaces.
- Enact is designed to be highly performant, with a focus on smooth animations and fast load times.
- Enact includes a number of different accessibility features, making it easy to build applications that can be used by users with disabilities.
- Supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Based on web technologies, including React, CSS, and HTML.
- Provides a modular architecture that allows developers to easily add or remove features as needed.
- Offers a wide range of pre-built components, including buttons, menus, and text fields.
- Built-in support for internationalization and accessibility
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2. Windows Desktop Application Frameworks:
Windows application development tools and frameworks are designed specifically for developing applications for the Windows operating system. These frameworks provide developers with tools and libraries that help them create applications that can run on Windows devices. Here are some of the most popular Windows desktop app tools and frameworks:
1. Windows Forms
Windows Forms is a framework that allows developers to create windows applications for the Windows operating system using the.NET framework. It includes a collection of pre-built UI components and allows developers to construct new controls.
Key Features of Windows Forms
- Easy to learn and use, especially for developers familiar with Win32 API.
- Provides a drag-and-drop designer for creating user interfaces.
- Supports a wide range of controls, including buttons, text boxes, labels, and more.
- Allows for easy integration with third-party libraries and tools.
- Offers a rich set of built-in controls, such as DataGridView and TreeView, to create complex UIs
- Supports data binding, allowing you to easily synchronize data between the UI and your application’s data source
- Provides easy integration with other Windows technologies, such as COM and ActiveX
- Offers support for localization and accessibility features
- Integrates well with other Microsoft technologies
- Ideal for rapid application development
- Good for creating simple to medium complexity desktop applications
- Supports multiple document interfaces (MDI) for creating applications with multiple windows
- Compatible with a wide range of programming languages, including C# and VB.NET
2. WPF
WPF stands for Windows Presentation Foundation. It was first introduced with the release of the.NET Framework 3.0 in 2006. WPF is a framework that allows desktop developers to build sophisticated graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for desktop applications. It creates UI components with XAML (extensive Application Markup Language) and enables data binding, animation, and other advanced features.
Key Features of WPF
- Provides a more modern approach to building desktop applications, with support for rich media and animation.
- Supports powerful data binding capabilities, including support for complex data types and two-way binding
- Includes a flexible layout system that can adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions.
- Supports vector graphics, which allows for high-quality images that can be scaled without loss of quality.
- Offers a wide range of controls, including TabControl, ListBox, and Slider, that can be customized to fit the application’s needs.
- Provides a rich text engine, allowing for the creation of sophisticated text layouts and typography
- Offers support for touch and stylus input, making it ideal for building touch-enabled applications
- Allows for easy styling and theming
- Ideal for creating visually stunning desktop applications
3.UWP
UWP stands for Universal Windows Platform. It was introduced with Windows 10 in 2015.UWP is the latest framework from Microsoft, and it’s designed to work on all Windows 10 devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. It comes with a set of pre-built UI controls and supports live tiles, notifications, and other advanced features.
Key Features of UWP
- Designed for building modern, scalable applications that can run on a variety of Windows devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones
- Offers a common API for accessing device-specific features, such as sensors and cameras
- Provides a sandboxed environment for running applications, enhancing security and stability
- Supports live tiles, which allows applications to display useful information on the Start menu or Start screen.
- Offers a wide range of controls, including Pivot, Hub, and SplitView, that can be customized to fit the application’s needs.
- It supports adaptive UI, which enables developers to create applications that can adapt to the device’s screen size and orientation.
- Includes built-in support for Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant
3. macOS Desktop Application Frameworks:
macOS desktop application frameworks are designed specifically for developing applications for the macOS operating system. These frameworks provide developers with tools and libraries that help them create applications that can run on macOS devices. Here are some of the most popular macOS desktop application frameworks:
1. Cocoa
Cocoa is Apple’s traditional application development framework for macOS. It was introduced in the late 1990s and has been the primary framework for macOS application development ever since.It is based on the Objective-C programming language. It is the primary framework used for developing macOS applications and provides developers with a range of features that enable them to create powerful and visually appealing applications.
Key Features of Cocoa
- Developed by Apple specifically for macOS and iOS applications
- A comprehensive set of APIs for creating user-friendly interfaces, managing windows, handling events, and more.
- Support for advanced graphics and multimedia, including 2D and 3D graphics, animation, and video.
- Built-in support for data management and persistence, including Core Data and SQLite.
- Integration with other macOS technologies, such as Spotlight, Quick Look, and Accessibility.
- Offers a wide range of pre-built user interface elements such as buttons, menus, and text fields
- Includes a powerful set of tools for building complex user interfaces
- Provides access to macOS system level libraries and APIs
- Supports a variety of development tools, including Xcode and Interface Builder
- Cocoa offers a wide range of tools and resources that allow developers to build high-quality desktop applications, including user interface components, data management tools, and support for multimedia content.
- Cocoa is its ability to integrate seamlessly with other MacOS technologies, such as Core Data, Core Animation, and Core Image.
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2. SwiftUI
SwiftUI is a modern user interface (UI) development framework that was introduced by Apple in 2019. It uses the Swift programming language and follows a declarative syntax, which means that developers define what they want the interface to look like, and the framework takes care of the rest. SwiftUI also uses a reactive programming model, which maintains a consistent view of the application’s state and updates the view accordingly.
Key Features of SwiftUI
- Provides a modern, declarative approach to building user interfaces
- Offers a simplified syntax for building complex layouts and animations
- Automatically adapts to changes in device orientation or size
- Allows for live previews of the user interface during development
- Declarative syntax for easy UI development
- Reactive programming model for consistency and efficiency
- Easy integration with other Swift code
- Automatic support for accessibility features
- One of the key features of SwiftUI is its ability to work seamlessly with other Apple technologies, such as Core Data, MapKit, and CloudKit.
- SwiftUI also offers a range of built-in animations and transitions, which can be used to create engaging and interactive user interfaces.
4. Linux Desktop Application Frameworks:
Linux desktop application frameworks are specially developed for creating apps for the Linux operating system. These frameworks provide developers with tools and libraries to assist them in creating apps that can operate on Linux devices. Here are a few of the most popular Linux desktop application frameworks:
1. GTK
GTK (short for GIMP Toolkit) is a popular open-source framework for developing desktop applications on Linux. Originally designed for use with the GIMP image editing program, GTK has since been expanded to support a wide range of different applications.
Key Features of GTK
- GTK applications can be run on a variety of different operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- GTK has a well-documented API and a number of different language bindings (including C, Python, and Vala), making it easy to get started with.
- GTK includes a powerful theming system that allows developers to easily customize the look and feel of their applications.
- GTK includes a large library of pre-built widgets (such as buttons, text boxes, and menus) that can be easily integrated into applications.
- Many popular Linux applications, such as GNOME desktop environment, use GTK.
- GTK supports various programming languages, including C, C++, Python, and Perl.
Top Use Cases for Desktop Frameworks
Desktop frameworks offer a wide range of use cases that empower developers to create powerful and versatile desktop applications. Here are some of the top use cases for desktop frameworks:
1. Enterprise Applications
Desktop frameworks are commonly used for enterprise application integration such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, inventory management tools, project management software, and financial applications. These frameworks provide the necessary tools and functionalities to handle complex business processes and data management.
2. Productivity Tools
Desktop frameworks are ideal for developing productivity tools that enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. These can include text editors, note-taking applications, task managers, calendar applications, and project collaboration tools. With desktop frameworks, developers can create feature-rich applications that help users stay organized and boost their productivity.
3. Data Analysis and Visualization
Desktop frameworks are well-suited for creating data analysis and visualization applications. These frameworks provide powerful charting libraries, data manipulation capabilities, and statistical analysis tools. Developers can build applications for data exploration, trend analysis, scientific research, and data-driven decision-making.
4. Graphic Design and Multimedia Applications
Desktop frameworks are widely utilized for developing graphic design software, image editing tools, video editing applications, and multimedia creation platforms. These frameworks offer rich graphical capabilities, advanced image processing features, and real-time rendering to enable the creation of visually stunning and engaging multimedia content.
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5. Scientific and Engineering Applications
Desktop frameworks are extensively used in the scientific and engineering domains. They provide libraries and tools for numerical computing, simulation, data modelling, and analysis. These frameworks are invaluable for developing applications in fields such as physics, engineering, chemistry, and computational biology.
6. Gaming and Entertainment
Desktop frameworks are popular choices for mobile game application development and entertainment applications development. These frameworks offer game development libraries, rendering engines, physics simulations, and audio/video processing capabilities. Developers can create immersive gaming experiences, virtual reality (VR) applications, and multimedia entertainment platforms using desktop frameworks.
7. System Utilities and Tools
Desktop frameworks are instrumental in creating system utilities and tools that enhance the functionality and performance of desktop computers. These can include file managers, system optimization tools, backup and recovery applications, security software, and developer IDEs (Integrated Development Environments).
Conclusion
When it comes to desktop app development, it can be beneficial to engage with a specialized desktop application development company. Syndell has dedicated expertise in this domain and can offer tailored solutions for your specific requirements. We can guide you in choosing the right framework, provide desktop application development services and ensure the successful delivery of your desktop application.
If you’re looking to hire dedicated developers for desktop application development, it is recommended to reach out to us. Our experienced developers can work as an extension of your team, bringing their expertise and skills to the table, and ensuring the timely completion of your desktop application project.
For further information or to discuss your desktop app development needs, please feel free to contact us. As a custom web application development company in the USA, UK and India, we are here to assist you and provide any additional information or clarification you may require.
FAQs
- Hiring dedicated developers provides you with specialized expertise and ensures focused attention on your project.
- Dedicated developers can work as an extension of your team, ensuring seamless collaboration and timely completion of the project.
- Consider factors such as your project requirements, target platforms, programming language familiarity, and community support.
- Consulting with a desktop app development company or professionals can provide valuable guidance in selecting the most suitable framework.
A framework or toolkit provides a foundation and pre-built components that simplify the development process. They offer features like cross-platform compatibility, UI controls, and integration with other technologies, saving time and effort for developers.
Frameworks like Electron, Flutter, and Qt are popular choices for developing cross-platform desktop applications. These frameworks enable developers to create applications that run on multiple operating systems using a single codebase.
Advantages include cost savings, faster development time, and a unified codebase that simplifies maintenance. Disadvantages can include performance issues, limited access to native APIs, and potential difficulties in achieving a native look and feel on all platforms.
To build cross-platform desktop applications, choose a suitable framework (e.g., Electron, Flutter, Qt), set up the development environment, write your code ensuring compatibility across platforms, test on all target operating systems, and then package and distribute your application accordingly.
