What Challenges Do Developers Face with Desktop Apps in 2026?

In the C++ space, wxWidgets and Qt have been the go-to for ages, but they're quite bulky. A lightweight framework with basic functionalities would be perfect. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on what's 'basic', though!

Automated testing is a real pain point for us. We've been searching for a solid tool similar to Playwright for our desktop applications, but haven't found a good fit yet.

Common issues we face include framework bloat, difficulty in extending functionalities, and sometimes mature components that just don’t play well with modern systems. For me, I care more about developer and user experience over binary size or memory usage. If a new framework can offer seamless integration and a clear user experience—and it's hassle-free to develop with—I'd switch without hesitation!

For me, C++ and Win32 development is solid, but occasionally I run into issues with name conflicts in my code because Microsoft uses common names for their OS components. Thankfully, lightweight libraries help mitigate this! The real struggle is navigating through those naming conflicts.

Distribution remains a sore spot. Back in the day, desktop apps ruled the software world, but now the web seems so much easier for users. If you're involved in distribution, you have to sign your code, deal with malware scanners (those false positives are a headache!), decide between app stores or getting users to download from the web, and set up an auto-update system. And let’s not forget about enterprise customers who prefer software without installers.