Desktop Application Architecture Questions

Framework and Platform

Primary framework:
- Electron (JavaScript/TypeScript, web tech, cross-platform)
- Tauri (Rust backend, web frontend, lightweight)
- .NET MAUI (C#, cross-platform, native UI)
- Qt (C++/Python, cross-platform, native)
- Flutter Desktop (Dart, cross-platform)
- JavaFX (Java, cross-platform)
- Swift/SwiftUI (macOS only)
- WPF/WinUI 3 (Windows only, C#)
- GTK (C/Python, Linux-focused)
- Other: ___
Target platforms:
- Windows only
- macOS only
- Linux only
- Windows + macOS
- Windows + macOS + Linux (full cross-platform)
- Specific Linux distros: ___
UI approach:
- Native UI (platform-specific controls)
- Web-based UI (HTML/CSS/JS in Electron/Tauri)
- Custom-drawn UI (Canvas/OpenGL)
- Hybrid (native shell + web content)
Frontend framework (if web-based UI):
- React
- Vue
- Svelte
- Angular
- Vanilla JS
- Other: ___

Application architecture:
- Single-process (all in one)
- Multi-process (main + renderer processes like Electron)
- Multi-threaded (background workers)
- Plugin-based (extensible architecture)
Backend/Business logic:
- Embedded in app (monolithic)
- Separate local service
- Connects to remote API
- Hybrid (local + remote)
Database/Data storage:
- SQLite (local embedded database)
- IndexedDB (if web-based)
- File-based storage (JSON, custom)
- LevelDB/RocksDB
- Remote database only
- No persistence needed
- Other: ___

Operating system integration needs:
- File system access (read/write user files)
- System tray/menu bar icon
- Native notifications
- Keyboard shortcuts (global hotkeys)
- Clipboard integration
- Drag-and-drop support
- Context menu integration
- File type associations
- URL scheme handling (deep linking)
- System dialogs (file picker, alerts)
- None needed (basic app)
Hardware access:
- Camera/Microphone
- USB devices
- Bluetooth
- Printers
- Scanners
- Serial ports
- GPU (for rendering/compute)
- None needed
System permissions required:
- Accessibility API (screen reading, input simulation)
- Location services
- Calendar/Contacts access
- Network monitoring
- Screen recording
- Full disk access
- None (sandboxed app)

Auto-update mechanism:
- Electron’s autoUpdater
- Squirrel (Windows/Mac)
- Sparkle (macOS)
- Custom update server
- App store updates only
- Manual download/install
- No updates (fixed version)
Distribution method:
- Microsoft Store (Windows)
- Mac App Store
- Snap Store (Linux)
- Flatpak (Linux)
- Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
- Direct download from website
- Enterprise deployment (MSI, PKG)
- Multiple channels
Code signing:
- Yes - Windows (Authenticode)
- Yes - macOS (Apple Developer)
- Yes - both
- No (development/internal only)
Notarization (macOS):
- Required (public distribution)
- Not needed (internal only)

Windows installer:
- NSIS
- Inno Setup
- WiX Toolset (MSI)
- Squirrel.Windows
- MSIX (Windows 10+)
- Portable (no installer)
- Other: ___
macOS installer:
- DMG (drag-to-install)
- PKG installer
- Mac App Store
- Homebrew Cask
- Other: ___
Linux packaging:
- AppImage (portable)
- Snap
- Flatpak
- .deb (Debian/Ubuntu)
- .rpm (Fedora/RHEL)
- Tarball
- AUR (Arch)
- Multiple formats

Settings storage:
- OS-specific (Registry on Windows, plist on macOS, config files on Linux)
- JSON/YAML config file
- SQLite database
- Remote/cloud sync
- Electron Store
- Other: ___
User data location:
- Application Support folder (standard OS location)
- User documents folder
- Custom location (user selectable)
- Cloud storage integration

Network connectivity:
- Online-only (requires internet)
- Offline-first (works without internet)
- Hybrid (enhanced with internet)
- No network needed
Backend communication (if applicable):
- REST API
- GraphQL
- WebSocket
- gRPC
- Custom protocol
- None

Authentication (if applicable):
- OAuth2 (Google, Microsoft, etc.)
- Username/password with backend
- SSO (enterprise)
- OS-level authentication (biometric, Windows Hello)
- No authentication needed
Data security:
- Encrypt sensitive data at rest
- OS keychain/credential manager
- Custom encryption
- No sensitive data
Sandboxing:
- Fully sandboxed (Mac App Store requirement)
- Partially sandboxed
- Not sandboxed (legacy/compatibility)

Performance requirements:
- Lightweight (minimal resource usage)
- Moderate (typical desktop app)
- Resource-intensive (video editing, 3D, etc.)
Background operation:
- Runs in background/system tray
- Active window only
- Can minimize to tray
Multi-instance handling:
- Allow multiple instances
- Single instance only
- Single instance with IPC (communicate between instances)

Build tooling:
- electron-builder
- electron-forge
- Tauri CLI
- .NET CLI
- CMake (for C++/Qt)
- Gradle (for Java)
- Xcode (for macOS)
- Visual Studio (for Windows)
- Other: ___
Development environment:
- Cross-platform dev (can build on any OS)
- Platform-specific (need macOS for Mac builds, etc.)
CI/CD for builds:
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab CI
- CircleCI
- Azure Pipelines
- Custom
- Manual builds

UI testing approach:
- Spectron (Electron)
- Playwright
- Selenium
- Native UI testing (XCTest, UI Automation)
- Manual testing only
End-to-end testing:
- Yes (automated E2E tests)
- Limited (smoke tests only)
- Manual only

Internationalization (i18n):
- Multiple languages supported
- English only
- User-selectable language
- OS language detection
Accessibility:
- Full accessibility support (screen readers, keyboard nav)
- Basic accessibility
- Not a priority
Crash reporting:
- Sentry
- BugSnag
- Crashpad (for native crashes)
- Custom reporting
- None
Analytics/Telemetry:
- Google Analytics
- Mixpanel
- PostHog
- Custom telemetry
- No telemetry (privacy-focused)
Licensing/DRM (if commercial):
- License key validation
- Hardware-locked licenses
- Subscription validation
- None (free/open-source)
Plugin/Extension system:
- Yes (user can install plugins)
- No (monolithic app)
- Planned for future