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Desktop Developer

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April 29, 2024 3 minute read

Desktop developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining desktop applications. They work with a variety of programming languages, software development tools, and technologies to create applications that meet the specific needs of their users.

The Role of a Desktop Developer

Desktop developers typically work in a team environment, collaborating with other developers, designers, and product managers to bring new applications to life. They may also work independently on smaller projects. The day-to-day responsibilities of a desktop developer can vary depending on the project they are working on, but some common tasks include:

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Salaries for Desktop Developer

City
Median
New York
$171,000
San Francisco
$139,000
Seattle
$124,000
See all salaries
City
Median
New York
$171,000
San Francisco
$139,000
Seattle
$124,000
Austin
$90,000
Toronto
$75,000
London
£75,000
Paris
€61,000
Berlin
€65,000
Tel Aviv
₪452,000
Singapore
S$74,000
Beijing
¥331,000
Shanghai
¥346,000
Bengalaru
₹225,000
Delhi
₹353,000
Bars indicate relevance. All salaries presented are estimates. Completion of this course does not guarantee or imply job placement or career outcomes.

Reading list

We've selected some books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Desktop Developer.
Is fundamental for anyone involved in application development, regardless of experience level. It provides practical principles and patterns for writing code that is readable, maintainable, and testable. While not a textbook on a specific technology, its concepts are universally applicable and essential for building robust applications. It is widely regarded as a must-read for developers.
Offers a wide range of practical advice on software development, focusing on creating better software and continuously improving as a developer. It covers topics such as personal responsibility, career development, and architectural techniques. It's a valuable resource for gaining a broader understanding of the craft of application development and is considered a classic.
This seminal work, often referred to as the 'Gang of Four' book, introduces fundamental design patterns for object-oriented software. Understanding these patterns is crucial for designing flexible and maintainable applications. It's a classic that provides a deep understanding of software design principles. It valuable reference for developers and architects.
Foundational text on the principles and practices of Continuous Delivery, a crucial aspect of modern application development. It explains how to automate the build, test, and deployment process to enable rapid and reliable software releases. It's highly relevant for understanding contemporary development workflows and DevOps practices.
Comprehensive guide to the challenges of building data-intensive applications. It explores various data storage and processing technologies and the trade-offs involved in designing systems that are reliable, scalable, and maintainable. It's a crucial resource for developers and architects working with large-scale data systems.
Aimed at both beginners and experienced users, this guide delves into the powerful features of IntelliJ IDEA, including debugging, refactoring, and performance tuning. It's structured to build skills incrementally and serves as a valuable reference for unlocking the IDE's full potential.
This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing DevOps practices. It covers the cultural, automation, lean, measurement, and recovery aspects of DevOps. It's essential reading for anyone involved in the software delivery pipeline and looking to improve collaboration and efficiency.
Provides a comprehensive overview of microservices architecture, a popular approach for building scalable and resilient applications. It covers various aspects, including modeling, integration, testing, deployment, and monitoring of microservices. It's essential reading for developers and architects working with or planning to adopt microservices. The second edition complete rewrite covering all aspects of the software delivery process impacted by adopting a microservice architecture.
IntelliJ IDEA is renowned for its extensive keyboard shortcuts that significantly enhance productivity. practical reference dedicated to mastering these shortcuts, a key aspect of becoming an efficient IntelliJ IDEA user. It's a useful tool for solidifying understanding of efficient navigation and command execution within the IDE.
Provides a solid introduction to IntelliJ IDEA specifically for Java developers. It covers installation, configuration, working with source code, and building applications. It's a good starting point for those with some Java background looking to get up to speed with the IDE's core features.
Is essential for learning how to improve the design of existing codebases without introducing new bugs. It provides a catalog of refactorings and explains when and why to apply them. It's a practical guide for maintaining and evolving applications, crucial for professional developers working with existing systems. The second edition is updated with a more functional approach and uses JavaScript examples.
Based on extensive research, this book provides data-driven insights into the practices that drive high performance in software development organizations. It connects lean principles, DevOps, and cloud computing to organizational performance. It's valuable for understanding the impact of technical practices on business outcomes and key resource for contemporary discussions in the field.
Presents an approach to software development that focuses on modeling the business domain. It provides strategies for managing complexity in large and complex applications by aligning the software design with the business needs. It is particularly valuable for experienced developers and architects working on complex enterprise systems.
Explores common architectural patterns for building enterprise applications. It provides a catalog of patterns and explains their underlying principles and trade-offs. It's a valuable resource for architects and senior developers designing large-scale applications.
Focuses on Kotlin Coroutines, a contemporary topic in Kotlin development. It explicitly mentions using IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio for the projects, making it highly relevant for users of the IDE interested in asynchronous programming with Kotlin.
While not solely focused on IntelliJ IDEA, this book is written by members of the Kotlin team at JetBrains and is highly relevant for those using IntelliJ IDEA for Kotlin development. It provides deep insights into the Kotlin language, which is tightly integrated with the IDE. It's a must-read for professional Kotlin developers using IntelliJ IDEA.
Deep dive into XAML. It covers the basics of XAML, as well as advanced topics such as performance optimization and custom controls.
While specific to Java, this book provides invaluable guidance on writing high-quality, robust, and performant code in Java. It presents best practices, common pitfalls, and effective programming techniques. Its principles of writing effective code are applicable beyond Java and deepen the understanding of software craftsmanship. This must-read for Java developers.
This practical guide to TypeScript for Node.js developers provides a comprehensive overview of the language, making it a great choice for developers who want to use TypeScript with Node.js.
A classic in software engineering, this book offers timeless insights into the challenges of managing software projects. It discusses topics such as team collaboration, project scheduling, and the pitfalls of adding more people to a late project. While not directly about coding, its lessons are invaluable for anyone involved in the application development lifecycle, particularly those in leadership or management roles.
Serves as a comprehensive guide to the essential features of IntelliJ IDEA. It covers topics from basic workspace navigation to advanced features like version control integration and build tools. While slightly older, it offers a good overview of the IDE's capabilities for developers looking to deepen their understanding.
This practical guide provides 62 specific tips and tricks for writing better TypeScript code, making it a valuable resource for developers of all levels.
This beginner-friendly guide to TypeScript provides a step-by-step introduction to the language, making it a great choice for those who are new to TypeScript.
This hands-on guide to TypeScript provides a practical introduction to the language, making it a great choice for developers who want to learn how to use TypeScript in real-world projects.
This beginner-friendly guide to TypeScript provides a step-by-step introduction to the language, making it a great choice for those who are new to TypeScript.
This practical guide to TypeScript provides a comprehensive overview of the language, making it a great choice for developers of all levels.
This practical guide to TypeScript for Angular developers provides a comprehensive overview of the language, making it a great choice for developers who want to use TypeScript with Angular.
Focuses on user stories, a popular technique for gathering and documenting software requirements in agile projects. It provides practical guidance on writing effective user stories and using them for planning, estimation, and testing. It's a valuable resource for developers and teams working in agile environments.
IntelliJ IDEA has excellent support for the Spring framework. leading resource for learning Spring. For developers using IntelliJ IDEA for Spring development, this book provides the necessary domain knowledge to effectively utilize the IDE's Spring-specific features.
For advanced Java developers using IntelliJ IDEA, this book deep dive into concurrent programming. While not an IDE book, mastering concurrency is crucial for building robust applications, and IntelliJ IDEA provides excellent tools for debugging and analyzing concurrent code.
Provides a practical, in-depth guide to Scala development, covering various libraries and frameworks. For those using IntelliJ IDEA for more advanced Scala projects, this book offers valuable knowledge that complements the IDE's capabilities.
Most applications interact with databases, making a strong understanding of database concepts crucial. covers database fundamentals, including data modeling, query languages, and database design. It provides essential knowledge for developers working with data-driven applications.
While not solely focused on application development, this book fundamental resource for understanding algorithms and data structures, which are the building blocks of all software applications. A strong grasp of these concepts is essential for writing efficient and optimized code. It's a classic textbook used widely in computer science programs.
This concise guide to TypeScript provides a quick and easy introduction to the language, making it a great choice for developers who want to get up to speed on TypeScript quickly.
For developers using IntelliJ IDEA for Scala development, this book offers a fast-paced introduction to the Scala language. A solid understanding of Scala is essential to fully leverage IntelliJ IDEA's Scala plugin and features.
Classic on Test-Driven Development (TDD). While not specific to IntelliJ IDEA, the IDE provides excellent support for writing and running tests, and practicing TDD with IntelliJ IDEA can significantly improve code quality and development speed. This book provides the foundational methodology.
A highly visual and engaging introduction to Java programming. While not specifically about IntelliJ IDEA, a strong understanding of Java is foundational for many IntelliJ IDEA users. Co-authored by Trisha Gee, who also wrote an IntelliJ IDEA book, this good resource for those needing to solidify their Java knowledge.
Understanding operating systems is crucial for developing applications that interact with the underlying system resources effectively. provides a comprehensive overview of operating system principles, including process management, memory management, and file systems. It offers valuable background knowledge for application developers.
Covers advanced TypeScript concepts, including type systems, generics, and decorators, which are essential for understanding and using TypeORM effectively.
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