Ask HN: Are people still writing commercial software for desktop PCs?

Do you not use a desktop environment? Loads of software is being made (and I only know the macOS side of it). Window managers, compression tools, utilities, powerhouse tools like Photoshop, text editors, IDEs, etc.

I myself build software in this space and generally its productivity-ish-tools.

Here's a list of 70 macOS apps that received updates _today_ https://macupdater.com/app_updates/index-2025-01-27.html

In my experience yes, but you won't find these applications until you start digging below the surface a little bit and asking what business people in non-tech domains are actually using the tech to do. Ask around and you'll find old school GUI applications aplenty, the more specialized the domain the better.

> It seems that the vast majority of software I'm hearing about is targeting iOS, Android or embedded systems.

That's because you are mostly interested in those things.

> Is anyone working on a software product that (a) targets a non-mobile, non-server device and (b) is for sale, as opposed to Open-source?

None of that is "opposed to Open-source". Anyway, if you use Windows or macOS, then open your platform's "app store" and take a look at literally any category but "free (as in beer)".

Yes. There is a whole world outside of your bubble.

Check out Rogue Amoeba’s audio software products. Also Symless Synergy.

AI training

Music production/ synthesis

Graphics / 3D / animation

Plus untold business cases