By default, when you build an application, the front panels of all VIs are removed.
Of course, this would make applications completely unusable, so there are certain changes which cause LV to keep the front panel in, such as setting the front panel to open when the VI is called. This gives LV a clear indication you want the front panel and these changes are generally enough for most of the VIs which people use.
There are, however, times when you want a VI to keep the panel, but it's a VI which usually (or sometimes even never) won't be displayed. Today there are several ways to handle this case.
The official way is too flimsy:
It's limited to specific build specs and it's too easy to break (e.g. remove the VI from the project and add it back).
The automatic way relies on additional changes you're likely to make if you intend to show the VI, but is also too easy to break:
Someone could just unset the property and then it's gone.
What I usually today is something like this:
The static property node ensures the FP will remain and the comment makes it less likely that someone will remove it.
What I want to see, however, is something more explicit, possibly in the shape of a new VI property:
