Xamarin Forms Development

What is Xamarin?

Xamarin (pronounced ZAM-er-in, it took us a while too) is a Microsoft framework that lets developers build mobile apps for iOS, Android and Windows - all from a single codebase using C#. The goal for Xamarin was simple - Cut down the hassle of writing the same app three times and let developers share the core logic across platforms without sacrificing that sweet, sweet native performance. There are two main flavours: Xamarin.Native, where you build separate UIs for each platform and Xamarin.Forms, where you write the UI once and share it across the board. Even though Xamarin has officially reached end of support status and passed the torch to .NET MAUI, it’s still very much alive and kicking in many organisations around the globe.

Xamarin.Forms - The “Write once, run everywhere” approach

Xamarin.Forms is where things become especially efficient. It lets developers write both the logic and the user interface in a shared C# / XAML codebase meaning that you’re literally designing the app once and deploying it across Android, iOS and Windows. Developers rejoice!

Xamarin.Native - When you want full control

If you need your app to look and feel exactly right on each platform then Xamarin.Native gives you full control by letting you design separate UIs using native tools like UIKit (for iOS) and Android.Views (for Android) whilst still sharing your business logic in C#. It’s a welcome middle ground for those who want both performance and platform specific aesthetics.

Key Benefits

Code reusability - One of Xamarin’s most revered party tricks is that you can reuse your logic across platforms. Less time - faster delivery - reduced costs. A win win for all involved.
Access to native APIs - If you need to use device specific features like cameras, GPS or gyroscopes then you're in luck. Xamarin gives you full access to native APIs so you can tap into all the platform goodies.Visual Studio integration - If you’re already utilising Visual Studio, Xamarin will slot right in. It’s fully integrated so you can build, test and debug in an environment you already know and undrstand.
Wearables and IoT development - Xamarin is also used to build apps for wearables (think smartwatches and fitness bands) and even Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Community and support - Xamarin support may be at it's end but it still has a solid library ecosystem and a loyal community. That being said, things are slowing down a bit as the dev crowd gradually shifts over to MAUI and newer alternatives.

How Can Cool Code Company Help?

Here at Cool Code Company, we have extensive experience in building applications in Xamarin and more recently, migrating them to alternative platforms. We can help you maintain your existing Xamarin apps to keep them running on top form, develop new Xamarin apps or if you’re ready to move on, we can help migrate your projects to more modern platforms that are still supported including .NET MAUI. Our focus is on making the transition simple, minimising downtime and keeping costs under control.

Your questions answered on Xamarin

Q) What is Xamarin used for?

A) Xamarin is predominantly used for cross platform mobile application development.

Q) Is Xamarin Hybrid or Native

A) Xamarin is primarily used for native development however, it does provide some hybrid functionality when developers use Xamarin Forms to create a shared User Interface.

Q) What is the Microsoft replacement for Xamarin?

A) Xamarin has been replaced with MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) meaning, MAUI is generally a good choice for mobile application development in C# although there are other alternatives to consider as well.

Q) Can I use Xamarin without Visual studio?

A) Yes, a popular alternative is JetBrains Xamarin SDK. This is a customised build of Xamarin GitHub sources with some tweaks, improvements and additional code.

Further Reading

Xamarin Discontinued: What This Means for App Developers