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As Microsoft announces the discontinuation of Xamarin support, developers are left wondering what to do next. If you're built your app on Xamarin, don't worry – we've got you covered. In this article, we'll explore the history of Xamarin, why it was discontinued, and what options are available for developers moving forward.

The world of cross-platform app development is constantly evolving, and one recent change is Microsoft's announcement to cease support for Xamarin on May 1, 2024. With its powerful capabilities, Xamarin allowed coders to create applications using a shared C# codebase that could be adjusted to fit multiple platforms – iOS, Android, or Windows.

However, there were various reasons why Microsoft decided to discontinue Xamarin development. One primary reason was the difference in architecture between Xamarin and .NET Core, which led Microsoft to focus on its new platform, MAUI (Multi-platform App UI). This move aimed to unify the .NET ecosystem and ensure a higher level of compatibility within different Microsoft frameworks.

Moreover, Microsoft has shifted its attention and resources towards MAUI as a competitor to other frameworks. With its recent updates in documentation, Microsoft provides guidance on migrating apps from Xamarin to .NET, making it an attractive option for developers.

So, what does this mean for developers?

For those who aren't planning on updating their apps anytime soon, they can keep their apps running smoothly past May 1, 2024. Alternatively, developers can start considering MAUI as a more straightforward option. In some cases, developers might choose to switch to alternative cross-platform frameworks or native implementation – if a complete recreation of the app makes sense.

As we move forward, it's essential to understand that migration is always a challenge, but it will represent a new beginning in app development. MAUI could be a fresh start, as it represents a new generation of consolidated efforts from Microsoft in creating a framework that's a cut above the rest.

The Launch of .NET MAUI

Microsoft has been working tirelessly to create next-level tooling. MAUI is expected to take the industry by storm and rival competition like Flutter and React Native. It's anticipated to become the new way to create rich, beautiful applications for any platform.

After its release was pushed back and many previews had passed, Microsoft finally made .NET MAUI available for Windows in August 2022 (November 2022 for macOS). Now, one year after its release, the way developers make apps has become a much smoother experience. With a single base class, developers can now create scalable applications for iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.

What Is .NET MAUI?

.NET MAUI is a framework for developing cross-platform applications, much like Flutter and React Native. It lets developers write code in a single language to run their applications across all platforms. To understand the need for it and how it works, let's dive into its history and discover its origins.

Xamarin.Forms was a step forward to unify UI development and share more code across the platforms. MAUI is the next step that will make developers think less about platform differences and focus on coding.

What Is .NET MAUI's Functionality in Comparison to Xamarin?

There are notable differences between the functionality of MAUI and Xamarin, which we'll tackle below:

  • Project architecture: Before, Xamarin kept and maintained many projects for each platform. With .NET MAUI, there is a unified structure that uses a single codebase to run code on each platform.
  • Code limitations: Xamarin uses Mono BCL (Base Class Library), which is slightly different from the .NET Framework BCL. This generates many limitations, as the code cannot be shared between the frameworks.
  • Advanced features: As MAUI is now part of .NET 6, you can now use several features that weren't easily available. The most significant of these are nullable types, hot reloads, and image optimisation.

What Are the Next Steps?

As we wrap up this article, it's clear that there are many options for developers moving forward. Whether you choose to keep your app on Xamarin or transition to MAUI, it's essential to understand the benefits and limitations of each option.

By embracing swift app development with .NET MAUI, developers can create scalable applications for any platform, making it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade their skills.