.NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) is revolutionizing the way developers build native cross-platform applications for mobile and desktop using a single codebase. As an evolution of Xamarin.Forms, this modern framework is designed to streamline development processes and enhance the native user experience across platforms like Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
Key Features of .NET MAUI
One of the primary advantages of .NET MAUI is its ability to provide a single codebase for UI logic and business logic that runs on multiple platforms. This reduces development time and effort, allowing developers to focus on creating high-quality applications rather than maintaining separate codes for each platform.
Another key feature is native controls, which provide access to native features, ensuring that your app looks and feels like a native application on each platform. Additionally, .NET MAUI allows device-specific customization, enabling developers to tailor the UI/UX for different devices and platforms, optimizing the user experience without sacrificing native performance. Furthermore, MAUI supports adaptive UI design, allowing apps to adapt their layout and behavior based on factors like screen size, orientation, and platform-specific guidelines.
Example Application: Building a Swift Counter App
Let's dive into an example of building a simple counter app using .NET MAUI Blazor.
Development Environment
To get started with .NET MAUI development, ensure you have:
- Visual Studio 2022: The latest version of Visual Studio provides enhanced support for .NET MAUI development.
- .NET 6 or .NET 7 SDK: Install the .NET 6 SDK or the newer .NET 7 SDK, which include support for .NET MAUI projects.
- MAUI Updates: .NET MAUI may still receive updates and new features, so staying updated with the latest releases and previews is recommended.
Getting Started
Open Visual Studio 2022:
- Create a New Project:
- Click on “Create a new project” from the start window.
- Choose the Project Template
+ In the search box, type “MAUI Blazor” to filter templates.
+ Select “.NET MAUI Blazor Hybrid App” from the list of available templates.
+ Click “Next”.
- Configure Your New Project:
- Project Name: Enter a name for your project (e.g., CountValueApp).
- Location: Choose a directory where you want to save your project.
- Solution Name: This is automatically filled with your project name but can be modified if you want.
- Click “Create”.
Project Structure
Your .NET MAUI Blazor project will have the following structure:
- Components : The Components folder is divided into two subfolders: Layout and Pages. Each subfolder contains .razor files, which are Razor components in a Blazor application (or a .NET MAUI Blazor app).
- MainLayout.razor:
+ This file likely defines the main layout of your application.
+ It includes shared UI elements like the header, footer, and navigation menu that are consistent across different pages of the application.
- NavMenu.razor:
+ This file likely defines the navigation menu component.
+ It includes links to different pages within your application, providing a way for users to navigate.
- Counter.razor :
+ This file defines a page for a simple counter functionality.
+ It usually includes a button to increment a counter and displays the current count.
- Home.razor:
+ This file defines the home page of your application.
+ It typically contains welcome messages and links to other parts of the application.
- Weather.razor:
+ This file defines a page that displays weather information.
+ It might include a form to enter location details and display weather data fetched from an API.
- Platforms folder: Contains platform-specific code for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
- App.xaml: Contains the shared resources and styles for the application.
- App.xaml.cs : The code-behind file for App.xaml, containing the application initialization logic.
- MauiProgram.cs: Configures the app and sets up the Blazor WebView
- _Imports.razor : This file contains common Razor directives and namespaces imported into Razor components.
- wwwroot Folder :Holds static assets like CSS, JavaScript, and images.
Running Your Project
- Select the target platform (e.g., Android Emulator, Windows Machine, iOS Simulator, etc.) from the top toolbar.
- Run Your Application:
- On Windows Machine: Select Windows Machine and run the application. You will see the application window.
- Go to Settings for the developer option.
- Turn on the Developer Mode and click the Yes button.
- The application will then run, and you will see the counter page.
- Move to the Counter option where you can increase the counter value using the Counter button.
- You can also navigate to the Weather page.
- Running on Android Emulator:
- Select Android Emulator and run the application.
- The Visual Studio will prompt to create an Android virtual device (AVD).
- Click the Create button to create an Android mobile emulator.
- Wait a few minutes for the download and setup of the Android mobile emulator to complete.
- Once the AVD (Android Virtual Device) is created, it should appear in the list of available devices. Select the AVD and click the “Start” button to launch the emulator.
- Wait for a few minutes as the emulator starts up for the first time.
- Then Run this Android emulator again, the application should automatically open on the Android Emulator.
- Click on the three lines in the corner (typically a hamburger menu icon) to open the navigation drawer.
- From the menu, click on the “Counter” option to navigate to the counter screen.
- Similarly, click on the “Weather” option to navigate to the weather screen.
This example application demonstrates how to set up and run a simple counter app using .NET MAUI and Blazor. This showcases the capabilities of .NET MAUI to develop hybrid applications that work seamlessly across multiple platforms with a single codebase. By leveraging the power of Blazor for web-based UI components and MAUI for native features, developers can create rich, interactive experiences that cater to diverse user preferences.