In our increasingly connected world, mobile applications have become an integral part of daily life, streamlining tasks, supporting wellness, managing finances, and fostering connections. With over 255 billion app downloads in 2022 alone, their significance is undeniable.

Xamarin has emerged as a beacon for cross-platform app development, revolutionizing the creation of iOS, Android, and Windows apps since its inception in 2011. However, like any product lifecycle, Xamarin's legacy is reaching its culmination. On May 1st, 2024, it will be the end of support for Xamarin's legacy as it paves the way for a new era for .NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI). This change opens more space for a unified, more potent framework for cross-platform app development.

What is Swift App Development?

Xamarin is an open-source framework from Microsoft used for building cross-platform apps using a single C# and .NET codebase. It extends the .NET development platform with libraries used specifically for building apps for Android, iOS, watchOS, macOS, Tizen, and Windows.

Xamarin started as a commercial project until Microsoft acquired it in 2016, open-sourcing the platform's SDK and integrating it into Microsoft's .NET platform. As of 2017, more than 1.4 million software engineers use Xamarin app development tools. The most popular feature is that Xamarin allows sharing more than 90% of code across major platforms, which leads to faster mobile application development.

Xamarin App Development: Native vs. Cross-Platform

While native applications are specifically designed to take advantage of hardware requirements, APIs, and other platform-centric optimizations, this method of mobile app development isn't the only option. Cross-platform development allows for the creation of apps that can live on multiple operating systems, without the requirement of unique and dedicated development for each.

Xamarin.Native (Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android) vs. Xamarin.Forms allow developers to make the most of their .NET skills and save valuable time and money. When you choose to use Xamarin development services, business logic and backend code are written in C#. Xamarin.Native allows developers to share backend code, but when it comes to UI it requires you to separately code apps for Android and iOS.

On the other hand, Xamarin.Forms is an advanced version of Xamarin.Native as you can write a single XAML for different platforms and quickly add changes or new features.

Features of Swift App Development

Here's what differentiates Xamarin from other development frameworks:

  • C# - Xamarin just uses C# to create apps for all mobile platforms. Xamarin is natively compiled, making it a go-to option for developing new-generation apps that look and feel native.
  • Based on .NET framework - C# is a .NET framework language that can be used with .NET features such as Asynchronous programming, Lambdas, and LINQ. With native libraries wrapped in a .NET layer for cross-platform app development, Xamarin apps often resemble native apps regarding the quality of UX and design.
  • Compiled Code - Xamarin app development platform offers two products: Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android. Both app development platforms have automated assembly code processes and are well-adjusted to handle garbage collection, memory allocation, and platform interoperability.

Xamarin.Forms provides an abstraction of the underlying platform's UI components and exposes them in an easy-to-use markup language. It is a separate product developed to share up to 90% of code across iOS and Android platforms to simplify the app creation process.

Xamarin App Development: Real-World Examples

Ticketmaster approached Softjourn about investigating whether Xamarin mobile app development would fit its needs, seeking a less expensive and time-consuming ticket scanning app. PEX partnered with Softjourn to create a cross-platform application using Xamarin, focusing on building speed and functionality into expense management apps.

A U.K. automotive valeting company worked with major automotive dealerships across the country to prepare cars for delivery to buyers for more than a decade. They chose Softjourn to assist them in creating a cross-platform app using Xamarin to improve its services and ensure the quality of work performed by its 600+ staff.

Advantages of Swift App Development

Single Tech Stack for Faster Development - One of the greatest advantages of mobile app development with Xamarin is its compatibility with the .NET framework. Since Xamarin uses C#, it allows sharing an average of 90% of the code across platforms that speed up the engineering process.

By leveraging the power of Xamarin, developers can create high-quality, native-like apps for multiple platforms while minimizing development time and costs. With its seamless integration with Visual Studio and a wide range of features, Xamarin is an excellent choice for businesses looking to develop cross-platform apps.