As cross-platform development evolves, developers seek more efficient and powerful frameworks to build applications that work seamlessly on multiple platforms. .NET MAUI (Multiplatform App UI) has emerged as the successor to Xamarin.Forms, offering a more streamlined, flexible, and robust approach to building cross-platform apps. If you’re currently using Xamarin.Forms or planning to develop a cross-platform app, understanding the differences between .NET MAUI and Xamarin.Forms, and why migrating to .NET MAUI is beneficial, is essential.
In this blog, we’ll explore what’s new in .NET MAUI and the key reasons why you should consider migrating from Xamarin.Forms.
1. Unified Project Structure
Xamarin.Forms traditionally required separate projects for each platform (Android, iOS, Windows), which could lead to complexity in managing multiple projects, especially in large-scale applications.
What’s New in .NET MAUI: .NET MAUI introduces a single project structure, consolidating platform-specific code and resources into one project. This significantly simplifies development by allowing developers to manage all platform targets from a unified codebase. You no longer need to juggle multiple projects within a solution.
Why Migrate:
- Simplified project setup and maintenance.
- Reduced time spent configuring platform-specific elements.
- Centralized resource management, including fonts, images, and themes.
2. Cross-Platform UI with Native Access
With Xamarin.Forms, while you could share business logic across platforms, accessing platform-specific features or UI elements required using platform-specific code, sometimes leading to less code reuse.
What’s New in .NET MAUI: .NET MAUI not only allows shared business logic but also enables the shared UI across all platforms. With the new handler-based architecture, you have more flexibility in modifying or customizing platform-specific behavior without duplicating code. Handlers replace Xamarin.Forms renderers, offering more lightweight, performance-optimized access to native controls.
Why Migrate:
- Write UI code once and reuse it across platforms without compromising on native performance.
- Access platform-specific features more easily, reducing the amount of custom code.
- More granular control over native elements using handlers, making UI customization easier and more efficient.
3. Performance Improvements
Performance has always been a critical factor for mobile applications. While Xamarin.Forms offered decent performance for cross-platform apps, the architecture had limitations in terms of speed and resource usage.
What’s New in .NET MAUI: .NET MAUI improves performance with faster startup times, more efficient memory management, and the ability to access native APIs directly with less overhead. The new architecture reduces the complexity of rendering and interaction between native and shared components.
Why Migrate:
- Quicker app startup and smoother transitions between screens.
- More responsive UI with optimized native rendering.
- Lower memory consumption, improving overall app stability and performance, especially on resource-constrained devices.
4. Native Desktop Support (Windows & macOS)
Xamarin.Forms was primarily focused on mobile platforms like Android and iOS, with limited support for desktop applications.
What’s New in .NET MAUI: .NET MAUI goes beyond mobile platforms by offering native support for desktop applications, including Windows and macOS. This provides a true cross-platform solution, allowing developers to build apps that run not only on mobile devices but also on desktop environments, all from a single codebase.
Why Migrate:
- Expand your app’s reach by targeting desktop platforms alongside mobile.
- Provide a unified user experience across mobile and desktop environments.
- Reduce development effort by maintaining a single codebase for multiple platforms, improving efficiency and consistency.
5. Hot Reload and Developer Productivity
Xamarin.Forms developers often faced challenges with slow build times and limited real-time feedback during the development process.
What’s New in .NET MAUI: .NET MAUI introduces .NET Hot Reload, which allows developers to make changes to their code and see the results immediately, without needing to restart the app or lose the app’s state. This feature significantly boosts productivity by allowing faster iteration on both UI and business logic.
Why Migrate:
- Faster development cycles with real-time feedback.
- Ability to test and fine-tune UI changes without full rebuilds.
- Enhanced debugging and testing experience, allowing you to iterate and resolve issues more quickly.
6. Future-Proofing Your App
With Xamarin.Forms reaching the end of its lifecycle, future updates and new features will be focused on .NET MAUI. Relying on an older technology stack may lead to difficulties in maintaining and evolving your app as the technology landscape changes.
What’s New in .NET MAUI: .NET MAUI is the future of cross-platform development under the .NET ecosystem, fully integrated with .NET 6 and beyond. It offers long-term support and continuous improvements, ensuring that your apps stay modern and competitive.
Why Migrate:
- Ensure compatibility with future updates, features, and security patches.
- Benefit from continuous support and enhancements from Microsoft.
- Keep your app relevant and competitive in the ever-evolving cross-platform development space.
Conclusion: Why You Should Migrate to .NET MAUI
While Xamarin.Forms was a reliable framework for building cross-platform mobile apps, .NET MAUI takes cross-platform development to the next level by offering a unified project structure, better performance, native desktop support, and streamlined access to native features. Migrating to .NET MAUI will future-proof your applications, enhance development productivity, and provide a smoother, more efficient way to deliver native experiences across platforms.
Whether you’re starting a new project or maintaining an existing Xamarin.Forms app, the benefits of migrating to .NET MAUI are clear. With Microsoft’s ongoing support and innovation focused on .NET MAUI, now is the perfect time to make the transition and take advantage of its powerful new features.