Why migrate from Xamarin to MAUI? Key benefits and new features
Last year, those working in cross-platform development saw a big transformation. It marked the official conclusion of Microsoft’s support for Xamarin - a popular framework used by mobile application developers. However, this resulted from the release of a brand new framework called .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI). If you haven’t yet migrated, you’re not just missing out on the support, but a number of great benefits and features too. Here’s what you need to know.
The end of an era for Xamarin
Founded in 2011, Xamarin had a long run of being one of the most commonly used development frameworks. However, the end support as of May 1st, 2024 is one of the primary reasons users are choosing to move on. While existing applications built with Xamarin will continue to function, they are now frozen in time. This means they’ll no longer receive security patches or performance updates, becoming more and more outdated each day. Technical assistance is also no longer available from official Microsoft sources.
This is not just an inconvenience for developers but, rather, a significant risk. Without updates, applications will likely experience a lot more breakdowns as well as vulnerabilities to security risks. What’s more, they will not be able to target new versions of operating systems, like the latest iOS or Android, meaning fewer users will benefit from them. Of course, the app stores are also increasingly suspicious of the security and stability of Xamarin-based applications, upholding strict compliance standards.
The core benefits of migrating to .NET MAUI
Given the struggles, the reasons to migrate Xamarin to MAUI seem straightforward. But, it’s not all a matter of necessity. There are some great benefits that developers experience after making this move.
Unified and simplified experience
A major improvement in .NET MAUI is the move to a single-project structure. While Xamarin development required managing separate, platform-specific projects for iOS or Android, MAUI unifies everything into a single place. This means the process is a lot less complex, particularly when it comes to managing resources and configurations. It allows developers to save time too, making different changes and managing platform-specific codes from one location. This also improves the overall workflow and efficiency of the projects at hand.
Performance improvements
.NET MAUI is engineered for superior performance. For example, instead of Xamarin’s custom renderers, the architecture now works with a MAUI handler principle. This modern approach reduces the complexity of the UI layer, resulting in faster application startup times, a more responsive user interface, optimization improvements and a generally better performance compared to applications developed through Xamarin. The handlers are not only more efficient, but also much easier to customize as well.
Expanded platform reach
While Xamarin began as a mobile-first framework, .NET MAUI focuses equally on mobile and desktop platforms. It provides first-class support for creating native desktop applications for Windows or macOS, alongside supporting Android, iOS, and others. It can all be managed from the same codebase, making it easier to adapt applications to different platforms. As such, businesses can target a wider audience across a broader spectrum of devices, bringing financial significant benefits.
Enhanced developer productivity
Many organisations have seen a major boost in their developer productivity with .NET MAUI. In addition to the centralisation of projects in a single codebase, it also offers features like .NET Hot Reload, which allows you to make and view real-time changes in XAML and C# code while the app is running. There is no need to recompile and redeploy, making the whole process a lot faster. The overall architecture is also cleaner and easier to use, with greater possibilities when it comes to tooling.
What's new? Innovative features in .NET MAUI
Besides general improvements to existing controls, .NET MAUI introduced some brand new features to further enhance the development experience and possibilities. Here are a few most important:
Blazor Hybrid and Web App
One of the most powerful features in .NET MAUI is the introduction of Blazor Hybrid. It’s a control that uses BlazorWebView to allow developers to embed and render Blazor web components directly inside a native .NET MAUI application. It acts almost like a bridge between web and native, allowing web developers to use their skills with C# and Razor to build native client apps.
Unified graphics
.NET MAUI introduced a consistent graphics API, that essentially provides a canvas for drawing and painting across all supported platforms, which is something that Xamarin lacked. It simplifies the creation of custom-drawn UI control and data visualizations hugely, helping them look and feel the same everywhere.
Multi-window support
The MAUI framework includes built-in support for creating and managing multiple windows on desktop platforms like Windows and macOS. This capability was notoriously complex to implement in Xamarin, although needed by many. As this keeps being improved and updated, it also brings other benefits, like better TitleBar controls for Windows.
The future of .NET development
Migrating from Xamarin to .NET MAUI is an essential move to ensure the longevity and security of your previous investments. However, it’s not just something developers “have to” do. This move brings a great range of benefits that can significantly improve productivity and performance.