Finally, a new .NET update is coming around. It will transform .NET development by providing features that should have been around a lot sooner! We can forgive the delay in this update given the fact that Microsoft is including the .NET Multi-Platform App UI (MAUI).
This new framework will aid developers who work mainly to develop mobile applications but also want other options open to them. A major benefit of using the MAUI is the ability to develop mobile applications that are no longer platform-dependent.
Microsoft has already thrown its weight behind the new MAUI framework. The company says they will end Xamarin mobile development updates in November 2022. After this point, .NET MAUI will be a major component of the .NET environment.
What Is .NET MAUI?
.NET MAUI is the advanced version of Xamarin.Forms and it is slated to take its place in the upcoming .NET 6 update. You must be wondering why you should bother using .NET MAUI?
Well, there is more to MAUI than what meets the eye. This new technology differs greatly from Xamarin.Forms.
Firstly, MAUI is a framework favoring mobile application development, but also extending to desktop app development. Secondly, MAUI facilitates the development of cross-platform mobile applications. Such applications tend to save money in the long run and prevent business owners from having to maintain multiple codebases.
Xamarin Will Become .NET MAUI
It’s no secret that Microsoft has been wanting to merge a few of its products to reduce confusion and clarify functionalities. Having too many different components with the .NET tag was creating quite some confusion, especially for new developers.
More experienced .NET developer are familiar with Xamarin.Forms but this will soon be replaced by .NET MAUI. Microsoft is upgrading Xamarin with new features but will also be changing its name.
.Net MAUI Looking To Improve Performance
When talking about applications (desktop or mobile) fast and efficient performance is expected. It’s obvious Microsoft had to work on this aspect because user feedback highlights the slow loading time of Xamarin applications.
With the new MAUI framework, performance is a priority and the guess is that the render architecture is to blame. The architecture is greatly tweaked in the MAUI to remove view wrapping. As a result, UI control numbers are reduced when viewing. This, in turn, can reduce loading and rendering time.
A Unified Project Interface With MAUI
Before this .NET unification process, developers had to maintain separate files for separate platforms. For experienced experts, this may not have been confusing but it was annoying! Project files for iOS app development and Android app development had to be maintained separately.
But, with the arrival of .NET MAUI, the project interface is unified. A single project that contains various platforms can be seen together under one drop-down menu. From here, a developer can choose to write cross-platform code or even platform-specific code.
Inner Loop Development
Times are changing and developers want to see changes made to their code immediately. Having all the facts sooner rather than later would be a great advantage and would result in faster .NET development.
When developing mobile applications, there are several factors to consider, screen size, OS version, hardware, etc. Having to write and then run the code to adjust the application to match a certain requirement takes time.
Although .NET might not have mastered the hot reload and restart feature just yet, MAUI is the first step towards getting there. Features like this would transform Android app development with .NET.
MAUI Enables Cross-Platform Development
The .NET platform has long been praised for being one that facilitates and aids in the development of cross-platform development. There are several operating systems that range across mobile devices and desktops.
Imagine as an investor you want to create a mobile application. To cater to all mobile users, you would have to create one for every mobile operating system (iOS, Android, Windows). It would be troublesome for investors and developers to handle this task.
Cross-platform support helps a .NET developer save time by not having to manage several projects with different code bases. You can even use a single code base for several projects, speeding up development and reducing development time and costs.
Incorporated Support For Blazor
.NET MAUI would enhance the performance and development of mobile applications, support for the Blazor framework supports this statement.
Developing applications using the Blazor framework will impart some of the advantages of the framework to the applications.
Some advantages of the Blazor framework are:
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- Blazor is memory-safe and runs like a native application, making its execution very fast and effective
- No plugins need to be installed on the browser to support Blazor
- The availability of predefined UI components makes Blazor a good choice for developing appealing user interfaces
- With Blazor, you get to make use of C# instead of JavaScript, this increase productivity
- Blazor is supported by all major browsers, even older versions will support this framework
Conclusion
.NET changes for the better in the upcoming .NET 6 update. The MAUI framework will be playing an important role in enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the .NET network. By choosing .NET, your application would look more appealing and perform better than it would have if made with Xamarin.Forms.
.NET MAUI is the future of .NET. Familiarizing yourself with MAUI and its capabilities would be a good thing to do. Especially if you are going to invest again in iOS or Android app development!