xamarin

name	xamarin
description	Xamarin cross-platform with .NET. Use for .NET mobile.

Xamarin (Legacy)

⚠️ STATUS: END OF LIFE (May 2024)

Xamarin has officially reached End of Support. It was a cross-platform framework for building Android/iOS apps with .NET and C#. All active development should move to .NET MAUI.

When to Use

• DO NOT USE for new projects.
• Only for maintaining legacy applications that have not yet been migrated to .NET MAUI.
• Reference for migration strategies.

Migration to .NET MAUI

The primary "skill" for Xamarin developers in 2025 is Migration.

High-Level Steps:

1. Analyze: Use .NET Upgrade Assistant.
2. Project Structure: Merge separate iOS/Android projects into the new Single Project structure (optional but recommended).
3. Namespace Updates: Xamarin.Forms -> Microsoft.Maui.Controls.
4. Dependencies: Replace Xamarin.Essentials with MAUI Essentials.
5. Renderers: Convert Custom Renderers to Handlers (Mapped architecture).

Core Concepts (Legacy)

Xamarin.Forms

The UI abstraction layer sharing XAML code across platforms. Replaced by MAUI.

Custom Renderers

The mechanism to customize native controls. Heavy and slow. Replaced by MAUI Handlers (interface-based).

Xamarin.Native (Classic)

Writing UI in Storyboards (.xib) and Android XML but utilizing C# logic.

Best Practices (Maintenance)

Do:

• Plan your migration immediately. Security patches are no longer guaranteed.
• Isolate platform-specific code to make migration to MAUI Handlers easier.

Don't:

• Don't start new features in Xamarin.Forms.
• Don't rely on unmaintained NuGet packages.

Troubleshooting

Error	Cause	Solution
NuGet Package Incompatible	Package dropped Xamarin support.	Find MAUI equivalent or fork legacy version.
Build Errors	Toolchain conflicts (VS 2022+).	Ensure legacy workloads are installed (check Visual Studio Installer).

References

• Xamarin Support Policy
• Upgrade from Xamarin to .NET MAUI