Things You Need to Know About Xamarin
Since the post-pandemic, Mobile app development has evolved rapidly, and developers are constantly looking for reliable frameworks to make their jobs easier, faster, and more efficient.Â
Xamarin has become a preferred framework for developers in the last decade. It is a robust framework that’s been making waves in the world of cross-platform development. However, many newbies are still confused about Xamarin. They have several doubts and want to know more about It.Â
If you’re also a developer who is curious about Xamarin, its languages, whether it’s free or paid, and whether it’s more focused on the front end or back end, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this blog, we’ll know everything so you can decide whether to choose Xamarin for your next project. So, let’s start.Â
What Is Xamarin?
Xamarin is an open-source framework that allows developers to build mobile applications for various platforms, including iOS, Android, and Windows, using a single codebase. Yes, you read it right. Using a single codebase, you can use Xamarin to build applications for any platform.Â
One of Xamarin’s best features is its code-sharing ability across platforms, which makes it stand out from other frameworks. With Xamarin, you can write your code once and deploy it across multiple operating systems without making heavy changes.
Xamarin was first introduced in 2011 as an open-source framework. Since then, It has quickly gained popularity due to its ability to streamline the mobile app development process. In 2016, Microsoft acquired Xamarin and integrated it into the .NET ecosystem.
Why Xamarin Is a Game-Changer
There is no doubt that there are several frameworks available, but Xamarin is currently single-handedly dominating the niche. Xamarin allows developers to build native apps with shared UI code written in C. Writing a code or developing an application using C means that you’re not just creating a cross-platform app that looks the same everywhere, but you’re building native apps that adhere to the specific design and performance standards of each platform. Hence, you can deploy an application for any specific platform, or if required, you can also deploy the same application for every platform.
What Language Does Xamarin Use?
One of the first questions developers usually ask when exploring a new framework is, “What is Xamarin?” As mentioned above, Xamarin primarily uses C. If you’re an experienced developer, you might know that C is a versatile and powerful programming language well-known for its simplicity and efficiency.
C was first introduced in the early 2000s, and since then, it has implemented a lot of new technology and introduced several new features. It’s widely used for developing various applications, from enterprise software to games.
One of the biggest advantages of using C in Xamarin is that it gives you access to the native APIs of each platform. Hence, your application will have the full potential of the platform you’re developing for. Whether your application needs to access the camera on an iPhone, GPS on an Android device, or integrate Microsoft services on a Windows phone, C allows you to do all the things without any code changes.
XAML for UI
Along with the C, Xamarin developers often use XAML (Extensible Application Markup Language) to design their applications’ user interface (UI). XAML is a preferred language for developers, particularly when building the front end of their application, as it separates the UI design from the business logic. XAML’s separate UI design makes your code more modular and easier to maintain.
Is Xamarin Free or Paid?
Another common question about Xamarin is whether It is free or requires a paid subscription. The answer is that Xamarin is available for free as part of the .NET ecosystem.
For individual developers and small teams, Xamarin is completely free. You can download and start using it without any licensing costs. Xmarin developers can also access the full suite of Xamarin tools, including Xamarin. Forms, Xamarin.iOS, and Xamarin.Android.
For larger organizations that need more advanced features and support, you can buy a Visual Studio subscription. This will provide you with a few additional benefits, like enhanced debugging tools, cloud services, and enterprise-grade support.
Another thing about Xamarin is that it is open-source. A large community of developers contributes to Xamarin and helps new developers debug and provide new codes. This means you can benefit from regular updates, bug fixes, and new features, all without any additional cost.
Is Xamarin Front End or Back End?
Being a developer, there are two types of development: one is the front-end, and the other is the back-end. Several developers ask whether the Xamarin is a front or back-end framework. The answer is that Xamarin can be used for both front-end and back-end development. Below is how to use Xamarin for the front and back end.
Xamarin for Front-End Development
Xamarin.Forms can be used as a front-end development framework. If you are not aware of it, then let me tell you: Xamarin.Forms is a UI toolkit that allows you to create native user interfaces for iOS, Android, and Windows using a single, shared codebase. Hence, with Xamarin.Forms, you can design your UI once, modify it with minor code changes, and publish it for different platforms.
Xamarin for Back-End Development
While Xamarin is primarily known for its front-end capabilities, it’s also well-suited for back-end development. As I mentioned above, Xamarin is part of the .NET ecosystem and can easily integrate with back-end services like ASP.NET Core, Azure, and SQL Server. With Xamarin, you can connect your mobile app to various back-end services. Also, Xamarin provides libraries and tools to make data handling, synchronization, authentication, and other back-end tasks easy.
The Pros and Cons of Using Xamarin
Now that we’ve cleared most of your doubts and covered the basics let’s look at some of the pros and cons of using Xamarin for mobile app development.
Pros of Xamarin
Code Reusability: One of Xamarin’s biggest benefits is its code reusability. With Xamarin, you can share up to 90% of your code across platforms, significantly reducing development time and helping businesses reach the market faster.
Native Performance: Xamarin apps can be compiled into native code and offer performance comparable to platform-specific apps built with languages like Swift or Kotlin.
Access to Native APIs: Xamarin gives you access to all the native APIs of each platform, allowing you to build apps that fully utilize the device’s capabilities.
Strong Community Support: Xamarin is an open-source framework, which means you can get help from a large and active community of developers without spending a fortune.
Cons of Xamarin
App Size: Xamarin apps tend to be larger in size compared to native apps, which may be a problem for users with limited storage space but might not be nowadays, as there are devices with heavy RAM and ROM.
Learning Curve: If you’re new to C or .NET, there might be a learning curve, especially if you’re coming from a different programming background.
Platform-Specific Limitations: While Xamarin can be used for every platform, including iOS, Android, and Windows, there are some platform-specific limitations that might require you to write custom code.
Conclusion: Is Xamarin Right for You?
Xamarin is a powerful language developed in 2011, and since then, the language has grown rapidly and become a preferred choice for developers to deploy applications. Many organizations and developers today prefer Xamarin over any language, and several features are behind it. Xamarin is a robust solution for everyone, including those looking to streamline their workflow or who are part of a large team needing a reliable framework. Xamarin can be used for both front-end and back-end development. And the best part? You can start using Xamarin for free, making it an accessible option for developers at all levels.
FAQs
With Xamarin, you can develop iOS, Android, and Windows apps, all using a single codebase.
Yes, Xamarin apps are compiled into native code and perform similarly to those built with platform-specific languages like Swift or Kotlin.
Visual Studio is the recommended integrated development environment (IDE) for Xamarin development. It is available on Windows and macOS.
Yes, Xamarin supports various third-party libraries and tools, including those available through NuGet, a package manager. NET.
With Xamarin, you can share up to 90% of your code across platforms, significantly reducing the time and effort required to build and maintain your apps.
While Xamarin is primarily used for mobile app development, it can be used for simple 2D games. However, Unity or Unreal Engine are better options for more complex game development.
