On May 1, 2024, Microsoft will officially end support for Xamarin, a cross-platform mobile application development platform that has been a mainstay for many developers for over a decade. This decision marks the end of Xamarin’s journey as an integral part of Microsoft’s application development ecosystem.
About XamarinAbout Xamarin
Xamarin was first introduced in 2011 by Mono Develop as a solution for building iOS and Android applications using the C# programming language. In 2016, Microsoft acquired Xamarin and integrated it into Visual Studio to make it easier for developers to build applications within the Microsoft ecosystem.
With Xamarin, developers could use a single C# codebase to build native applications across multiple platforms, reducing development time and costs. Xamarin.Forms, an additional component that enabled cross-platform UI development, became a popular choice for building applications with a consistent look and feel on iOS, Android, and Windows.
Why is Xamarin Ending?Why is Xamarin Ending?
The end of Xamarin does not signify the end of Microsoft’s support for mobile application development, but rather a major transition toward .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI). .NET MAUI is the evolution of Xamarin.Forms, offering a more modern and integrated cross-platform development experience within the .NET 6 framework and beyond.
.NET MAUI brings several improvements over Xamarin, such as:
- A simpler project structure
- Deeper integration with the .NET platform
- Support for more platforms (including Windows and macOS)
- Better performance
With the arrival of .NET MAUI, Microsoft is consolidating mobile and desktop application development into a single unified framework, replacing Xamarin as the primary tool.
What Does This Mean for Developers?What Does This Mean for Developers?
For developers still using Xamarin:
There will be no more security updates, bug fixes, or official support from Microsoft after May 1, 2024.
Existing applications built with Xamarin will continue to run, but maintaining long-term compatibility will become more difficult without official support.
Developers are encouraged to begin migrating their Xamarin projects to .NET MAUI to ensure their apps remain modern, secure, and compatible with the latest devices.
Microsoft has provided various guides and migration tools to help ease this transition.
ConclusionConclusion
The end of Xamarin marks a historic moment in the world of mobile application development. While it signals the close of an era, it also paves the way for a more consistent and integrated future in app development through .NET MAUI. For developers, now is the time to explore new opportunities and leverage the latest technologies to build stronger and more efficient cross-platform applications.