develop C#/.NET on Android devices

Developing C#/.NET on Android Devices

While C# is primarily associated with Windows development, it’s possible to leverage its power and familiarity on Android devices. This article explores the various tools and methods available to build Android applications using C# and .NET.

Xamarin

Xamarin, acquired by Microsoft in 2016, was a pioneering framework for cross-platform mobile development using C#. It allowed developers to share significant portions of their codebase across Android, iOS, and Windows platforms.

Key Features of Xamarin:

• Cross-platform Development: Write code once and deploy it to multiple platforms with minimal modifications.
• Native UI: Xamarin allows access to native UI elements, ensuring a native look and feel for each platform.
• C# and .NET: Leverage the familiar C# language and the vast .NET ecosystem for development.
• Extensive Libraries: Xamarin provides a rich set of libraries and components to simplify development tasks.

.NET MAUI

.NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI) is the successor to Xamarin.Forms, simplifying cross-platform mobile development even further.

Key Features of .NET MAUI:

• Unified API: .NET MAUI offers a single, unified API for creating user interfaces across all supported platforms.
• Modern UI: .NET MAUI provides a modern UI toolkit with a wide range of controls and styling options.
• Performance Enhancements: .NET MAUI leverages native APIs and optimized rendering engines for better performance.
• Single Project Structure: Develop for all supported platforms from within a single project, streamlining the development workflow.

Comparison: Xamarin vs. .NET MAUI

Getting Started with .NET MAUI

To develop Android applications using .NET MAUI, follow these steps:

Prerequisites:

• Visual Studio (Windows) or Visual Studio for Mac.
• The .NET SDK (Software Development Kit).
• Android Development Environment (Android Studio).
• Java Development Kit (JDK).

Setup:

1. Install the required tools and components.
2. Create a new .NET MAUI project in Visual Studio.
3. Choose “Android” as the target platform.
4. Run the project on an Android emulator or a physical device.

Example: Simple “Hello World” App

using CommunityToolkit.Maui.Alerts;
using CommunityToolkit.Maui.Core;
using CommunityToolkit.Maui.Views;

namespace HelloWorldApp
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private async void OnClick(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            await DisplayAlert("Hello World!", "Welcome to your first C#/.NET MAUI app!", "OK");
        }
    }
}

Output:

A simple Android dialog box with the text "Hello World! Welcome to your first C#/.NET MAUI app!" and an "OK" button.

Conclusion

Developing Android applications using C#/.NET is a powerful and versatile option for developers. .NET MAUI offers a modern, streamlined approach, enabling cross-platform development with native performance. This approach allows developers to leverage their existing C# skills and the .NET ecosystem to build robust and engaging Android applications.