On May 1st, Microsoft ended support for Xamarin, a key technology in cross-platform application development. Highly valued by developers, Xamarin enabled the creation of native applications for iOS, Android, and Windows using a single C# (and XAML) code base, simplifying deployment and maintenance.
Its seamless integration with Visual Studio tools made it a popular choice for developers aiming to maximize productivity while reducing development costs and time. With this announcement, it’s essential for users to prepare for migration to alternative platforms such as .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI), Microsoft’s new solution for cross-platform development.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the migration steps, offering practical advice and resources to ensure a smooth transition while maintaining the continuity of your projects in an evolving technological landscape.
Why did Microsoft stop supporting Xamarin?
Quite simply, Microsoft wanted to streamline and modernize its cross-platform development offerings. Although Xamarin was a powerful framework, it had certain limitations and complexities that could make development and maintenance more challenging over time.
To address these issues, Microsoft introduced .NET MAUI in November 2021, offering a more consistent and simplified solution. But why did Microsoft choose to replace Xamarin with .NET MAUI instead of improving it?
Here are some of the reasons behind this decision:
- Unifying the ecosystem: While Xamarin and Xamarin.Forms were powerful, they operated somewhat parallel to other .NET technologies. On the other hand, .NET MAUI unifies these different approaches under a single umbrella, enabling a common code base for all platforms (iOS, Android, macOS, Windows) for web, mobile, and desktop development. This unification simplifies development and maintenance, making the ecosystem more coherent and easier to use.
- Modernization and simplification: Instead of adding more functionality and complexity to Xamarin, Microsoft opted for a modern redesign. .NET MAUI incorporates architectural improvements and design simplifications that would be difficult to achieve with existing Xamarin tools without causing major disruptions.
- Performance and optimizations: By starting fresh with .NET MAUI, Microsoft was able to integrate performance optimizations and technical improvements more easily than adapting them to Xamarin’s existing architecture. This approach leverages recent advances in cross-platform development and deployment, improving overall performance.
- Alignment with .NET 6 and beyond: .NET MAUI is integrated into .NET 6, representing an important step in Microsoft’s vision for a unified ecosystem. This integration enables greater compatibility and alignment with future versions of .NET, facilitating adoption by developers and the community.
Source: Visual Studio de Microsoft
Impacts for Xamarin Users
Although Xamarin support ended at the beginning of last month, it does not mean that it will cease to function entirely. However, migrating to another cross-platform development framework is your best option to avoid a number of risks:
Security Risks
Not migrating from Xamarin to .NET MAUI can pose significant risks to the security of user data. With the end of Xamarin support, security updates and patches will no longer be provided, leaving applications vulnerable to new threats. Unpatched vulnerabilities can be exploited by hackers to gain access to sensitive user data, compromising confidentiality and integrity.
Moreover, the absence of technical support means that developers won’t have the assistance they need to resolve emerging security issues. Additionally, companies are often under contractual obligation to adhere to a service-level agreement (SLA), requiring them to migrate when a framework becomes insecure.
Migration to .NET MAUI, therefore, not only keeps application security up to date but also enables you to benefit from the latest advances in security and data protection, guaranteeing better protection for application owners.
Performance Risks
Without Xamarin’s ongoing support, performance optimizations and improvements will no longer be available, potentially leading to a gradual degradation in application responsiveness and efficiency. The absence of access to new features and performance updates inherent in .NET MAUI could turn Xamarin applications obsolete, making them less competitive compared to those developed on more modern platforms.
Furthermore, without migrating to .NET MAUI, developers will miss out on its latest features, toolbox, and advanced technologies, limiting their ability to address performance issues and optimize the user experience. Migrating to a modern framework allows developers to ensure the longevity and performance of various application development projects, leveraging the latest innovations and best practices in cross-platform development.
Source: Microsoft
Incompatibility Risks
The end of Xamarin support introduces the risk of incompatibility with various tools and libraries utilized in application development, proving the importance of migrating to another framework before encountering issues.
Indeed, development tools tailored to the latest Xamarin versions will no longer receive maintenance, potentially complicating application development and debugging. Furthermore, certain libraries leveraging platform-specific features, such as iOS or Android, may lose compatibility with future system updates. To protect the longevity and performance of their applications, developers must transition to .NET MAUI-compatible alternatives.
Workforce Risks
Failure to migrate to a more modern cross platform development tool can expose organizations to several significant workforce-related risks. Indeed, outdated tools can slow down developer productivity, resulting in project delays and escalated costs.
As the developer community increasingly embraces modern frameworks like .NET MAUI, the availability of Xamarin training and expertise will diminish. Consequently, sourcing qualified developers to oversee the application lifecycle on Xamarin will become progressively challenging and expensive.
In short, not migrating your application to a framework more recent than Xamarin poses several risks. Major application stores like Apple’s App Store, the Microsoft Store, or Google Play prioritize application security, and leaving vulnerabilities unpatched could lead to your application being removed from these platforms. Additionally, updates to your Xamarin-developed applications will no longer be feasible, potentially complicating their approval processes by various online stores.
Lastly, if applications are not regularly optimized, this could negatively impact the user experience and consequently, their popularity and ranking.
Best Practices for Migrating to .NET MAUI
Microsoft has compiled a comprehensive set of steps for a seamless upgrade experience to .NET MAUI without the need to rewrite your various projects.
- Step 1: Ensure that your SDK-style projects are updated and that your dependencies are current with .NET 8 to ensure compatibility with .NET MAUI. If updates are needed, address them before proceeding to Step 2.
- Step 2: Utilize Microsoft’s .NET Upgrade Assistant to convert your multi-project Xamarin.Forms applications into cross-platform .NET MAUI applications.
- Step 3: Following the use of the upgrade assistant, review your code and make any necessary adjustments to ensure compatibility and functionality of your application.
- Step 4: Once migration is complete, dedicate time to thoroughly review and test your application on different platforms. Testing on real devices is crucial, as variations from emulators may occur. Verify that all functionalities operate as expected.
Alternatively, if you prefer a more manual approach, begin by updating your native Xamarin projects to .NET as per the provided instructions. Then, migrate your Xamarin.Forms library project to the user interface of the cross-platform .NET MAUI application.
Note that it is important to involve an expert to migrate efficiently to a more modern framework like .NET MAUI, as this minimizes the risk of encountering problems. During the migration of one of our customers’ platforms, we observed changes in behavior and new default values depending on the layout of a page. Understanding how to address these issues will help you navigate the migration more smoothly. We also recommend using this opportunity to modernize your CI/CD pipelines and improve your DevOps practices, as changes will inevitably need to be made to these elements during the migration process.
Trusted Experts for Transitioning to .NET MAUI
The end of Xamarin support marks a significant turning point for cross-platform application development. To avoid the numerous risks associated with security, performance, compatibility, and manpower, it’s crucial to migrate to modern solutions like .NET MAUI as quickly as possible. This transition will allow you to benefit from the latest innovations, keep your applications competitive, and ensure an optimal user experience.
Uzinakod’s experts are at your disposal to ensure a safe and efficient migration. Our experienced team will support you every step of the way to a successful transition to .NET MAUI. Contact us to start your migration today.
