What is the .NET MAUI Framework?

Web development
Oct 21, 2022
4 Mins Read
What is the .NET MAUI Framework?

NET MAUI (.NET Multi-platform App UI) helps to facilitate the creation of natively generated apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows from a single source codebase.

With .NET MAUI, you can create native apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Samsung’s Tizen platform with a single set of source files.

Introduction

If you’re familiar with Xamarin Forms, you’ll find MAUI a natural transition. The code for all platforms is consolidated into a single project, eliminating the need for several. You can host Blazor in .NET MAUI and use the integrated web view controls to execute Razor components in their native environment on your chosen device. 

Rather than catering to the varying requirements of several platforms, you can concentrate on just one application thanks to the decoupled UI and single project. Microsoft’s newest offspring, I anticipate additional libraries and a more robust ecosystem will be released in tandem with .NET MAUI in the coming months.

The Operation of .NET MAUI

The .NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI) integrates Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows APIs into a single framework. It enables developers to build applications once and deploy them across multiple platforms while maintaining access to native device features.

.NET MAUI Architecture

The Windows UI 3 (WinUI 3) library and the .NET frameworks for Android, iOS, and macOS are part of .NET. These frameworks use the Base Class Library (BCL), which provides a common set of APIs across supported platforms.

The BCL reduces platform-specific complexity by allowing developers to share business logic. At runtime, Mono powers Android, iOS, and macOS applications, while CoreCLR runs Windows applications.

Cross-Platform Code Sharing

Although the BCL enables developers to reuse business logic, each platform still follows its own UI conventions and design patterns. As a result, developers can share application logic while creating native user experiences for every operating system.

The user interface is designed with platform-specific frameworks such as .NET for Android, .NET for iOS, .NET for macOS, and WinUI 3. This approach provides native performance while maintaining a shared codebase.

How .NET MAUI Executes Applications

A .NET MAUI application interacts primarily with the .NET MAUI API. The framework then communicates with each platform’s native APIs. When required, developers can also call platform-specific APIs directly to access advanced device features.

Applications built with .NET MAUI compile into native application packages that run on Windows and macOS development environments.

Platform-Specific Compilation
  • Android applications compile C# code into Intermediate Language (IL) and then use Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation to generate native machine code.
  • iOS applications use Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation to produce native ARM binaries for better performance and App Store compatibility.
  • On macOS, .NET MAUI uses Apple’s Mac Catalyst technology to bring iPad applications to the desktop while supporting AppKit and native APIs.
  • Windows applications use WinUI 3 to deliver modern desktop experiences with native Windows performance.
The Benefits of .NET MAUI

.NET MAUI offers a variety of controls for viewing data, performing activities, showing activities, viewing collections, selecting data, and many more. .NET MAUI provides more than just a library of controls, though.

  • Complex page-designing toolset with an advanced layout engine.
  • Several page kinds are available, allowing for the development of sophisticated navigational tools like pull-out drawers.
  • Data-binding assistance, leading to more refined and manageable code.
  • The flexibility to modify UI elements’ display through the use of handlers.
  • Access to native device functionalities via platform-agnostic APIs. Apps may use GPS, accelerometer, battery, and network information, among other characteristics, thanks to these application programming interfaces. Visit APIs that work across platforms for additional details on this topic.
  • Graphics features work across platforms, including a canvas for creating and editing images, combining layers, and resizing and moving objects in 2D drawings.
  • Using multi-targeting, a single system for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Check out the .NET MAUI Single project if you want to learn more.
  • You can make changes to your XAML, manage source code while the app is running, and see the results without having to rebuild the app, thanks to .hot NET’s reload feature. Visit .NET hot reload if you want to learn more.
APIs for device functionality that works across platforms

.NET Mobile Application User Interface (MAUI) provides cross-platform APIs for native device functionalities. You can use .NET MAUI to access functions on your device in a variety of ways, such as:

  • Possess a device’s sensors, including the accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope.
  • The capacity to monitor and identify changes in the device’s network connectivity status.
  • Describe the hardware your app is installed on.
  • Transfer text between applications by copying it to the system clipboard.
  • Select one or more files from the storage medium.
  • Safely stow away information using key-value pairs.
  • Use the device’s built-in text-to-speech engines to hear text read aloud.
  • Start an authentication process in the browser that awaits a response from an app’s registered URL.
Final Words

.NET MAUI incorporates .NET hot reload, which allows you to make changes to your handled source code while the app runs without pausing it or using breakpoints. You can change your code while your program is running without recompiling.

XAML hot reload supported by .NET MAUI, letting you save your XAML files and immediately see the effects of your changes in your current app without recompiling. You may quickly test out new UI designs without worrying about losing your location in the app because your navigation history and data will be saved.

MegaMinds is a leading company that builds applications based on .NET MAUI for various industries. Contact Us for any further query regarding .NET MAUI.

Related Posts