.NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) is a cross-platform framework developed by Microsoft for creating native mobile and desktop applications using a single shared codebase in C# and XAML. It allows developers to build apps that run on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Key features of .NET MAUI include:
- Unified API that supports cross-platform development, enabling a "write-once, run-anywhere" experience.
- Single project structure that targets multiple platforms, simplifying project management compared to its predecessor Xamarin.Forms.
- Extensive controls and layout options rebuilt for better performance and extensibility.
- Ability to share UI layout, business logic, and tests across platforms while also allowing platform-specific customizations.
- Access to native device features such as GPS, accelerometer, battery, and network states through cross-platform APIs.
- Support for hot reload, which enables developers to make real-time code and UI changes while the app is running.
- Integration with the .NET ecosystem, leveraging the .NET Base Class Library and runtime environments like Mono and .NET Core CLR.
.NET MAUI is essentially the evolution of Xamarin.Forms, advancing cross- platform app development from mobile-only to include desktop environments with improved flexibility and performance. It is ideal for developers who want to write apps once and deploy them across multiple device platforms without maintaining separate codebases for each system. In summary, .NET MAUI streamlines multi-platform app development, combining mobile and desktop app capabilities into one powerful framework with native performance and productivity tools for developers. This makes it a versatile solution to develop modern, cross-platform applications efficiently.
