With an increasing number of smartphone users, more and more
businesses are including app development as a part of their growth strategy.
Mobile applications can generate additional income, boost brand awareness, and
attract new customers. But the question then arises: iOS or Android?Unless you are specifically targeting a certain region, like
Brazil, India, or Spain, where Android has
occupied 90% of the market, your best bet is building a cross-platform
solution. A cross-platform app is one that is available on iOS, Android, and
other operating systems, including the web. One of the most popular frameworks
that developers use to build applications across platforms is Xamarin. What is
it exactly and how can it benefit your organisation?What is Xamarin?Originally based on the Mono project, Xamarin was acquired
by Microsoft in 2016 and successfully integrated into the .NET platform. As of
2020, Xamarin is in the top 5 most popular frameworks
for cross-platform app development. One of the best features of cross-platform
frameworks, including Xamarin, is its ability to reuse a large portion of the
code - up to 95% in the case of Xamarin. Its tech stack includes C# and the .NET framework and allows us to
build high-performance applications for Android and iOS - as well as macOS and
Windows. What are the benefits of Xamarin?Xamarin comes with a plethora of advantages - for both
developers and businesses - but we will mainly focus on how Xamarin can benefit
your organisation.Cost-effectiveXamarin’s “write once, use everywhere” approach allows
developers to reuse up to 95% of the code. The framework offers a single tech
stack which eliminates the need to have separate teams for development,
testing, and deployment. Xamarin automatically applies changes to the source
code across all platforms, for easy maintenance. All these benefits will be
better for your budget and reduce the length of the dev cycle. User experienceUsing Xamarin.Forms, a subset of the Xamarin framework that
ensures the building of near-native applications across platforms, you can
significantly enhance user experience. Xamarin gives you access to
platform-specific elements for Android and iOS and simplifies the creation of
UIs for different platforms. Support of wearablesIf you are interested in exploring the world of IoT and
would like to launch a wearable like a smartwatch or fitness tracker, Xamarin
proves the perfect framework. Xamarin.Forms enables building wearables for a
wide range of platforms, including Samsung’s Tizen and watchOS.What can you build with Xamarin?With a community of 1.4 million developers, Xamarin
opens a huge range of possibilities for app development. You can build games,
fundraising apps, platforms for travellers, shipment tracking tools, and
business solutions. Let’s take a look at some of the most successful
applications based on Xamarin:Alaska AirlinesAlaska Airlines used Xamarin to create a mobile app that
helps travellers explore options, make bookings, check in, and discover flight
information.MRWMRW is a mobile solution that allows users to track their
shipments in real-time. It also provides data about the nearest MRW offices as
well as gives easy access to the contact information. CaptioCaptio is a business expense management tool that simplifies
paperwork behind corporate travel. You can upload your receipts, bills, and
other travel expenses in one tool and it will automatically create reports. Are there alternatives?When Xamarin is compared to other frameworks for
cross-platform development, its number one competitor is usually React Native.
Although React Native is loved by the tech community and has many exciting
features like Hot Reload and instant updates, it loses out to Xamarin in
performance. Applications built with React Native perform slower and don’t
provide that native-like feel. While React Native might be more convenient for
developers it doesn’t offer the best user experience. Besides providing great performance, Xamarin makes
programming more efficient and cost-effective. However, it is not a magic pill
that fits all companies and projects. This is why you need a reliable partner
that will guide you in the right direction. CodeFirst is a UK-based software development company that
helps organisations bring to fruition the best solutions and to fit business
goals. Whether you specialise in the health industry, finance, professional
services, or education, we’re here to offer our expertise and support. Contact
our team of experts to receive a free consultation and learn more
about Xamarin with your software project.
