The Microsoft-owned Xamarin is one of the widely used cross-platform
mobile app development tools with rich, cost-effective features and agility.
However, when Xamarin mobile app development
is considered, businesses can have a hard time choosing between Xamarin.Forms
and Xamarin Native frameworks.
Xamarin.Android and Xamarin.iOS are
collectively known as Xamarin Native. It allows
developers to build mobile apps written in C# and .NET framework. Using it,
developers can create apps for different platforms with a native interface. The
primary tools used in implementing platform-specific functionalities include
Xamarin.Mac, Xamarin.iOS, and Xamarin.Android.
Xamarin.Forms,
on the other hand, is a set of tools and technologies that enable the creation
of cross-platform apps with all their inherent characteristics. It’s a version
of Xamarin Native using which, a single XAML can be written for multiple
platforms at once. The Xamarin.Form framework inherits the entire set of
functionalities of the Xamarin platform.
Selecting one of the 2 Xamarin frameworks should
be based on the following factors.
Development
time:
Using Xamarin Native, developers can share only up to 75% of
the code while with Xamarin.Forms, the number raises to 95%. Hence using the
latter, developers can create and share one UI code across all platforms.
Development
cycle is shorter when Xamarin.Forms is used.
Development
costs: Besides the faster
development cycle with Xamarin.Forms, development costs are also lower with
this framework. This is because to develop mobile apps using Xamarin.Forms, one
just needs an experienced .Net developer. Contrarily, Xamarin Native requires
special expertise with the ability to write codes for UI for each platform,
which adds to the project costs.
Xamarin.Forms
is more cost-efficient.
UI
complexity: If the app being built using Xamarin mobile app development involves a complicated UI that has specific elements for each
platform, optimal performance can be ensured with Xamarin Native. Xamarin.iOS
and Xamarin.Android should be used for creating dynamic content which includes
intensive graphics to the app.
Xamarin
Native is the answer when the app involves a demanding UI.
App file size: Apps built using Xamarin.Forms
are usually larger in size as compared to the ones built using Xamarin Native.
App performance and agility may plummet when the size of the file gets
significantly large. For building dynamic mobile apps with great UX, Xamarin
Native is the ideal choice.
Xamarin
Native helps in creating apps with smaller file sizes.
App
maintenance: Maintenance of apps is easier with Xamarin.Forms since developers can use a consolidated approach
as all updates are carried out on a single codebase. With Xamarin Native, there
is a need to address the base code first followed by the platform-specific UI
code, making the process more complex and time-consuming.
Xamarin.Forms
facilitates easy app maintenance and upgrades.
When opting for Xamarin mobile app development, stakeholders
can refer to the above-listed factors and assess them against the specific
needs of the app. The pros and cons of both the Xamarin frameworks have been
elaborated and one may reach a decision based on one’s project budget, timeline,
and functionalities.