Building Cross-Platform Applications
There are two options for sharing code between cross-platform mobile applications: Shared Asset Projects and Portable Class Libraries. These options are discussed here; more information on Portable Class Libraries and Shared Projects is also available.
Part 1 – Understanding the Xamarin Mobile Platform
Part 3 – Setting Up a Xamarin Cross Platform Solution
Part 4 – Dealing with Multiple Platforms
Part 5 – Practical Code Sharing Strategies
Part 6 - Testing and App Store Approvals
Case Studies
The principles outlined in this document are put into practice in the sample application Tasky, as well as pre-built applications like Xamarin CRM.
Tasky
Tasky is a simple to-do list application for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It demonstrates the basics of creating a cross-platform application with Xamarin and uses a local SQLite database.
Read the Tasky Case Study.
Summary
This section introduces Xamarin’s application development tools and discusses how to build applications that target multiple mobile platforms.
It covers a layered architecture that structures code for re-use across multiple platforms, and describes different software patterns that can be used within that architecture.
Examples are given of common application functions (like file and network operations) and how they can be built in a cross-platform way.
Finally, it briefly discusses testing, and provides references to a case study that puts these principles into action.