.NET MAUI Best Practice Using Content Views

Question

I have a best practice question about writing a Mobile Application using .NET MAUI. The page is quite complicated. I've started using Content View (ContentView) controls, but as I'm digging in, I seem to be hitting some bugs (ie. Collection Views with their own View Models). I've seen lots of other examples where the MainPage.xaml contains the entire layout of the application (no Content Views). But I was wondering if there's a recommendation to use Content Views instead of using one long xaml page?

Answer 1

When developing a Mobile Application using .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI), the decision to use Content Views or have a single long MainPage.xaml with the entire layout depends on various factors and the complexity of your application. Both approaches have their advantages and trade-offs.

Content Views:

1. Reusability: Content Views are great for encapsulating reusable UI components. You can create custom Content Views for specific parts of your UI and reuse them across different pages, improving code organization and maintainability.

Separation of Concerns: Using Content Views can help you separate the UI logic from the main page, making your codebase cleaner and more maintainable.

Modularity: Content Views allow you to divide complex UIs into smaller, more manageable parts. This can be helpful when collaborating with a team of developers, as different team members can work on different Content Views independently.

MainPage.xaml Approach:

Simplicity: For small and straightforward applications, having the entire layout in MainPage.xaml can be more straightforward and easier to manage. It reduces the complexity of the project and may require less navigation between different files.

Performance: In some cases, having all UI elements in a single page can lead to better performance, as there are fewer elements to render and manage.

Ultimately, the choice between Content Views and a single MainPage.xaml depends on the nature of your mobile application and the complexity of its UI. For larger and more complex projects, using Content Views might be beneficial for code organization and reusability. On the other hand, for smaller and simpler applications, having all UI elements in MainPage.xaml can be a practical approach to keep things straightforward.

As you've already started using Content Views and encountered some issues with Collection Views and View Models, it's essential to troubleshoot and understand the bugs you're facing. You might find solutions to those issues, and if not, you can evaluate whether the benefits of using Content Views outweigh the complications you're experiencing. In any case, it's essential to follow best practices, modularize your code, and consider the scalability and maintainability of your application's architecture.