Introduction to .NET MAUI

Welcome to the world of .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI)! This powerful framework from Microsoft allows you to build native, cross-platform applications for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS using a single, shared codebase.

What is .NET MAUI?

.NET MAUI is the evolution of Xamarin.Forms. It provides a streamlined development experience for building modern desktop and mobile apps with C# and XAML. With .NET MAUI, you can craft rich user experiences that look and feel native on every platform.

Why Choose .NET MAUI?

Single Codebase: Write your UI and business logic once and deploy it across multiple platforms.
Native Performance: Apps built with .NET MAUI compile to native code, ensuring excellent performance.
Modern Development: Leverage the latest C# features, .NET platform capabilities, and modern UI patterns.
Extensibility: Easily extend platform-specific functionality when needed.
Rich Ecosystem: Benefit from the vast .NET ecosystem and tooling, including Visual Studio.

Key Concepts

1. XAML

XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language) is an XML-based declarative language that .NET MAUI uses to define user interfaces. It separates the UI definition from the application logic, making it easier to design and maintain your app.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="MyMauiApp.MainPage">

    <StackLayout>
        <Label Text="Hello, .NET MAUI!"
               HorizontalOptions="Center"
               VerticalOptions="Center" />
    </StackLayout>

</ContentPage>

2. C# Code-Behind

While XAML defines the UI structure, C# code-behind files are used to add interactivity, handle events, and implement the application's logic. This follows the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) pattern.

using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;

namespace MyMauiApp
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent(); // Loads the XAML
        }
    }
}

3. Controls

.NET MAUI provides a comprehensive set of UI controls like Buttons, Labels, Entry fields, Lists, and more. These controls are designed to render natively on each target platform, providing a familiar look and feel to users.

Getting Started

To begin your .NET MAUI journey, you'll need to set up your development environment. This typically involves installing Visual Studio with the .NET MAUI workload. For detailed instructions, please refer to the Getting Started section.

This documentation will guide you through building various aspects of your .NET MAUI applications, from basic UI design to advanced platform integration.