51–60 of 168 posts
Isn't Facebook for Android built in React Native? Doesn't seem to be lacking for them. Airbnb and Instagram [1] are also doing alright. https://facebook.github.io/react-native/showcase.html
From my initial research it appears the React Native on Android suffers performance problems. I.e. the Discord app on that showcase is still native Android, whereas their iOS app is React Native.
How is React lacking for Android?
I've been extremely disappointed in Xamarin. The main issue is that you don't really get code sharing. I would estimate that only 25% of the Xamarin project I manage is cross platform code. The rest is this bizarre merger of native APIs with C#. It's difficult to write because of the lack of examples and documentation. It's also buggy, even with simple things like page views. The real problem is that I can write a na…
Yep, you will keep hearing this from people complaining of Xamarin. A huge problem indeed, and I'd say enough for it not be worth learning.
I've been extremely disappointed in Xamarin. The main issue is that you don't really get code sharing. I would estimate that only 25% of the Xamarin project I manage is cross platform code. The rest is this bizarre merger of native APIs with C#. It's difficult to write because of the lack of examples and documentation. It's also buggy, even with simple things like page views. The real problem is that I can write a na…
That was the thing that struck me the most when following a Xamarin course. I just don't see the added benefits of Xamarin when you are at that level of using (or having knowledge of) native code.
I've been extremely disappointed in Xamarin. The main issue is that you don't really get code sharing. I would estimate that only 25% of the Xamarin project I manage is cross platform code. The rest is this bizarre merger of native APIs with C#. It's difficult to write because of the lack of examples and documentation. It's also buggy, even with simple things like page views. The real problem is that I can write a na…
Hm, completely different experience here. I've been involved with three rather large Xamarin-Projects in the last year, and we were (team-wide) completely surprised at how much of the code can actually be shared, how our velocity compared to native development and the overall dev experience. I think the code sharing thing really comes down to how you're using Xamarin – if you keep on writing apps the way you're used…
I've been extremely disappointed in Xamarin. The main issue is that you don't really get code sharing. I would estimate that only 25% of the Xamarin project I manage is cross platform code. The rest is this bizarre merger of native APIs with C#. It's difficult to write because of the lack of examples and documentation. It's also buggy, even with simple things like page views. The real problem is that I can write a na…
2 years ago, Xamarin was buggy as hell. Today, (IMHO) it's quite stable.
Edit: downvoted for sharing my experience? Stay classy, HN.
Purely by coincidence, I have four blog posts on this out this week. The first one (on React Native and Xamarin) is here: https://unop.uk/cross-platform-native-mobile-app-development...
I've been extremely disappointed in Xamarin. The main issue is that you don't really get code sharing. I would estimate that only 25% of the Xamarin project I manage is cross platform code. The rest is this bizarre merger of native APIs with C#. It's difficult to write because of the lack of examples and documentation. It's also buggy, even with simple things like page views. The real problem is that I can write a na…
If you are using basic Xamarin then you will end up writing separate UI code for each platform, but you can still share business logic if you architect if well. Xamarin.Forms is different and lets you share the UI too.
Even with Forms, you will always have some platform specific code, but this is normally small. For example, some implementation details when using SQLite.
[0]: I'm writing about this starting with https://unop.uk/cross-platform-native-mobile-app-development...
Recommended workflow: 0. Never ever use Xamarin.Forms other than quick prototyping. If you develop applications with other cross-platform frameworks, you already know all of them sucks and Xamarin.Forms is not an exception.
1. Create PCL / Shared project for your business logic (also your view models if you're using MVVM architecture). Believe me most of your application is platform independent (except the view layer). Your api communication, storage operations all handled here. See 3rd article to how to make storage/network platform independent.
2. Create native projects for each platform (iOS, Android, Windows) implement native views here (use xcode, android studio if you need visual designer). This part should be exactly the same as your swift/java code. For iOS you're just implementing an ApplicationDelegate class and UIViewControllers as same as your swift code. Same for Android part, nothing special to xamarin just implement your activity classes. At this level you have the full power of your native platform with one exception 3rd party native libraries. It's possible to use (yes i used some swift/java libraries for youtube player) them but really hard to integrate to your project, that part has to be improved and better documented.
3. Your shared code base need native features, for example storage implementations are totally different for each platform, or changing views (navigation) will be implemented differently for each platform. Since shared code base shouldn't know anything about native platform. You should abstract these functionalities with interfaces. For example create a storage interface with methods like saving/reading/creating files. Another example might be network communication. Abstract it as an interface on your PCL and implement this interface in your native project with full control of your platform. Your shared code base only knows how to use that interface. And then each of your native projects should implement these interfaces. At this point dependency injection may help to register implementations easily. Actually that part is what makes you share your business logic. Writing idiomatic cocoa navigation code is much better than using any cross platform implementations, you have full control but in the same time your shared code base using them without knowing anything about the platform.
I've been extremely disappointed in Xamarin. The main issue is that you don't really get code sharing. I would estimate that only 25% of the Xamarin project I manage is cross platform code. The rest is this bizarre merger of native APIs with C#. It's difficult to write because of the lack of examples and documentation. It's also buggy, even with simple things like page views. The real problem is that I can write a na…
I've had completely the opposite experience. Have worked on several medium-to-very large Xamarin projects (4 developers up to 60 developers) and rarely have I seen code sharing drop below 50%, with the sweet spot being around 60%. 2 years ago, Xamarin was buggy as hell. Today, (IMHO) it's quite stable. Edit: downvoted for sharing my experience? Stay classy, HN.