Why not choose C++/Qt/QML?
AFAIK, QML has barely any native UI integration. Are there iOS and Android components? Why does nothing turn up when doing a simple google search?
Why choose Xamarin?
31–40 of 68 posts
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#32There are so many factual errors and outdated assumptions in your thread that i wont take the time to do a writeup. To put it short:
- You're wrong.
- Given the current speed of Javascript on mobile, Xamarin is just a job creation tool for unemployed .NET/WPF Developers. - You cannnot reuse run-of-the-mill web devs for hybrid app development.
- Good web developers are just as expensive as good native devs.
- Hybrid app development is not easier than native development.
Have a nice weekend.
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#33It amazes me that the constant complaint on here is the price. Seriously folks, if you are a professional developer (by that I mean your primary ability to earn money for you and your family is the development of software) then the cost of a Xamarin license should be looked at as a factor of time. How much time will it save you? Lets imagine your current project to build an iOS and Android app of identical functional…
Here's the problem: it's too expensive to learn on my own, and I can't advocate for C#, F# or Mono without already being an expert. Yes, I am a professional software engineer, and I support my family that way. But I have other expenses and interests, too, and blowing money on a compiler/IDE/platform just so I can play with it in my spare time doesn't really work for me.
Think of it another way: how do you plan to grow the next generation of engineers if they can't afford your technology to learn on, but they can download a JDK and a good Scala IDE for free?
Moreover, I'm not sure how you're arriving at a 10% productivity gain without knowing what I'm already working on. It may be 10% compared to Objective C for iOS, but is it 10% for my server-side Scala project?
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#34The big question IMHO is will Microsoft buy Xamarin or not. If they do the price will certainly fall drastically. On one hand it will give MS way more apps on their app store. On the other if Xamarin becomes very popular Apple may block Xamarin built apps from it's app store.
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#35It amazes me that the constant complaint on here is the price. Seriously folks, if you are a professional developer (by that I mean your primary ability to earn money for you and your family is the development of software) then the cost of a Xamarin license should be looked at as a factor of time. How much time will it save you? Lets imagine your current project to build an iOS and Android app of identical functional…
It amazes me that you've completely missed out on some of the reasons for people complaining about the cost. My comment is one you're railing against and I think you're off base. Even going by your factor of time, I have to bet $1,000 that this product will be worth both that money and the time that I have to put into learning and dealing with it. There's no VS trail (as far as I know). So other than going off of blo…
Even purchasing a business license (allowing you to use visual studio) for two platforms would still be cost effective at $1998 per year. Given that you're developing one code base instead of two, I'd guess the productivity increase would be at least 50%.
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#36It amazes me that the constant complaint on here is the price. Seriously folks, if you are a professional developer (by that I mean your primary ability to earn money for you and your family is the development of software) then the cost of a Xamarin license should be looked at as a factor of time. How much time will it save you? Lets imagine your current project to build an iOS and Android app of identical functional…
Here's the problem: it's too expensive to learn on my own, and I can't advocate for C#, F# or Mono without already being an expert. Yes, I am a professional software engineer, and I support my family that way. But I have other expenses and interests, too, and blowing money on a compiler/IDE/platform just so I can play with it in my spare time doesn't really work for me. Think of it another way: how do you plan to gro…
Maybe the tacit assumption here is that I'm doing development for Android and iOS; I'm currently interested in neither, although I do think F# is a compelling language and I'd love to be able to advocate for it at my workplace. However, given the fact that we're a Linux shop, Xamarin has made it really hard to push for Mono/F# as an alternative to Scala.
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#37It amazes me that the constant complaint on here is the price. Seriously folks, if you are a professional developer (by that I mean your primary ability to earn money for you and your family is the development of software) then the cost of a Xamarin license should be looked at as a factor of time. How much time will it save you? Lets imagine your current project to build an iOS and Android app of identical functional…
Here's the problem: it's too expensive to learn on my own, and I can't advocate for C#, F# or Mono without already being an expert. Yes, I am a professional software engineer, and I support my family that way. But I have other expenses and interests, too, and blowing money on a compiler/IDE/platform just so I can play with it in my spare time doesn't really work for me. Think of it another way: how do you plan to gro…
[deleted]
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#38It amazes me that the constant complaint on here is the price. Seriously folks, if you are a professional developer (by that I mean your primary ability to earn money for you and your family is the development of software) then the cost of a Xamarin license should be looked at as a factor of time. How much time will it save you? Lets imagine your current project to build an iOS and Android app of identical functional…
Here's the problem: it's too expensive to learn on my own, and I can't advocate for C#, F# or Mono without already being an expert. Yes, I am a professional software engineer, and I support my family that way. But I have other expenses and interests, too, and blowing money on a compiler/IDE/platform just so I can play with it in my spare time doesn't really work for me. Think of it another way: how do you plan to gro…
30 days. 100% Risk Free, Unconditional money back guarantee.
Lets just get expense out of the way because that argument is actually invalid. For professional devs like us, if you cannot learn something new enough to make a decision on it - in 30 days, then we have bigger problems than license fees.
If that is the case for you then money is not the issue, it is time. Having 30 free days for me to spend learning a tech is a unicorn, it does not exist.
I understand your frustration because there are so many amazing techs out there I wish I had the time to learn but just don't. I made the decision to invest my time in Xamarin when I realized that the custom mobile dev market is slowly eating the custom web appdev market I was doing so well in. I made a conscious decision to make a bet on Xamarin (mainly because I knew C# very well) because I saw value in their approach vs others.
I have been very successful financially in my career so it could be that I look at time and money different than others, especially college students learning CS, but my statements were aimed at pro devs.
(an aside, I think Xamarin offers very steep discounts to students)
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Here's the problem: it's too expensive to learn on my own, and I can't advocate for C#, F# or Mono without already being an expert. Yes, I am a professional software engineer, and I support my family that way. But I have other expenses and interests, too, and blowing money on a compiler/IDE/platform just so I can play with it in my spare time doesn't really work for me. Think of it another way: how do you plan to gro…
Maybe the tacit assumption here is that I'm doing development for Android and iOS; I'm currently interested in neither, although I do think F# is a compelling language and I'd love to be able to advocate for it at my workplace. However, given the fact that we're a Linux shop, Xamarin has made it really hard to push for Mono/F# as an alternative to Scala.
Another thing that colors my perspective - I have been on my own for 15 years. I don't have to consider the company, legacy or other devs in the shop. It is me, whom I choose to sub-contract to and what jobs I choose to take on. There is a level of freedom in that I often take for granted.
Re: Why choose Xamarin?
#40It amazes me that the constant complaint on here is the price. Seriously folks, if you are a professional developer (by that I mean your primary ability to earn money for you and your family is the development of software) then the cost of a Xamarin license should be looked at as a factor of time. How much time will it save you? Lets imagine your current project to build an iOS and Android app of identical functional…
To add to this: think about the target market for this. It's not the person who knows objective-c and wants to make an Android app. It's not the person who knows Java and wants to make an iOS app. It's the person who already knows .NET and wants to make an app for either of those platforms.
I guess I also made a fundamental mistake in the above sentences. It's not a person, but rather a business that is looking at it. In the .NET world, it's common to have an MSDN license for each developer. Looking at the costs from that perspective and the licensing costs for Xamarin make a lot more sense.