The document outlines Xamarin, a cross-platform mobile development tool that enables developers to create fully native apps using a shared code base, significantly reducing development time and costs. It discusses various aspects of Xamarin, including its architecture, benefits, and strategies for optimizing development using tools like Xamarin.Forms. The emphasis is on achieving high code reuse, efficient maintenance, and creating a fluid user experience across multiple platforms.

1. mentormate.com | 3036 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55408 | 855-577-1671
How Xamarin Is Revolutionizing
Mobile Development
A Look at the Business Case and Strategies for Building Cross-Platform Software

2. The business case for Xamarin 1
Solving the impossible development equation 2
Introducing Xamarin 3
The promise of Xamarin 4
Xamarin's impressive playbook 5
What is Xamarin? 6
Exploring the Xamarin suite 8
Choosing a Xamarin approach 9
Comparing Xamarin.Forms and Xamarin.iOS
& Xamarin.Android 10
Actual vs. perceived cost savings in cross-platform
development 11
Developing with Xamarin 12
Structuring development with Xamarin.Forms 13
Visualizing Xamarin.Forms development 14
Elements of Xamarin.Forms 15
What makes Xamarin development unique 16
Developing using the Model View Viewmodel approach 17
Table of Contents
Designing with Xamarin.Forms 18
What the Model View ViewModel approach
means for design 19
Xamarin.Forms design principles 20
The Great (Design) Compromise 21
Building the right cross-functional team 22
Benefits of Xamarin development 23
Reduce your total cost of cross-platform mobile
app ownership 24
Decrease the cost and size of your development team 25
Rapidly create a fluid user experience 26
Test smarter 27

3. The business
case for Xamarin
1

4. Startups and enterprise companies differ in many ways —
manpower, capital, risk-tolerance. But, they can agree on one
thing. They all want to develop mobile apps launching across
multiple platforms with a smaller team, in less time and for
fewer dollars spent. Solving this equation represents the holy
grail for product owners and development teams alike. And, it
may sound impossible. It’s not.
Cross-platform development with Xamarin allows teams to
create fully native apps using the same code base, Visual C#.
Depending on the Xamarin platform, teams can reach as high
as 90% code reuse in developing mobile apps for iOS, Android
and Windows. Writing code once and drawing from the same
library saves on code redundancy, upkeep and time.
Solving the impossible development equation
2

5. Xamarin first arrived on the scene in 2011, invented by
the engineers who created Mono, Mono for Android and
MonoTouch. Mono itself dates back to 2001 as an open
source effort to allow applications built on .NET to run on
the Linux operating system.
Since it’s launch, Xamarin has continued to climb in
popularity. Over 1 million developers and 15,000 top brands
use Xamarin from Dow Jones to Kimberly Clark, Kellogg to
JetBlue. In fact, JetBlue’s Xamarin app is what allows the
progressive airline to accept Apple Pay in the first place.
Introducing Xamarin
3

6. With the potential to run Xamarin on 2.6 billion devices
globally, the opportunity for businesses to develop
once and release multiple outputs is a compelling one
— especially for companies with an eye toward internal
software development.
Unlike direct-to-consumer development, line of business
apps are built to be efficiently and economically
maintained. According to one article published this year,
90% of enterprise businesses plan to increase mobile
development, following a survey of 200 IT decision
makers in the U.S. and Europe.
The promise of Xamarin
4

7. Xamarin’s impressive playbook
$82 million
Funding raised to date
$54 million
Raised in Series C funding
Investment firms include
Floodgate, Ignition Partners, Lead Edge Capital, Insight
Venture Partners and Charles River Ventures
5

8. The acquisition of the San Francisco startup by Microsoft as a means
to expand its mobile relevance beyond phones running Windows
belies just how much clout Xamarin has in the business community.
What Xamarin is:
• A fully-featured cross-platform mobile development
tool able to share business logic and code to deliver
fully native apps
• A means to leverage Microsoft’s Visual C#
programming language with the powerful
capabilities of the .NET framework
What is Xamarin?
What Xamarin is not:
• A programming language in and of itself
• A software framework
6

9. What’s so great about C#?
Anything being considered for development with Java,
Objective-C and Swift can be accomplished with the Xamarin
platform, C# and .NET, allowing for the reuse of any existing
.NET libraries and interfaces. Using Xamarin a few lines of
code allows developers to add over 300 integrations to an
app — from backend systems to cloud services.
7

10. Exploring the Xamarin suite
Xamarin.Forms:
API used to design an experience across the
iOS, Android and Windows platforms leveraging
native controls (Considered by many a cross-
platform UI toolkit)
Xamarin.iOS &
Xamarin.Android:
Development environments used to build and
deploy platform-specific C# code
Xamarin Test Cloud:
Used to automate mobile application testing
.NET Mobility Scanner: Used to identify how
much of your existing code can run on all three
mobile platforms. >> Watch demonstration
Xamarin Studio &
Xamarin for Visual Studio:
Integrated development environments where the
C# code base is developed
8

11. There are two ways to approach development with Xamarin:
1) Using Xamarin.Forms or 2) Using Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android
Choosing a Xamarin approach
The approach chosen significantly impacts the amount of code
reuse that can be accomplished and the associated cost savings.
Xamarin.Forms is an API and associated UI toolkit that allows the creation
of a complete user experience which computes on iOS, Android and Windows
phones. Choosing from a library of over 40 interactions and controls with the
possibility for customization, the UI/UX is built once and mapped to all devices.
For more complex workflows or more intensive data entry, use of peripheral
devices or technologies and a user experience consistent with other native apps
on their OS of choice, Xamarin.Forms may not be a good choice. Xamarin.iOS
and Xamarin.Android allow for much deeper platform-specific customization,
though code reuse and cost savings are limited. Instead with this option, the
software team continues to develop in C#, but code must be rewritten to
accommodate all platform specifications.
9

12. Xamarin.forms
• Can reuse 80-90% of the code
• Code is built in Xamarin Studio or Visual Studio
• Code applies and universally computes across iOS,
Android and Windows mobile platforms
• Data transfer objects (DTOs), business logic and all
user experience assets can be reused
• Built with C# and .NET framework
Xamarin.iOS / Xamarin.Android
• Can reuse roughly 30% of the code
• Code is built in Xamarin.iOS or Xamarin.Android for
Visual Studio
• Developers build multiple platform-specific experiences
• Only data transfer objects and business logic can be
reused
• Built with platform-specific C# and .NET framework
Limitations:
Controls in Xamarin.Forms only support the functionality
that is present on all three platforms — functionality is
more limited compared to a standalone native app
Choose if:
Code sharing and cost savings outweigh need for
UI control
Comparing Xamarin.Forms and
Xamarin.iOS / Xamarin.Android
Limitations:
Code reuse and cost savings are limited compared to
Xamarin.Forms
Choose if:
UI and experience can’t be compromised, and there are
many specialized experiences
10

13. Actual vs. perceived cost savings
in cross-platform development
Building native user interfaces with Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android
still allows project teams to reuse some code, business logic and
the portable class library. Though for cash-strapped or agile-minded
organizations, the prospect of redeveloping 70% of an app to release it
on a secondary platform is often less than ideal.
Beyond that, teams choosing to customize the UX for each platform
are saving some labor costs by limiting the development languages.
Though, they are still developing the same type of team used to build
a native app. Members with platform-specific expertise are needed
to interpret the C# code, rebuild the UI, flow, layouts and apply it to
any platform-specific APIs. The project continues to be bound by a
“learning curve.”
Comparatively, using Xamarin.Forms, the same developer would be
able to build the experience for iOS, Android and Windows with the
same C# code base — no adjustments required. Xamarin.Forms
then abstracts that experience automatically. Choosing to build the
experience in Xamarin.Forms could save as much as 2.5x cost savings.
11

14. Developing
with Xamarin
12

15. Structuring development with Xamarin.Forms
Structuring development with Xamarin.Forms begins at the most
fundamental level with storage. Next comes an API to provide data access
and business logic for the app. This is where your portable class library is
defined and data handed back and forth from the server to the client.
The user experience for apps created with Xamarin.Forms
is structured using Model View ViewModel.
Model View
ViewModel explained
The software architecture whereby
data is bound two ways within
views allowing the state and
behavior to be abstracted for
increased flexibility accommodating
user interface platform changes.
Portable class library
A portable class library (PCL) is
a common library for functionality
like business rules, network,
cryptopgraphy and storage
that can be compiled once and
used on any operating system.
13

16. UI Flow
Layout
MVVM
iOS
Android
Windows
API
What makes an app “native”?
If the UI feels native, it performs like a
native app (even when offline) and affords
access to all device APIs — the app can be
considered native. Native also means that
the app is compiled to byte code that runs
directly on the processor of the device. This
gives the highest performance possible on
that device. According to these definitions,
Xamarin is the only cross-platform tool that
creates fully-native apps.
Visualizing Xamarin.Forms development
Each page in Xamarin.Forms is developed
as a single screen then applied across all
three platforms. These include labels, lists,
buttons and layouts (that when linked with
the backend) constitute a fully-native app.
Model View ViewModel - Xamarin.Forms
80% - 90%
DTO's &
Business
Logic
14

17. Elements of Xamarin.Forms
Examples of pages
• ContentPage
• NavigationPage
• Tabbed Page
• CarouselPage
Examples of layouts
• StackLayout
• AbsoluteLayout
• RelativeLayout
• GridLayout
Control examples
• TableView
• TimePicker
• Slider
• SearchBar
Custom control
Xamarin.Forms also allows
you to customize and
define your own controls.
Some of the examples
MentorMate has created
include: Carousel control
with paging and swipe
gestures; circular image
control which is clickable,
checkable and bindable;
custom date/time pickers
and image buttons.
View more.
15

18. What makes Xamarin development unique
Without a cross-platform development tool, teams developing mobile applications for Android and iOS
used to create and maintain different DTOs in different programming languages and would have to
keep them in sync with the backend system by hand. They would be created in Java for the Android
app, Objective-C for iOS apps — and on. With Xamarin.Forms and Xamarin.iOS/Xamarin.Android
development, PCL is created and defined only once in .NET serving as a single source for all DTOs on
the clients. If the backend system is also .NET, then the same PCL can be used there as well.
Effort optimized
With Xamarin, code works harder for your team. Using an API to pull DTOs may seem like a lot of upfront
work, especially for development teams who lament the days when a data field could be called directly
from the server and displayed on the page. Maintaining four sets of DTO definitions isn’t excessive —
they might say. That is, unless they maintain multiple server versions running for different customers
and until a mistake makes it into the field. New clients need to be tested against all old server versions.
Suddenly the ROI of an API pulling from a singular PCL becomes apparent.
Using a single PCL accounts for approximately 10%
of the code reuse that can be realized with Xamarin.
16

19. Developing using the Model View ViewModel
Using this software architecture approach, a viewmodel is defined once.
Associated graphic entities and text fields are then bound to it. That way
when the viewmodel changes (depending on the screen size or operating
system) the assets on the screen respond accordingly. Defining a
viewmodel in Xamarin is much like its definition with Angular.JS.
Unlike developing design screen-by-screen for each device. Once a
change is made to a page in Xamarin.Forms, it is reflected across
screens on all operating systems alleviating teams from the burden
of updating the logic for each screen.
Benefits of MVVM
Using the Model View ViewModel approach UI and business logic can
be separated when delivering data representations across platforms.
Using this architecture, your solution can run dozens of operations
asynchronously (in parallel) vastly speeding data load times within your
experience. The alternative is a waiting game no user wants to play.
17

20. Designing with
Xamarin.Forms
18

21. When designers approach creating a mobile experience
with Xamarin.Forms, they must begin by thinking about
the universal thread. What elements and functionality
are consistent across all experiences? How can this
be cleanly represented?
It’s a more disciplined process requiring deep knowledge
of interaction patterns across all three operating systems.
Design decisions must be based on universal patterns rather
than interactions that might delight an Android user and
confuse an iOS user. Designing with Xamarin.Forms to define
the user experience including the UI, layout, flow and graphic
entities once is where the real benefit of code reuse becomes
clear — up to 80-90%.
Though some platform-specific behavior can be defined
using Xamarin.Forms with DependencyService.
What the Model View ViewModel means for design
19

22. Xamarin.Forms design principles
Strive to create a universal
understanding.1. Study the limitations
of each platform.4.
Think across platforms. Just
like your development will be.2. Synthesize first.
Design second.5.
Don’t assume functionality
across platforms is apples to
apples in applying the C# to
the SDK.
3.
Avoid the temptation
to abandon familiar
interaction patterns.
6.
20

23. There’s a classic tension between designers and developers —
designers delivering UX/UI that can’t be implemented technically,
and developers pushing back and failing to creatively implement
solutions to realize the experience. Aligning developers and
designers is critical to achieving elegant UI with Xamarin.Forms.
Rather than leading with UX/UI, understand the limitations of the
platform and craft beautifully within those bounds. Granted, the
concessions made to achieve cost savings with Xamarin.Forms
will not make or break the experience. It’s much like considering
the control of nonresponsive design compared to the slightly
less control responsive design affords creative teams. Though
(worth noting) if more specificity is needed, developers can build
a custom renderer.
The Great (Design) Compromise
Letting go
In the old world, designs were
needed for every page on every
form factor. In the new world,
Xamarin.Forms offers the chance
to create a universal experience
that can be applied and scaled
regardless of the form factor and
operating system. Embrace it.
21

24. Working with Xamarin.Forms requires a shift in approach
and process for developers and designers. Cost savings
starts with conceding the control native development
affords. It starts with building the right team.
Appoint a cross-platform champion
on your team or work with one.
Many designers are reticent to give up control or aren’t
well-versed in the intricacies and limitations of Xamarin.
Forms development. Before the experience of a solution
can be elevated, teams must invest in understanding the
technologies first.
Building the right cross-functional team
22

25. Benefits
of Xamarin
development
23

26. A minute saved is a minute earned — and potentially hundreds of dollars. A
solution written in one language (C#) or a universal code base applied over
iOS, Android and Windows phones enables agility and ultimately reduces the
amount of code needed.
Xamarin implicitly facilitates the sharing of business logic, saving even more
time. Using Xamarin, other components can also be recycled including third-
party libraries and even interface design.
Xamarin for the enterprise
Xamarin makes a ton of sense when function is more important than
aesthetic quality and where total cost of ownership is a primary concern for
the IT team who will be responsible for the long term costs of supporting
a cross-platform solution. Expanding the knowledge of an existing IT team
with Xamarin (C#) represents a great way to extend capabilities without an
extensive investment in time or resources.
Reduce your total cost of cross-platform
mobile app ownership
Practical uses
for Xamarin apps
• Industries with mobile
field personnel
• Home healthcare
• Utilities industries
24

27. There’s no “i” in team. But, there is a lot of money. Platform-
specific development teams are more expensive. Before,
when building a cross-platform app, it would require
developers with Android, iOS and Windows experience.
When working with Xamarin, teams can be leaner, albeit
with a comparatively deep C# knowledge pool.
Especially for line-of-business apps, Xamarin development
strikes a compromise between usability and affordability
investment-wise enterprises would be remiss to ignore.
Decrease the cost and size
of your development team
Recycle existing development skills
With Xamarin, IT departments can recycle
any existing C#/.NET skills and redirect
them toward mobile development.
25

28. Rapidly create a fluid user experience
Async
With Xamarin, developers don’t need unique
code to write asynchronous programming.
Controls
The Xamarin.Forms UI toolkit allows for the rapid
selection of controls to perform select and rapidly
“code” app functionality.
Extended capabilities
Additionally, using Xamarin app developers also don’t
need unique code for LINQ and extension methods.
26

29. Test smarter
Xamarin allows software quality teams to write-UI-
based test scripts. Paired with Xamarin Test Cloud,
this is a powerful combination. Within Test Cloud,
more than 24,000 unique Android device types and
20 iOS hardware and OS configurations exist. No
device cabinet in the world is that big.
Xamarin Test Cloud gives you the confidence that you
are truly testing for every user scenario — efficiently.
UI test scripts can be generated following your
interactions, edited and uploaded to the Test Cloud
for wide-scale execution.
View our demo of
Xamarin Test Cloud.
27

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Talk with an expert
Ready to innovate. Contact us to learn more about our Xamarin practice.
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