Most developers believe that native apps are the best way to make performant mobile apps. But this is not always the case.
Xamarin, a framework for making cross-platform apps, can be an excellent way for those looking to build their next mobile to offer a native-like experience without sacrificing performance.
What Is Xamarin?
Xamarin is a Microsoft software that is free, cross-platform, and open-source. It uses .NET and C#. The keyword here is cross-platform. In cross-platform development, developers build mobile apps that can be used on multiple platforms.
In other words, while you can surely open an app that runs well on your iPhone, a friend with an Android will be able to utilize the very same app. And Xamarin allows developers to make apps for Windows phones as well.
With native apps, if developers want an app featured on every app store, they must create a distinct app for every operating system. Whatever your views on native apps, this practice undoubtedly drains resources.
Xamarin lets developers write all their code in a single language. This is opposed to native apps where developers must have the capacity to operate using several different programming languages that are suitable for a given platform.
Two approaches exist to develop cross-platform apps with Xamarin.
The first approach is forms technology or Xamarin.Forms. Using this method, a developer can design a universal visual interface and write a C# program, employing back-end development, that can be applied to all platforms.
The second approach is Xamarin Native where developers are given the option to build separate applications for each platform but the majority of back-end development is still shareable.
Form is a cheaper approach as up to 95% of code is shareable. This implies the efficient use of resources for both front-end development and back-end development.
In Xamarin Native only 70% of code is shareable. However, this approach is more native in execution. App performance is greater though the cost is more expensive than its counterpart.
Though Node.js tops the chart when it comes to most used frameworks for developers, Xamarin is still in the top ten as of 2024, with over 15,000 organizations relying on its prowess.
What Is a Xamarin Developer?
Xamarin developers are mobile app developers who code in C# and make cross-platform applications. They build UIs and write code for Android, iOS, and Windows from a single code base.
Software developers who work within the Xamarin framework have knowledge in numerous Xamarin features and paradigms such as:
- Xamarin.Forms
- Xamarin.iOS
- Xamarin.Android
- Xamarin Test Cloud
- App Center
- Visual Studio
- Azure Compute & Storage Services
- Azure Cognitive Services
Xamarin developers can build effective cross-platform apps to run on multiple platforms for your business.
Why Use Xamarin?
There are a number of ways to implement cross-platform development for your mobile app. But Xamarin is one of the most popular. You can blame a couple of Xamarin’s most useful features for its fame.
Use of C#
Xamarin apps are written in C#. C# is among the most used languages for developers. It is object-oriented and easy to learn with a large library.
Model/View/Controller (MVC) Pattern
By using MVC patterns, developers can compartmentalize UIs into three logical components – model, view, and controller.
In simpler terms, this entails a data model, presentation information, and control information. Organizing UIs by their fundamentals help developers more easily develop applications.
Native UIs
Xamarin gives developers the opportunity to build native UIs with Xamarin’s UI designer. For iOS, you can use Xamarin’s iOS designer or the UIKit APIs. For Android, you can use Android Views.
Advantages of Using Xamarin
Cross-platform development is a prominent avenue for businesses that want to stimulate their growth developing an app but don’t feel the need to build multiple native apps. Here are some of the advantages Xamarin can have for you and your developers.
Native-like Experience
Xamarin provides developers with a native-like design and performance for each application built with its framework. You can credit this to the platform’s compiler which interacts with the native APIs and toolkits of Android, iOS, and Windows.
Single Codebase
Since Xamarin is cross-platform, developers do not need to learn or make use of a variety of programming languages simply to code an app of the same likeness for multiple platforms.
In the same vein, developers will only use one technology stack in Xamarin. They won’t need different frameworks and languages for front-end development versus back-end development. All they need is C#.
Market Releases
The logical consequence of faster development due to using a singular environment and codebase is faster release time for your mobile app. Xamarin is a classic hitting two birds with one stone analogy.
You cut time doing a certain task and you cut time on the project altogether. The quicker you get your app on the market, the quicker your business will benefit.
Maintenance Perks
As your app for each mobile platform will share the same code, maintenance is a fairly simple process. Developers can change the source code, and the application on each platform will be updated thereof.
Testing Environment
The Xamarin Test Cloud and Xamarin Test Recorder are comprehensive testing solutions that monitor your application’s user interface (UI) and background performance. They run tests automatically using the cloud on real mobile devices.
Companies That Use Xamarin
- Bosch
- Acorns
- Slack
- Cinemark
- The World Bank
Reasons to Hire a Xamarin Developer
Small and medium-sized businesses need to think carefully about how they allocate their budget to different projects. Native apps, while performant, can be limiting in some regards.
Keeping this in mind, cross-platform app development is a clever idea, but only if executed properly. Proper execution requires skilled developers.
In business, having a large consumer base is usually a plus. But if your business wants to save money they may be forced to pick one mobile operating system over the other in native app development.
A decision like that more than likely cuts off an entire consumer base from enjoying your app. Otherwise, if you choose to develop more than one app – even if you have the wallet to do so – you’ll need extra pocket change to hire either:
- developers who are qualified to develop apps for multiple operating systems, or
- a different developer team for each of those operating systems.
There’s a good chance that the former will narrow your pool of applicants and the latter will compromise your funds.
If that’s the case, hiring Xamarin developers can save you time and money. And you won’t be sacrificing performance.
Hire a Xamarin Developer
For businesses who want to create a mobile app but are not sure how, there is first and foremost one important consideration. You have to decide whether to build a native app or a cross-platform app.
Native apps are known for having high-functionality and great performance. But this is not necessarily lost with cross-platform apps.
With the help of Xamarin developers, you can have the best of both worlds. They have the capacity to develop mobile apps that can offer a near-native experience but without the double-trouble dilemma.
How do you hire a Xamarin developer?
For those who wish to take the high road and hire Xamarin developers on your own, we’re still here to help.
Hiring a developer on your own is a very focused and hands-on process that requires considerable knowledge about software development in general.
The last thing you want to do is trust your hiring process to someone with no technical ability. If you are a non-technical manager looking to learn a thing or two, we have a great resource here for you to learn more about the hiring process in detail.
Otherwise, we’d recommend you contact Trio for consulting and developer allocation.
What should you look for in a Xamarin developer?
At a high level, Xamarin developers should have:
- A fundamental understanding of Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM)
- Proficiency at coding in C#, especially in Visual Studio
- Demonstrated familiarity with cross-platform development as a concept
- A solid background in .NET methods such as C# classes and lambda expressions
- Knowledge of code reusability amongst different platforms
How much do developers cost in the U.S.?
A Xamarin developer in the United States will make $117,783 a year on average, according to ZipRecruiter. As a whole, a Xamarin developer’s annual salary will range between $61,000 and $193,000.
How much do developers cost in South America?
Due to economic differences between the United States and South America as a whole, the cost of offshoring software development is significantly lower than hiring full-time with U.S talent. For Senior Xamarin Developers in South America, the average salary is currently around $100,000 whereas a mid-level developer costs around $76,000.
How much do developers cost in Ukraine / Eastern Europe?
Eastern Europe shares very similar rates to South America, again due to the economic differences. When looking at salaries in Eastern Europe, data shows that a Senior Xamarin Developer costs around $100,000 on average.
Hourly Rates for Developers
Another way to look at developer costs is through hourly rates. While salaries are good to understand for hiring developers for full-time and long-term, you might just need a developer for a period of 3-6 months or 6-12 months. In these types of situations, it’s best to calculate your costs based on the hourly rates of a developer.
Below is a table that lists the various hourly rates of developers in different locations based on their job title.
Why Hire a Xamarin Developer?
Trio Xamarin developers are pre-vetted, interviewed, and then trained further to become true software professionals, capable of adapting to situations that are both within and outside of the scope of their general expertise.
At Trio, we hold our developers to a higher standard. Much like how elite special forces units recruit only the best from main branches of the military, we recruit developers who either show amazing potential or demonstrate exceptional skill. We then take their talents and sharpen them even further.
Another benefit of hiring a Trio developer is that you won’t incur the costs of hiring, which can add up to be around 30% of a developer’s salary on average, as well as overhead costs associated with full-time employment.
By working with Trio, you can enjoy a highly experienced full-time developer for a fraction of the cost, along with the added project management assistance.
To learn more, tell us about your project and we’ll get you started.
