If You’re a .NET Developer, You Can Now Create iOS Apps Using Visual Studio and Xamarin

As a .NET developer, you might be thinking that creating an iOS app is going to be a troublesome task. This is because iOS apps are mostly created using Objective-C, Swift, or Xcode. However, with the launch of Visual Studio 2017, Microsoft has made it possible to create iOS apps using Visual Studio and Xamarin. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll help you create an iOS app in Visual Studio through Xamarin.

Step 1: Install Visual Studio 2017

To start, you need to install Visual Studio 2017. You can download it directly from the Microsoft website. Simply follow the installation instructions, making sure that you select the .NET desktop development workload along with the Mobile development with .NET workload during the installation process.

Step 2: Install Xamarin

Once you have installed Visual Studio, you need to install Xamarin, which is an open-source platform for developing iOS and Android applications using C#. The easiest way to install Xamarin is to use Visual Studio’s built-in installer. Select the Mobile development with .NET workload and make sure the “iOS development with .NET” option is selected.

Step 3: Create a New iOS Project

Now that you have Visual Studio and Xamarin installed, it’s time to create a new iOS project. Open Visual Studio 2017 and click on “File”, then “New”, and select “Project…”. Next, select the “iOS App” template from the list of project templates.

Step 4: Configure Your iOS Project

Once you’ve selected the “iOS App” template, you’ll be prompted to configure your iOS project. Here, you’ll need to choose the name and location of your project, as well as the version of iOS you want to target.

Step 5: Design Your App

With your project configured, it’s time to start designing your app. Visual Studio’s design tools allow you to create iOS apps using drag-and-drop controls. You can use the Toolbox to add new controls to your app, such as labels, buttons, text fields, and more. You can then customize these controls by clicking on them and adjusting their properties in the Properties panel.

Step 6: Write Your App’s Code

Once you’ve designed your app’s user interface, it’s time to start writing the code that makes it all work. In Visual Studio, you’ll do this by editing the C# files in your project. You can use the built-in code editor to write your code and take advantage of Visual Studio’s powerful Intellisense features to speed up your coding.

Step 7: Test and Debug Your App

With your iOS app designed and coded, it’s time to test and debug it. Visual Studio makes it easy to test your app by allowing you to run it on simulators or physical devices directly from within the IDE. You can also use Visual Studio’s debugging tools to identify and fix any issues with your app’s code.

Conclusion:

If you’re a .NET developer and want to create high-quality iOS apps, Xamarin and Visual Studio 2017 are the perfect tools for you. With powerful design tools and an intuitive coding experience, you can now build great iOS apps without having to learn new languages or tools. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll be an iOS app developer in no time!