migrate-xamarin

Migrate Xamarin to .NET MAUI

When to use

• The app uses Xamarin.Forms, Xamarin.iOS or Xamarin.Android (see legacy/xamarin) and needs store releases again.
• The user asks to move to .NET MAUI or .NET for iOS/Android.

Before you start

• Inventory and write it to the PR or docs/xamarin-inventory.md:
  • projects and TFMs, packages.config vs PackageReference;
  • every NuGet package and its MAUI-compatible replacement (or "none");
  • custom renderers, effects, behaviors, DependencyService registrations, platform-specific code;
  • stored data: SecureStorage/Keychain keys, Preferences, SQLite file paths, push registration, app groups and entitlements.
• Ask the user:
  • target (default .NET MAUI 10 on .NET 10; MAUI 10 is supported to 11 May 2027, MAUI 11 ships with .NET 11);
  • whether third-party UI vendors (Syncfusion, Telerik, DevExpress) have MAUI licenses;
  • whether package installs are approved (core/supply-chain);
  • whether GitHub Copilot upgrade may assist (needs a Copilot subscription and sends code to Copilot models). The steps below work without it.
• Tooling: Visual Studio 2026 or VS Code with the .NET MAUI extension, Xcode 26 on a Mac for iOS, Android SDK API 36.
• Working tree clean; new branch; record screenshots or UI tests of the main flows on the current app.

Steps

1. Shared code first: convert shared projects to SDK-style net10.0 class libraries (or keep netstandard2.0 during the transition); fix APIs that don't exist on .NET.
2. Create the MAUI project: a single project (dotnet new maui) with the same ApplicationId (bundle ID / package name), ApplicationDisplayVersion higher than the store version, and the same signing identities.
3. Port the UI:
   • namespaces Xamarin.Forms → Microsoft.Maui.Controls, Xamarin.Essentials → Microsoft.Maui.* APIs;
   • layouts: check StackLayout/Grid spacing and RelativeLayout (moved to a compatibility package), Frame → Border;
   • custom renderers → handlers (or register them temporarily with .AddCompatibilityRenderer while porting);
   • DependencyService → constructor injection via MauiProgram.CreateMauiApp();
   • App.xaml resources and styles; fonts and images registered in the project file.
4. Platform projects: move MainActivity, AppDelegate, Info.plist, AndroidManifest.xml and entitlements into Platforms/; set targetSdk 36 and the iOS deployment target; keep URL schemes, associated domains and push configuration.
5. Data continuity: read existing SecureStorage, Preferences and SQLite paths with the same keys and locations so users stay signed in; write a one-time migration where formats changed.
6. Packages: replace each Xamarin package with its MAUI equivalent; run dotnet list package --vulnerable --include-transitive.
7. Show the diff and results; wait for approval. Commit only when asked (git-commit skill). Then apply mobile/mobile-security and languages/csharp.