At the launch of .NET 10, .NET MAUI 10 receives a suite of updates focused on quality, performance, and developer productivity. These enhancements do not introduce any major UI changes, but they effectively address long-standing platform behavior issues and fill in the missing details in cross-platform workflows. MAUI, an acronym for Multi-platform Application UI, is a refined evolution of Xamarin and Xamarin Forms frameworks. It unifies separate target libraries and projects into a single project suitable for multiple devices, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. With these advancements, developers can expect a more streamlined experience when building applications across diverse platforms.
As developers dive into the features of .NET MAUI 10, they will discover updated bindings for Android 16 and iOS 26, alongside a plethora of NuGet packages that provide finer control over the versions their applications support. Furthermore, the integration with the .NET Aspire service-defaults project introduces built-in OpenTelemetry metrics, tracing, and service discovery wiring by simply invoking builder.AddServiceDefaults() in MauiProgram. This enhancement allows developers to monitor and optimize their applications effectively.
Performance Improvements in .NET MAUI 10
One of the standout features in .NET MAUI 10 is the introduction of a new XAML source generator. This generator compiles XAML at build time, replacing the previous runtime parsing. Such a significant change means that developers can detect errors earlier in the development process, resulting in faster application startups and inspectable generated code. As a result, performance is noticeably improved, which is critical for maintaining user engagement in today’s fast-paced digital environment.
- Enhanced error detection leads to more reliable applications.
- Fast startup times improve the overall user experience.
Another feature celebrated by developers is the experimental shift to using CoreCLR instead of the Mono runtime. This change has been described as a “rebirth” for MAUI, significantly enhancing the performance metrics and developer productivity. The ability to adopt global and implicit XML namespace declarations reduces the clutter of repetitive xmlns attributes, simplifying markup and enhancing readability.
Updated Controls and Features
The core controls of .NET MAUI 10 have undergone significant refinements. For example, the improved handlers for CollectionView and CarouselView—introduced in .NET 9—are now set as defaults, which boosts stability and performance across iOS and Mac Catalyst. Additionally, the HybridWebView control has received new initialization events, allowing for better handling of web requests and dynamic script execution.
- New initialisation events enhance control over the web content.
- Improved event handling allows developers to intercept web requests effectively.
Moreover, MAUI’s safe area behaviors have been refined. The new SafeAreaEdges property is now available across various controls, allowing for greater control over content placement in relation to device cutouts and other platform-specific restrictions. These enhancements ensure a smoother, more visually appealing layout, leading to a better user experience.
Deprecation of Legacy APIs
In keeping with modern development trends, .NET MAUI 10 has designated several legacy APIs—such as ListView, EntryCell, ImageCell, and others—as deprecated. Instead, streamlined modern constructs are favored, encouraging developers to move towards more efficient solutions. This decision underscores the platform’s commitment to evolving with the needs of contemporary software development.
Understanding that .NET’s support policy differs from MAUI’s, developers should take note that MAUI versions receive updates for merely 6 months after release, compared to .NET’s 3-year support for LTS releases. However, MAUI workloads are installed independently of .NET releases, facilitating a more flexible development process.
Explore More About .NET MAUI 10
The features of .NET MAUI 10 open new avenues for developers seeking to enhance their applications’ performance and usability. For a deeper dive into this subject, consider exploring the official Microsoft documentation on “What’s new in .NET MAUI for .NET 10” which outlines these changes in detail. Similar to strategies discussed in our exploration of AI, the shift in development practices illustrates a broader industry trend towards greater efficiency and user-centric design.
To deepen this topic, check our detailed analyses on Apps & Software section.
