Getting Started with Xamarin Application using Visual Studio for Mac

Introduction:

Visual Studio 2017 for mac was launched at MS Build 2017 with many fresh and exciting features for Visual Studio developers in mac machine. Mac OS user can build apps for mobile, web, and cloud with Xamarin and .NET Core, games with Unity using Visual Studio.

In this article, I will share how to create new Xamarin.Forms application using Visual studio for mac.

System Requirement:

Visual Studio 2017 for mac will install and run on the following operating system

1. MacOS Sierra 10.12 or Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11
2. Xcode 8.3 or above requires macOS Sierra 10.12,
3. Xamarin.Android requires the 64-bit Java Development Kit (JDK)
4. 1.8 GHz or faster processor with min 4GB RAM .

Install Visual Studio for mac:

Download Visual Studio 2017 for mac from https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/?os=mac .If you are downloading before May 17, you will get free 60-day access to Xamarin University.

Create New Xamarin.Forms Application:

Step 1: Launch VS from mac:

Launch Visual Studio for mac from Launchpad

Step 2: Create New Solution :

Create New Solution (File >New Solution) or VS home screen > Click on New Project

Step 3: Choose a Template:

Visual Studio for mac will support to develop apps for Android, macOS, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, web, and cloud. Code fast and test. Here, I will select xamarin.Forms template under multiplatform .

Step 4: Multiplatform Xamarin.Forms Application:

The Multiplatform Xamarin.Forms App and the Native App project templates now provide you a quick way to create a multiplatform mobile app with cloud backend. This template will include Xamarin.iOS ,Xamairn.Android and share code with cloud service .

Provide App name. identifier, platform and mobile backend detail from following screen

Step 5: Configure Your Application:

Provide the project, solution name, local location and version control details from following screen  

Step 6: Solution successfully Created:

You can do Drag and Drop UI Design for iOS and android with Live preview and building, deployment, debugging the application.

Step 7: Run the Application:

Debug and Run the xamarin application

Summary:

This article you learned VS system requirement, install Visual studio from mac and how to create new xamarin application using Visual studio for mac.

If you have any question/ feedback/ issues, please write them in the comment box