Book Image

Mastering Cross-Platform Development with Xamarin

Book Image

Mastering Cross-Platform Development with Xamarin

Overview of this book

The main goal of this book is to equip you with the required know-how to successfully analyze, develop, and manage Xamarin cross-platform projects using the most efficient, robust, and scalable implementation patterns. This book starts with general topics such as memory management, asynchronous programming, local storage, and networking, and later moves onto platform-specific features. During this transition, you will learn about key tools to leverage the patterns described, as well as advanced implementation strategies and features. The book also presents User Interface design and implementation concepts on Android and iOS platforms from a Xamarin and cross-platform perspective, with the goal to create a consistent but native UI experience. Finally, we show you the toolset for application lifecycle management to help you prepare the development pipeline to manage and see cross-platform projects through to public or private release.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Mastering Cross-Platform Development with Xamarin
Credits
About the Authors
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Beta deployment


Beta testing is an essential part of a Xamarin development pipeline. Using beta testing distribution hubs such as HockeyApp, Crashlytics, or Testflight, application packages can be delivered to beta users/testers. For Windows Phone 8.1 and Android, the distribution of application packages using simple networking methods is also possible (for example, using shared network locations, download links, and so on).

HockeyApp

HockeyApp stands out as the only beta distribution hub that supports all Xamarin target platforms, including Windows Runtime, and has integration capabilities for various CI configurations.

Initially a beta testing platform for iOS and Android, the Stuttgart-based company expanded their SDK to support Microsoft mobile development platforms. HockeyApp was ultimately acquired by Microsoft. However, it continues to support various mobile platforms, including Mac OS.

Figure 9: HockeyApp app dashboard

Application packages for the HockeyApp distribution hub can be uploaded...