
#### Table of Contents

1. Build and Distribute xamarin app with mobile center
2. 1. Make sure your code is connect to following source control service.
3. 2. setup Branch and create build definition

## Build and Distribute xamarin app with mobile center

Following method is good for team mobile development, which you want whenever
developer check-in have build to tell is either success or failed, also when
developer getting latest they can get successfully build file. QA, tester can
get latest APK whenever there's check-in and notifiy by email.

This blog is shows how to use mobile center to manage Xamarin Build. The
technology stacks are following. Mobile center contains Crashs and Analytics
reports, Build, Test and Destribute. It is a center place for you to manage
mobile application. It's support Android and iOS for now and will support
windows in the future. Also, it's not only for Microsoft Xamarin, it's target
for other mobile platiform, native, reactive native and phonegap app.

This blog is just shows if you're using Visual studio to build Xamarin
(Android or iOS) at windows, use visual studio TFS's Git as source control and
want to build solution under mobile center.

  - Mobile Center

  - Visual studio

  - Xamarin

  - Git

![mobile center](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_knaoy2ula.png)

## 1. Make sure your code is connect to following source control service.

You can choose, Github, Bitbucket or Visual Studio Team Services, which Visual
Studio Team Serive is private and unlimit to host. Howeve mobile center only
available for Git project.

How to use Git is not part of this blog, but basically, once you'll have to
clone the git repository at your local. WHen you make changes commit will to
be your local git first, if you want to move to git server, push to master
branch.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_6i7nklpv2.png)

## 2. setup Branch and create build definition

  - Select project to build

  - Choose either Debug or Release mode to build

  - Choose build the project whenever check-in to Git TFS Service or manully
build it.

  - Sign Builds, if you wish to build with your sign certificate, you can upload
keystore file and enter password

  - Test on Real device

  - Distribute builds

    - Distribute Builds if you want to send email to whoever to download
successfully build APK files. This is good for team enviroment, each
check-in will build the latest code and if success then generate new apk
and distribute to the testers.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_8vyin4p58.png)


This blog is shows how to use mobile center to manage Xamarin Build.

Use Mobile Center to Build


#### Table of Contents

1. Microsoft Mobile Center
2. How to use Mobile Center with Xamarin.Form

## Microsoft Mobile Center

Mobile Center bring multiple service into single web based platform for
developer, marketing person, manager. You can build, test, distribute and
monitor app's analytics and crash report data, so far it's support Native
Android, Native iOS, React Native and Xamarin SDK.

![Mobile Center - Microsoft](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_w3xroryfu.png)

### How to use Mobile Center with Xamarin.Form

#### Register via https://mobile.azure.com

Create your account and once login create apps for Android or iOS, at this
point (4/15/2017) they don't have support for window yet, but based on their
product Roadmap will do in the future. When create apps you will get app
secret, add to your `app's OnStart() method`, app class should be
inherit from `Xamarin.Forms.Application`. So following are the code
you need to add.

###### Add nuget to Xamarin.Form project

```
```

###### Add code to Xamarin.Form app's onStart method

```
MobileCenter.Start("ios={Your iOS app secret created at mobile center portal.};" +
                   "android={Your android app secret created at mobile center portal.};",
                   typeof(Analytics), typeof(Crashes));
```

Just adding nuget to Xamarin.Form porject and code, you might see following
error on debug window. So you'll have to add nuget to Xamarin.Form's Android
and iOS projects too.

**[0:] [MobileCenter] ASSERT: Cannot use Mobile Center on this target. If you
are on Android or iOS, you must add the NuGet packages in the Android and
iOS projects as well. Other targets such as Universal Windows Applications
are not yet supported.**

**In Summary, to use Mobile Center at Xamarin.Form**

1. **Create account at https://mobile.azure.com**

2. **Create an App for Android and an App for iOS**

3. **Add Nuget Package, Microsoft.Azure.Mobile,
Microsoft.Azure.Mobile.Analytics,, Microsoft.Azure.Mobile.Crashes to Xamarin.Form, Android and iOS
projects.**

4. **Add Mobile Center start code at App.xaml.cs**

5. Should see analytic data by run app on either emulator or actual
device.

#### Reference

  - About Mobile Center

  - Mobile Center Product Roadmap

  - Mobile Center Pricing


Use Mobile Azure Center for Mobile Analytic Crash Reports and More


#### Table of Contents

1. A simple memo for deploying xamarin mobile app to Google Play Store
2. First, prepare following
3. Quick step to deploy to Google Play store.

## A simple memo for deploying xamarin mobile app to Google Play Store

### First, prepare following

  - Create account at Google Play Console, you have to register as Android
developer, pay $25 yearly.

  - Following build, deploy are assume you're using your local machine as build
and delopyment.

  - Make sure you app is ready and able to deploy to app store.

  - Assume you're using PC

### Quick step to deploy to Google Play store.

1. Right click Xamarin's Android project.

2. Click Archive, which will build new version of archive and store all build
files under your current PC.

3. Following is the sample location which Android will store all the Archive
build files include APK file.

4. C:\Users\{YourLoginUserName}\AppData\Local\Xamarin\Mono for
Android\Archives

If you want to use existing Archive, then select the view Archieve.
Selec  Archive
Select Disctribute, choose either AdHoc or Google Play

1. If you want to upload your app to Google Play as Aplha, Beta or Production
version, select Google Play

Select Identity, if don't have one you need to create one.

1. This is Android Keystore, very important, might be better to create backup
file or backup password.

2. If you loss the Android Keystore used for Google Play, you can't upload...
you might end up create another version of your app by using different
Android Keystore.

3. So, backup keystore and password for Google Play.

Click next, will generate build file and APK under follwoing location

1. C:\Users\{YourLoginUserName}\AppData\Local\Xamarin\Mono for
Android\Archives

Login to Google Play Console
Assume you're already create your app.

Select you app, go to release's Aplha, submit your apk. Once sumit, opt-in
url will showing and you can share the url for tester.

1. https://play.google.com/apps/testing/{your app identity name, like
com.yourid.yourapp}

2. Your tester must be login as the register tester email account and try to
download the app

Upload to Beta

1. once Aplha is done, at the Aplha page select Release to Beta.

2. select Review at Beta page.

3. select Start Rollout To Beta at Beta page.

4. opt-in url will be the same as Alpha

5. https://play.google.com/apps/testing/{your app identity name, like
com.yourid.yourapp}

6. once upgrae to beta, Aplha version is gone.

Production release

1. select Release to Production at Beta page.

2. click Review at Beta Page.

3. click Start Rollout to Production if want to deploy google play store.

4. wait for Google Play's review, once finish should get notification
message. (could be short as couple minutest to hours)

###
That's all the step if you use your development PC to release xamarin app to
Google Play Store.


How to deploy mobile app to Google Play Store with Xamarin.

Deploy Mobile App to Google Play Store with Xamarin


#### Table of Contents

1. Install Nuget package for SQLite
2. Xamarin Form Project's shared Interface
3. Xamarin Android code for SQLite
4. Xamarin iOS code for SQLite
5. Use SQLite at Xamarin.Form project
6. Reference Sites

I want to save my anroid, iOS app's information to local device with SQLite at
Xamarin.Form. This blog provides how to set up an Enviroment to use SQLite.

## Install Nuget package for SQLite

Install nuget package `SQLite.Net-PCL`, Xamarin.Form, Android and
iOS projects. Also, when run the previous `SQLite.Net-PCL` will
install `SQLite.Net.Core-PCL` as well.

```
```

## Xamarin Form Project's shared Interface

First, let's define the interface at Xamarin Form project, so we could use
dependency Service to implement device specific logic. At following example,
we want to get the SQLiteConnection, however Android and iOS are different to
setup the SQLiteConnection.

```
using SQLite.Net;

namespace YourXamarinFormProject.Interfaces
{
    public interface IDatabaseConnection
    {
       SQLiteConnection DbConnection();
    }
}
```

## Xamarin Android code for SQLite

This code is just getting create SQLite connection at Xamarin Android by using
Xmarin's DependencyService.

```
using YourXamarinAndroidApp ;
using SQLite.Net;
using System.IO;

[assembly: Xamarin.Forms.Dependency(typeof(DatabaseConnectionService))]
namespace YourXamarinAndroidApp .Services
{
    public class DatabaseConnectionService : IDatabaseConnection
    {
        public SQLiteConnection DbConnection()
        {
            var dbName = DbConst.SQLITE_DB_NAME;
            var path = Path.Combine(System.Environment.GetFolderPath(System.Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal), dbName);
            return new SQLiteConnection(new SQLite.Net.Platform.XamarinAndroid.SQLitePlatformAndroid(), path);
        }
    }
}
```

## Xamarin iOS code for SQLite

This code is just getting create SQLite connection at Xamarin iOS by using
Xmarin's DependencyService.

```
using YouXamariniOSProject;
using SQLite.Net;
using System;
using System.IO;

[assembly: Xamarin.Forms.Dependency(typeof(DatabaseConnectionService))]
namespace YouXamariniOSProject.Services
{
    public class DatabaseConnectionService : IDatabaseConnection
    {
        public SQLiteConnection DbConnection()
        {
            var dbName = DbConst.SQLITE_DB_NAME;
            string personalFolder = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal);
            string libraryFolder = Path.Combine(personalFolder, "..", "Library");
            var path = Path.Combine(libraryFolder, dbName);
            return new SQLiteConnection(new SQLite.Net.Platform.XamarinIOS.SQLitePlatformIOS(), path);
        }
    }
}
```

## Use SQLite at Xamarin.Form project

```
public class YouModelToSaveToSQLite
{
        [PrimaryKey, AutoIncrement]
        public int Id { get; set; }
        public double Price { get; set; }
}
// create table
_db = DependencyService.Get().DbConnection();
db.CreateTable();

// insert the table
_db.Insert(YouModelToSaveToSQLite);

// delete all
_db.DeleteAll();

// get all records
_db.Table().ToList();
```

### Reference Sites

  - SQLite-net Components

  - sqlite-component

  - https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/ios/application_fundamentals/data/part_3_using_sqlite_orm/

  - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/mt736454.aspx


This blog provides how to set up an Environment to use SQLite.

Use Sqllite at Xamarin.Form


#### Table of Contents

1. Better Practice
2. Use CachingStrategy="RecycleElement" for ListView

## Better Practice

Yeah, hard to be the best, I think depend on the Enviroment or what you try to
build the Practice of how to build Xamarin might end up differently.

###
**avoid use `x:Name=` at the control**

It's better to use Xamarin's MVVM model to bind value to the UI, so you don't
have dependency of UI and backend Model. For instance, if you have x:Name on
your XAML, you C# side is using that name, then if you just remove the entire
XAML section and replace the new one, build failed. Your XAML is tired to the
XAML.cs code.

```


```

### Use `CachingStrategy="RecycleElement"` for ListView

Use RecycleElement for ListView's CachingStrategy, this is better performance.

```

```


Few Xamarin Better Practice Tips


## Issue : build visual studio solution show following error message.

####
Look like you might set invalid name at visual studio for android project,
example senario is, I have change `@string/MyAppName` this at
Android project file, and get following error, however if I change the name to
`LoanCalc` at project file's application name, build is fine.

This example and fix was happened at Xamarin 4.4, Xamarin.Android 7.2.07,
Xamarin.iOS 10.8.0.174 at windows 10.

```
The file "obj\Debug\android\bin\packaged_resources" does not exist.
```


Xamarin Troubleshooting Tip


#### Table of Contents

1. Xamarin Components
2. Xamarin Samples
3. Awesome-Xamarin

## Xamarin Components

Open Source Components for Xamarin, has lots components for iOS and android or windows, such as Barcode
Scanner, Bluetooth LE, Device Info, Fingerprint, Geolocator, Media. All these
components are very helpful, if you choose to build your own then you have to
imprement DependencyService, create interface at PCL project and imprement at
each device, which is a lots work.

Few things I think they need to improve are, more detail dodumentation, most
of them has document and sample code, but sometime it's also what's dependency
should I do if I use this library, such as registered google API, registerd
Firebase to create a project.

## Xamarin Samples

Xamarin Samples, you can find lots of example from Xamarin.

## Awesome-Xamarin

Awesome-xamarin [Github], this github has lots useful information relative with Xamarin.Form.


Get Start with Xamarin.Form


#### Table of Contents

1. Xamarin download on Visual Studio 2015
2. Register Xamarin
3. Start install Xamarin on PC
4. Still in process of install Xamarin
5. Xamarin Installer - Product selection
6. Android SDK Installation
7. Close Visual Studio
8. Now, fun part and just wait for the installing
9. Installation Complete

# Setup Xamarin

If you want to build app for iOS, android and windows and still want to use C#
and Visual Studio, also want to use maximum native API as possible, then
Xamarin could be a very good choice for you.

Well, that's the good part, however at 2017 right now, I think use Xamarin,
you have to do lots research, check example apps, check documentation, but
lots of documentation of describe certain technology is not very clear, end up
like regular code comment, just describe what's the class, member and lacking
the actual example.

However, again, C#, visual studio able to use iOS simulator (Required Mac) are
very good point. If you're mainly backend, C# developer not much known about
front-end, go with Xamarin, but if you're ok with front-end technology, CSS,
Javascript, Html, you could try Phonegap, which so far just a shell build
js/html inside native app, or iOnic(angular2), or I would say try the React
Native, which it will compile React Native to native Android and iOS.

This blog shows how to setup Xamarin on Windows, first this example is based
on windows 10 and use visaul studio 2015.

### Xamarin download on Visual Studio 2015

After you installed Visual Studio 2015, and create Xamarin project, you'll see
following page, GetXamarin.xambe, click the
`Download Xamarin` link to redirect to the actual download site to
start download Xamarin.

![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dmwrakaup/image/upload/v1486752044/fpf98pbyunu66rec477q.png)

### Register Xamarin

Download Xamarin required you to register, just put whatever name or company,
put your actual email if you want to receive news letter or information from
Xamarin.

![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dmwrakaup/image/upload/v1486752044/tnk59p9yvscwu77ddpfn.png)

### Start install Xamarin on PC

After download Xamarin file, you can start install to your pc, install process
is very simple, you don't have to do most of the thing, I'll just explain what
main software will be installed with this Xamarin. So
**Report errors and usage information to help Xamarin improve my
experience., I usually won't check this , because it might affect my pc's performance,
but it's good if you want to send your data to help Xamarin to build better
product.

![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dmwrakaup/image/upload/v1484088537/kmqlltswb8n5qyfpztfs.png)

### Still in process of install Xamarin

Depend on your pc, might take a hour to install everything.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_a5uobkzcn.png)

### Xamarin Installer - Product selection

Just install both, Xamarin Workbooks Inspector** help visualize
and debug your app or live app. **Remoted iOS Simulator** help
use iOS simulator at windows, however it required iOS device and also mano
need to be installed on that iOS machine, you could just install xamarin
studio at your Mac, a Mac version of visual studio.

![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dmwrakaup/image/upload/v1486752044/huimrq2cmo1kw4gbepoz.png)

### Android SDK Installation

Select a place to install your Android SDK. Android SDK will help you to
download different version of Android as Simulator as testing your App.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_gk3j5qti3.png)

### Close Visual Studio

During Xamarin installation, you have to close your Visual Studio, becaue it
has to installed plugin to your Visual Studio.

![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dmwrakaup/image/upload/v1486752044/qentixgeoowzv3oc4m5h.png)

### Now, fun part and just wait for the installing

Now, you just need to wait the whole installing to be finished, notice from it
will install Android, Haxm, simulator, and Java. So the Java SDK it's for
android, android require Java to be installed, for example when you build your
android app, android use Java to create keystore and for generator Android
`APK` file to android app store.

![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dmwrakaup/image/upload/v1486752044/c8km3fnwfuycd38sjqfs.png)

### Installation Complete

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_9difeuje3.png)

**Reference**

  - Inspecting Live Applications

  - Xamarin - Can't connect to Mac from Windows


Xamarin - Setup Xamarin on Windows

#### Table of Contents

1. How to setup Google Map at Xamarin.Form project
2. Nuget package file at Xamarin.Form project
3. Start file, app.xaml.cs
4. xaml file for develop google map
5. Map MapPage.xaml.cs code
6. Custom class for map object
7. Xmarin.Form Android - nuget package file
8. Android - AndroidManifest.xml
9. That's it, all the code to run google map on Xamarin.

## How to setup Google Map at Xamarin.Form project

To use Google Map at Xamarin.Form, you'll need register google API account to
get the key, add use permission on android's AndroidManifest.xml file, then
add code to use.

### Nuget package file at Xamarin.Form project

```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
```

### Start file, app.xaml.cs

```
using Xamarin.Forms;

namespace MapExample1
{
    public partial class App : Application
    {
        public static double ScreenHeight;
        public static double ScreenWidth;
        public App()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            MainPage = new MapExample1.MapPage();
        }

        protected override void OnStart()
        {
            // Handle when your app starts
        }

        protected override void OnSleep()
        {
            // Handle when your app sleeps
        }

        protected override void OnResume()
        {
            // Handle when your app resumes
        }
    }
}
```

### xaml file for develop google map

```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>





```

### Map MapPage.xaml.cs code

```
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Xamarin.Forms;
using Xamarin.Forms.Maps;

namespace MapExample1
{
    public partial class MapPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MapPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            var pin = new CustomPin
            {
                Pin = new Pin
                {
                    Type = PinType.Place,
                    Position = new Position(40.689249, -74.044500),
                    Label = "The Statue of Liberty in New York, USA",
                    Address = "New York, NY 10004",

                },
                Id = "Xamarin",
                Url = "http://xamarin.com/about/",

            };

            customMap.CustomPins = new List { pin };
            customMap.Pins.Add(pin.Pin);
            customMap.MoveToRegion(MapSpan.FromCenterAndRadius(new Position(40.689249, -74.044500), Distance.FromMiles(1.0)));
        }
    }
}
```

### Custom class for map object

```
using Xamarin.Forms.Maps;

namespace MapExample1
{
    public class CustomPin
    {
        public Pin Pin { get; set; }

        public string Id { get; set; }

        public string Url { get; set; }
    }
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using Xamarin.Forms.Maps;

namespace MapExample1
{
    public class CustomMap : Map
    {
        public List CustomPins { get; set; }
    }
}
```

##
Above are all the sample code you need at Xamarin.Form project, but you also
need following if you want to run on Android.

### Xmarin.Form Android - nuget package file

```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>















```

### Android - AndroidManifest.xml

This is the important part, if you want to use Google API, you have to create
API key and replace to following, also, add use permission to use.

```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>





	








	

	


```

## That's it, all the code to run google map on Xamarin.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_i9aa29xwa.png)

This blog shows how to set up Google Map at Xamarin.Form project.

Xamarin - Use Google Map


## Simple Guide to get start with Xamarin on PC

Xamarin could access almost all the native iOS or android API, and it's able
to build with C# by drop controls like old windows forms, or you could build
WebView by use the cshtml, which you can add js, html inside the Xamarin. This
blog demo how to get start with Xamarin.

**Requirement**

  - **Visual Studio 2015 (Windows)**

By Default, visula studio 2015 already contains Xamarin, but once when you try
to create Xamarin project, it will ask you to download following software.

  - Android SDK

    - For running android, but it's better you also install the Android Studio,
or Java SDK, Android Studio could build your app as APK file for deploy to
android store and Java SDK is for android to build APK file.

Xamarin
Xamarin Profiler
Xamarin Workbooks Inspector
Remoted iOS Simulator

    - Althought you install this but you will need iOS.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_bcrpp7tw7.png)

You don't have to do anything, but just click continue to download all these.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_jvbyzvhf0.png)

#####
If you developer are more familar with C#, visual studio and your app might
want to consume as much as possible native API, then it might be good idea to
use Xamarin because you can stay on C# and visual studio. However, if you're
familar with Javascript and want to build hybrid app, create once deploy to
everywhere, you don't have to access all the native API, you might want to
try, `Phonegap`, `React Native`, `lonic`,
React Native is use react.js, ionic is angular2, phonegap is just js, so you
would use any javascript, they all use node.js backend for build process.

**References**

  - Xamarin vs Native

  - Phonegap with iOS xCode


Simple Guide to getting started with Xamarin on PC.

Get Start with Xamarin for iOS, Android and Windows App


If you use Xamarin at windows and want to build app for Android and iOS, you
could use iOS simulator at your windows. However there's few software and
setting you might have to do. I assume you're having problem at windows
Xamarin Mac Agent and unable to connect to your mac.

![](https://d1p0mp3f1fx0hz.cloudfront.net/_0l7ux5l96.png)

First make sure your windows have following software installed.

  - Window PC

    - Visual Studio 2015

    - Xamarin for Visual Studio 2015

Mac

    - Enable Remote login

    - Xamarin Studio (Xamarin Mac Agent need your Mac to have Mono installed)

Others

    - Make sure Mac and Window are at the same network.

    - Still can't not connect to Mac, download PuTTY to test connection

    - Or check here to see xamarin error, you might found useful message when
you can't connect to Mac. C:\Users\{Your Windows User
Account}\AppData\Local\Xamarin\Logs\14.0
