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Using .NET Standard in Cross-Platform Development

In today's diverse technological landscape, developing applications that run across multiple platforms is crucial. .NET Standard plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal by providing a consistent set of APIs that can be used across different .NET implementations. In this article, we'll explore what .NET Standard is, its benefits, and how you can leverage it for cross-platform development.

What is .NET Standard?

.NET Standard is a formal specification of .NET APIs that are intended to be available on all .NET implementations. It defines a uniform set of BCL (Base Class Library) APIs for all .NET platforms to implement, making it easier to share code across different .NET implementations such as .NET Core, .NET Framework, and Xamarin.

Benefits of .NET Standard

  1. Code Reusability: By targeting .NET Standard, you can create libraries that are usable across different .NET environments. This reusability reduces the need to write platform-specific code, saving time and effort.
  2. Simplified Dependency Management: With .NET Standard, managing dependencies becomes more straightforward. Since the same APIs are available across platforms, you don't have to worry about compatibility issues that might arise when using platform-specific libraries.
  3. Future-Proofing: Targeting .NET Standard ensures that your codebase remains relevant and compatible with future .NET releases. As new platforms and versions of .NET are released, they will continue to support .NET Standard, providing longevity to your libraries.

How to Use .NET Standard in Cross-Platform development?
 

Step 1. Create a .NET Standard library

To get started, create a new .NET Standard library project in your preferred IDE (e.g., Visual Studio).

dotnet new classlib -n MyCrossPlatformLibrary -f netstandard2.0

This command creates a new class library targeting .NET Standard 2.0. You can choose a different version of the .NET Standard based on your requirements.

Step 2. Add Code to the library

Add your reusable code to the library. For instance, let's create a simple utility class that provides common string operations.

namespace MyCrossPlatformLibrary
{
    public static class StringUtilities
    {
        public static bool IsPalindrome(string input)
        {
            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input))
                return false;
            var reversed = new string(input.Reverse().ToArray());
            return input.Equals(reversed, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
        }
    }
}

Step 3. Reference the .NET Standard library

Now, you can reference your .NET Standard library in any .NET project. For example, let's create a .NET Core console application that uses the StringUtilities class.

dotnet new console -n MyConsoleApp
cd MyConsoleApp
dotnet add reference ../MyCrossPlatformLibrary/MyCrossPlatformLibrary.csproj

Add code to the console application to use the StringUtilities class.

using System;
using MyCrossPlatformLibrary;
namespace MyConsoleApp
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Enter a string:");
            var input = Console.ReadLine();
            var isPalindrome = StringUtilities.IsPalindrome(input);
            Console.WriteLine($"Is the string a palindrome? {isPalindrome}");
        }
    }
}

Step 4. Build and Run

Build and run your console application to see the .NET Standard library in action.

dotnet run

You can follow similar steps to reference the .NET Standard library in other types of projects, such as ASP.NET Core web applications or Xamarin mobile apps.

Best practices for using .NET Standard

  1. Choose the Right Version: Selecting the appropriate version of .NET Standard is crucial. Higher versions include more APIs but are supported by fewer platforms. Assess your target platforms and choose the highest version that meets your compatibility requirements.
  2. Minimize Platform-Specific Code: Aim to write as much platform-agnostic code as possible. If you must include platform-specific functionality, consider using conditional compilation or abstracting the platform-specific code behind interfaces.
  3. Test Across Platforms: Ensure thorough testing of your .NET Standard libraries across all target platforms. Automated testing frameworks like xUnit can help you write and run tests consistently.
  4. Stay Updated: Keep your libraries up to date with the latest .NET Standard versions and best practices. This will ensure that your code remains compatible and takes advantage of the latest improvements and features.

Summary

.NET Standard is a powerful tool for achieving cross-platform compatibility in your .NET applications. By adhering to a uniform set of APIs, it allows for greater code reusability, simplified dependency management, and future-proofing of your libraries. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can start leveraging .NET Standard to create versatile, cross-platform applications that meet the needs of today's diverse technological landscape.


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