Thomas M

Posted on Jan 14

Migrating to MAUI 10: What Architects Need to Know

#architecture #dotnet #mobile #performance

If you’ve been working with .NET MAUI—or planning a migration from Xamarin—MAUI 10 is a release you shouldn’t ignore. This isn’t just a routine update; it delivers meaningful improvements in performance, developer experience, and architectural clarity. Here’s what’s new, what’s changed, and how to plan your migration with confidence.

🔥 Why Upgrade to MAUI 10?

MAUI 10 introduces enhancements that matter for both developers and architects:

Performance Improvements
- Faster startup, reduced memory usage, and improved Hot Reload make the development loop smoother and the end experience snappier.
Modern Development Patterns
- Async‑first APIs, simplified layouts, and clearer architectural boundaries reduce complexity and technical debt.
Enterprise‑Ready Capabilities
- Built‑in telemetry hooks, better observability, and improved control over embedded web content.

🧱 Key Architectural Changes

Migrating isn’t just updating your NuGet packages — it’s understanding the underlying shifts.

⚡ Async‑First Animation APIs

Legacy animation methods like FadeTo and RotateTo now have async equivalents (FadeToAsync, RotateToAsync). These follow modern async patterns and help you:

sequence animations naturally
support cancellation
avoid UI thread blocking

✔️ Cleaner MAUI 10 Example

private async Task AnimateBox(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
{
    await Task.WhenAll(
        AnimatedBox.FadeToAsync(0.0, 250),
        AnimatedBox.RotateToAsync(90, 250)
    );

    cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();

    await AnimatedBox.FadeToAsync(1.0, 200);
}

Why: Predictable sequencing, easier chaining, better responsiveness.

🧹 Removal of Legacy Components

Some legacy Xamarin‑compatibility APIs are now deprecated or removed. Here are the notable ones:

👆 Gesture Recognisers.

ClickGestureRecognizer (from the old compatibility stack) has been removed.

Use TapGestureRecognizer instead:

<Image Source="logo.png">
    <Image.GestureRecognizers>
        <TapGestureRecognizer 
            NumberOfTapsRequired="2"
            Tapped="OnTapGestureRecognizerTapped" />
    </Image.GestureRecognizers>
</Image>

📐 Layout Changes

Compatibility layouts (e.g., older Forms-based ones) are deprecated and being phased out. Modern layouts offer:

better performance
deterministic layout behaviour
cleaner XAML

Recommended layouts:
Grid, StackLayout, FlexLayout, and VerticalStackLayout.

<Grid Padding="16"
      RowDefinitions="Auto,*"
      ColumnDefinitions="Auto,*">

    <Image Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" 
           Source="avatar.png" 
           WidthRequest="40" HeightRequest="40"/>

    <Label Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="1" 
           Text="Welcome" FontAttributes="Bold"/>

    <CollectionView Grid.Row="1" 
                    Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
                    ItemsSource="{Binding Items}" />
</Grid>

Why: Cleaner architecture with no legacy compatibility layers.

🌐 HybridWebView & WebView Interception Enhancements

If your app embeds web content, MAUI 10 introduces meaningful improvements. You can now intercept and handle web requests through WebView handler APIs and—where supported—through HybridWebView or BlazorWebView integrations.
Typical use cases:

Injecting enterprise security headers
Capturing and redirecting requests
Overriding responses
Handling secure API calls in hybrid apps

Note: Interception availability varies slightly by platform; always test behaviour on Android, iOS, and Windows.

Example: Intercepting Requests

private void InitializeWebView()
{
    DemoWebView.WebResourceRequested += OnWebViewWebResourceRequested;
    DemoWebView.RawMessageReceived += OnWebViewRawMessageReceived;
}

private void OnWebViewWebResourceRequested(object? sender, WebViewWebResourceRequestedEventArgs e)
{
    if (e.Uri.ToString().Contains("api/secure"))
    {
        e.Handled = true;
        e.SetResponse(
            statusCode: 200,
            statusMessage: "OK",
            contentType: "application/json",
            content: GetCustomStream()
        );
    }
}

private Stream GetCustomStream()
{
    var json = "{\"status\":\"success\",\"message\":\"Everything is fine!\",\"timestamp\":\""
        + DateTime.Now.ToString("o") + "\"}";
    return new MemoryStream(System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(json));
}

private void OnWebViewRawMessageReceived(object? sender, HybridWebViewRawMessageReceivedEventArgs e)
{
    MainThread.BeginInvokeOnMainThread(() =>
    {
        WebStatusLabel.Text = $"Message from JS: {e.Message}";
    });
}

Why: Better control, improved security, and richer hybrid scenarios.

🧭 Migration Strategy for Architects

Here’s the calm, structured approach to avoid surprises:

🔍 1. Audit Your Codebase

Identify deprecated gesture recognizers
Flag legacy layout usage
Check animation logic for sync‑based APIs

⚠️ 2. Prepare for Breaking Changes

Update animation code paths
Replace obsolete compatibility components
Test WebView‑based features across target platforms

🚀 3. Modernise During Migration

Don’t just port — upgrade.

Adopt async‑first UI flows
Move to modern layouts
Leverage WebView interception for enterprise scenarios
Integrate richer telemetry hooks (MAUI + App Insights)

❗ Common Pitfalls

Treating the migration as a simple “lift and shift”
Ignoring deprecated layout or gesture APIs
Not testing hybrid features across all platforms
Overlooking the opportunity to simplify UI architecture

🎯 Final Thoughts

Upgrading to MAUI 10 isn’t just about staying current — it’s an opportunity to modernise your architecture, remove legacy baggage, and deliver faster, more maintainable apps.
By embracing modern APIs, cleaning up deprecated components, and adopting updated design patterns, your migration becomes an investment in long‑term productivity and performance.

DEV Community