Would Microsoft Kill Xamarin if There’s No Hope for the Smartphone Market?
Microsoft has always been deeply invested in mobile technology, driven by the potential to boost its cloud services, particularly Microsoft Azure. Despite this, the company has struggled to establish a robust mobile ecosystem. The quest for a successful mobile strategy has led to the acquisition of Xamarin, a platform that supports cross-platform app development. However, with the decline in the smartphone market, it's natural to wonder if Microsoft might consider discontinuing Xamarin.
Mobile Ecosystem: Windows Phone and Beyond
Microsoft purchased Xamarin not just to bolster its Windows Phone ambitions, but also to support the apps for its Xbox platform and enhance the capabilities of Visual Studio. While Windows Phone could never fulfill Microsoft's expectations, Xamarin has played a critical role in expanding the reach and functionality of Microsoft's products.
Potential Impact on Microsoft
For many members of the Xamarin team, including myself from 2014, the thought of killing Xamarin would be incredibly disheartening. The platform has not only been a vehicle for cross-platform app development but has also been a significant source of job security and professional fulfillment. Killing Xamarin would mean not only the end of a product but also the end of a vibrant community and the livelihood of countless developers.
The Lengthy Process of Killing a Product
On reflection, it is important to consider Microsoft's past approach to product kills. The dissolution of a product is often a lengthy process, as evidenced by the experience with Microsoft Messenger. In the world of technology, products rarely get shut down abruptly unless they truly do not serve any business purpose. This careful, considered approach is reflected in how Microsoft has handled Xamarin.
Open Source and Sustainability
Another crucial aspect to consider is the open-source nature of Mono, the underlying technology powering Xamarin. Since Mono is open source, the idea of killing the platform seems contradictory to the principles of open-source development. Open-source communities play a vital role in sustaining and evolving frameworks like Mono, and discontinuing a community-driven project would run counter to the very ethos that Microsoft has often professed. Therefore, even if Microsoft wanted to discontinue Xamarin, the underlying technology would likely continue to thrive within the broader community.
Conclusion
While the decline of the smartphone market is a cause for concern, it is unlikely to lead to the immediate and complete extinction of Xamarin. The platform continues to serve a valuable purpose in the development community, and the open-source nature of Mono ensures its sustainability beyond Microsoft's control. The potential for Xamarin to continue its journey as an independent, community-driven project remains a possibility, providing hope even in the face of uncertainty.