The conversation revolves around the topic of drawn controls in mobile app development. The hosts discuss the pros and cons of using drawn controls versus native controls, as well as the challenges and considerations involved. They explore the idea of a hybrid approach, where some controls are drawn while others remain native. The conversation touches on topics such as scrolling, text entry, and performance implications. Overall, the hosts emphasize the importance of choosing the right approach based on the specific requirements and goals of the app. The conversation explores the challenges and considerations of drawing controls in cross-platform development. It discusses the options of using Skia or native APIs for rendering text and achieving platform-specific looks. The availability of drawing controls in MAUI is highlighted, along with the ability to choose between native drawing surfaces and SkiaSharp. The conversation also touches on the accessibility and sizing implications of drawing controls, as well as the potential benefits of easier unit testing and scalability. In this conversation, Allan and Jon discuss the challenges and considerations of using cross-platform code for drawing controls. They explore the value proposition of using libraries like Syncfusion and the trade-offs of using SkiaSharp for drawing controls. They also touch on the benefits of creating custom layouts and the potential of libraries like AlohaKit and DrawnUI for building visually appealing UIs.

Takeaways

There are different approaches to implementing controls in mobile app development, including drawn controls and native controls.
The choice between drawn controls and native controls depends on the specific requirements and goals of the app.
A hybrid approach, combining drawn controls and native controls, can provide a balance between customization and platform conformity.
Challenges in implementing drawn controls include scrolling, text entry, and performance optimization.
Considerations for choosing between drawn controls and native controls include design consistency, resource management, and system integration. Drawing controls in cross-platform development can be challenging due to differences in rendering text and achieving platform-specific looks.
MAUI offers the option to draw controls using native drawing surfaces or SkiaSharp, providing flexibility and consistency across platforms.
Accessibility and sizing considerations are important when drawing controls, as they may require additional code to ensure proper functionality.
Drawing controls can simplify unit testing and improve scalability by reducing the need for maintaining abstractions over native controls.
The availability of drawing controls in MAUI opens up possibilities for easier customization and design flexibility. Using cross-platform code for drawing controls can be challenging and may require additional considerations, such as accessibility APIs on each platform.
There is value in using libraries like Syncfusion for existing investments and documentation, but there may be limitations and complaints about library size.
Creating custom layouts can be a solution for complex UI requirements and can be achieved by measuring and laying out elements.
Libraries like AlohaKit and DrawnUI offer options for building visually appealing UIs with customizable controls and layouts.

People

Hosts: Jon Dick, Allan Ritchie
Audio Engineer: Jim Heath

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Inside Joke
01:13 Topic Introduction: Drawn Controls
07:13 Design Consistency vs. Platform Conformity
13:35 Text Entry and Customization
22:26 Scrolling and Performance Optimization
25:48 Challenges and Considerations of Drawing Controls
27:33 The Availability of Drawing Controls in MAUI
29:09 Accessibility and Sizing Implications of Drawing Controls
31:17 Simplifying Unit Testing and Improving Scalability with Drawing Controls
47:52 Introduction
48:04 Challenges and Considerations of Cross-Platform Code for Drawing Controls
48:59 The Value Proposition of Using Libraries like Syncfusion
54:18 Exploring Custom Layouts for Complex UI Requirements
01:00:08 Building Visually Appealing UIs with AlohaKit and DrawnUI
01:08:07 Conclusion

113: What's all the fuss about Drawn Controls?

Gone Mobile