iOS Development using Visual Studio.Net

Question

I have a new mobile application I need to get out the door but I need to utilize our VS.Net IDE to build the application.

This app needs to have iOS UI features and functionality.

It needs to be developed in VS.Net (2010 or 2012 - does not matter).

I am open to utilizing reasonable multiple steps to build this application but I am not interested in going down the Objective-C route (if I do that then I am doing it on a mac).

Here is what I have looked at so far and some general notes:

iOS Build Environment http://www.pmbaty.com/iosbuildenv/

• Objective-C
• Tools to create initial project in C with a vcproj file
• Uncertain which version of VS.Net this is supposed to support as 2010/2012 both wanted to convert
• Requires switching back and forth between tools and VS.Net
• Significant training upscale required: Objective-C, new Tools

Visual Web GUI http://www.visualwebgui.com/tabid/711/Default.aspx

• New project type for VS.Net 2010
• Has own set of controls which have to use and none others
• Easy to draw UI using an old style designer implementation for winforms
• Attempted to run project but only ever gave listing of project directory in browser
• Coding is in C# similar to any winforms project
• Significant waste of time - not very intuitive

Nomad - VS.Net Extension (probably most simple use of vs.net) http://www.vsnomad.com/documentation/index.html

• New project type for VS.Net 2010
• Utilizes Html as the document type with Html controls
• Links in jquery and cordova (phonegap)
• Basically a phonegap project for VS.Net
• Requires Apple Dev membership (certs, etc) in order to build iOS apps
• Coding is Javascript
• Does allow you to build from VS.Net providing you have Provisioning Profiles and Signing Certs
• Has possibilities but significant training upscale as learning phonegap would be needed

Studio for iPhone - ComponentOne http://www.componentone.com/SuperProducts/StudioiPhone/Demos/

• Utilizes Asp.Net projects
• Does not work well in design mode - almost like totally integrated into VS.Net
• Had to add controls to the project which was strange
• Got 1/2 through the demo before I realized this is ONLY iPhone and not device indifferent
• Not so intuitive to work with but workable and the output is very nice
• Has possibilities but this feels like hacking Asp.net - probably just me

*What I am looking for is either other options or confirmation I have covered the main ones so I can move on perhaps use something like PhoneGap, Sencha or? *

Answer 1

Take a look at MonoTouch project by Xamarin. It allows to use a lot of .NET features in iOS. You can open your VS2010 project in MonoDevelop, compile it there and deploy it to the iDevice. Although, it is not free. The price for a single Professional license is $399 USD.