Microsoft.ML and Xamarin

Question

Does Microsoft.ML work in Xamarin?

I have followed many of the tutorials and videos at https://dotnet.microsoft.com/learn/ml-dotnet. The simple tutorial (here) sets out the core process, which I have followed (in a Xamarin project) but I cannot get an iOS (or Android) Xamarin app to see the MLModel.zip file that is produced from Model Builder. It is set to "Copy Always".

Can I do this, or is Microsoft.ML incompatible with Xamarin (for ARM)?

Release notes for ML NET 1.4 (https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/announcing-ml-net-1-4-global-availability-machine-learning-for-net/) suggest that it will run as .NET Core 3.0, and so should be available to ARM processors, but I can find no confirmation or denial of ML.NET's status in relation to Xamarin cross platform development.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, ML.NET doesn't work directly in Xamarin just yet. I believe you would have to wait until MAUI comes out to be able to do that.

I asked this to the team during an interview and they said the best thing you can do is to create an API that uses it and use the API within the Xamarin app. I have a video that shows doing that, if you need.