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Xamarin.Android VS C4droid

Compare Xamarin.Android VS C4droid and see what are their differences

Xamarin.Android logo Xamarin.Android

Integrated environment for building not only native Android but iOS and Windows apps too.

C4droid logo C4droid

C4droid is an intelligent IDE and C/C++ compiler, allowing you to create your own application on Android devices.
  • Xamarin.Android Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-06
  • C4droid Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-23

Xamarin.Android features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    Xamarin.Android allows developers to write for multiple platforms using a single codebase, facilitating code reuse and reducing development time and costs.
  • Native Performance
    Applications built with Xamarin.Android can achieve near-native performance levels, leveraging platform-specific APIs and hardware capabilities.
  • Shared Codebase
    Developers can share a large portion of their code across different platforms (i.e., Android, iOS, Windows), simplifying maintenance and updates.
  • Access to .NET Libraries
    Xamarin.Android enables the use of the extensive .NET ecosystem and libraries, providing a robust and well-supported development environment.
  • Strong Integration with Visual Studio
    Xamarin offers seamless integration with Visual Studio, allowing developers to use familiar tools and workflows to debug, test, and deploy their applications.

Possible disadvantages of Xamarin.Android

  • Overhead and Package Size
    Xamarin.Android applications can have larger package sizes and extra overhead compared to natively developed applications.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers coming from a purely native Android development background (Java/Kotlin) may face a steep learning curve when transitioning to C# and the Xamarin framework.
  • Limited Access to Latest Features
    Sometimes there may be delays in gaining access to the latest Android features and updates, as Xamarin bindings need to be updated to support them.
  • Performance Overheads
    While near-native performance is achievable, there may be some performance overheads especially with complex applications requiring extensive platform-specific optimizations.
  • Community and Support
    Although Xamarin has a dedicated community, it is smaller compared to native Android development communities, which may result in fewer resources and less community support.

C4droid features and specs

  • Portable C/C++ Development
    C4droid offers the ability to write C/C++ code directly on Android devices, making it highly portable for developers who need to code on-the-go without the need for a desktop or laptop.
  • Offline Compiler
    It includes an offline GCC compiler that allows users to compile their code without needing an internet connection, which enhances convenience for users in remote areas or with limited connectivity.
  • Plugins Support
    C4droid provides support for third-party plugins which can extend its functionality, such as SDL and Qt libraries, enabling more advanced development opportunities.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The application offers an intuitive interface that is relatively easy to navigate for both beginners and experienced programmers, shortening the learning curve required to use it efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of C4droid

  • Limited Performance
    Running heavy or complex projects on an Android device through C4droid might result in slower performance compared to using a full-fledged PC or a dedicated development environment.
  • Hardware Limitations
    Programming on mobile devices inherently comes with challenges such as smaller screen sizes, limited processing power, and constraints in multitasking, which can hinder productivity and ease of use.
  • Paid Features
    Certain advanced features and functionalities within C4droid may be restricted to the paid version of the app, potentially limiting its accessibility for some users who rely on free tools.
  • Limited Language Support
    While it is powerful for C/C++ development, the app is limited in supporting other programming languages, which might be a drawback for developers who work with multiple languages.

Xamarin.Android videos

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C4droid videos

C++ programme for complete design of beam section on Android smartphone using C4Droid c++ coding app

More videos:

  • Review - basic calculator program | #programming #c4droid | KING mubu
  • Review - C/C++ Programming in Android Best app. C4droid.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Xamarin.Android and C4droid)
IDE
69 69%
31% 31
Text Editors
69 69%
31% 31
Development
72 72%
28% 28
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Xamarin.Android seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Xamarin.Android mentions (6)

  • Why is Android Development so difficult/complex? (compared to Web and Desktop)
    Take a look at https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/apps/mobile. It will allow you to write Android apps in C# in Visual Studio. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Stop EU Chat Control
    > It's not hardware. So now are kernel extensions also “applications”? > VSCode is an app that needs the .NET runtime, in order to run the code you write in e.g. C#. You could not possibly be more wrong. VSCode is written in Typescript. It is an Electron app. There have been cross platform JS frameworks that ran on iOS for a decade. Besides that, it’s been years since you have needed the .Net runtime to run... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • this sub in a nutshell
    Ah, so C# (and .NET) does have its answer to Qt, point taken. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Which programming language to learn next (as a competitive programer before college)?
    C# can be used for mobile and macOS - https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/apps/xamarin/mobile-apps. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How good is .Net Core for iOS apps?
    Iric that’s only possible with Microsoft Xamarin. Never used it, rarely hear about it. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

C4droid mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of C4droid yet. Tracking of C4droid recommendations started around Sep 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Xamarin.Android and C4droid, you can also consider the following products

RAD Studio - RAD Studio 10.2 with Delphi Linux compiler is the fastest way to write, compile, package and deploy cross-platform native software applications. Learn more.

Orwell Dev-C - The official site of the Bloodshed Dev-C++ update, which is fully portable, and optionally ships with a 64bit compiler.

Rider - Rider is a cross-platform .NET IDE based on the IntelliJ platform and ReSharper.

Netbeans - NetBeans IDE 7.0. Develop desktop, mobile and web applications with Java, PHP, C/C++ and more. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. NetBeans IDE is open-source and free.

Qt Creator - Qt Creator is a cross-platform C++, JavaScript and QML integrated development environment. It is the fastest, easiest and most fun experience a C++ developer could wish for.

CppDroid - CppDroid is simple C/C++ IDE focused on learning programming languages and libraries. Features: