.NET MAUI 9: Compiled bindings can be used with C# markup

[davidbritch]

In .NET MAUI 9, compiled bindings can be used with C# markup (to replace reflection-based bindings with string paths).

Example:

// in .NET 8
MyLabel.SetBinding(Label.TextProperty, "Text");

// in .NET 9
MyLabel.SetBinding(Label.TextProperty, static (Entry entry) => entry.Text);

This new approach has several advantages:

• better performance (benefits are already summarized in the docs: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/maui/fundamentals/data-binding/compiled-bindings?view=net-maui-8.0#performance)
• intellisense while editing
• compile-time check of path validity

This approach is required instead of string-based bindings in NativeAOT apps, and in apps with full trimming enabled.

More info: dotnet/maui#21725

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Associated WorkItem - 314390

[simonrozsival]

Hopefully we will have We have a second related API to create compiled bindings in C#: dotnet/maui#23239

BindingBase binding = Binding.Create(static (Entry entry) => entry.Text);

The PR mentions several scenarios where this new API is useful.