You can easily share your code in your solution across iOS, Android and Windows platforms. However, what happens once you write this code and want to share it between other apps you are building or with other developers all over the world? Using the power of plugins and NuGet, sharing this code is also easy. In this topic, I want to show you how easy it is to create your own reusable plugin for Xamarin and publish it to NuGet.

1. UNLEASH THE POWER OF CODE REUSE
Creating Plugins For Xamarin
Yu Guan | Microsoft MVP

2. Meet Yu Guan | @askguanyu
twitter.com/askguanyu
linkedin.com/in/yuguan
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devlib.codeplex.com
Microsoft MVP
Speaker, Blogger, Hacker, Coder, Maker, Gamer
Azure, IoT, Cross-platform Apps, GIS, Services

3. WHAT IS A PLUGIN FOR XAMARIN?
 Abstract platform specific functionality API
 Small
 Cross-platform
 Minimal-to-no dependencies
 Accessed via PCL or Shared Projects

4. WALKTHROUGH
Get Visual Studio Extensions - Plugin For Xamarin Templates
Create Plugin For Xamarin Templates projects
Implement your plugin
Add nuspec file
Nuget pack
Test (optional)
Nuget push
Sync to GitHub (optional)

5. PLUGIN FOR XAMARIN TEMPLATES
 https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/afead421-3fbf-489a-a4e8-
4a244ecdbb1e

6. CREATE PROJECTS

7. IMPLEMENT YOUR PLUGIN
/// <summary>
/// Interface for MyPlugin1
/// </summary>
public interface IMyPlugin1
{
bool IsConnected { get; set; }
void PlaySound();
string GetDeviceInfo();
}
/// <summary>
/// Implementation for MyPlugin1
/// </summary>
public class MyPlugin1Implementation : IMyPlugin1
{
public bool IsConnected
{
get
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
set
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
public void PlaySound()
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
public string GetDeviceInfo()
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}

8. ADD NUSPEC FILE
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2010/07/nuspec.xsd">
<metadata minClientVersion="2.8.3">
<id>Plugin.MyPlugin1</id>
<version>1.0.0</version>
<title>MyPlugin1 Plugin for Xamarin and Windows</title>
<authors>Your Name</authors>
<owners>Your Name</owners>
<licenseUrl/>
<projectUrl/>
<!--Default Icon, a template can be found: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jamesmontemagno/Xamarin-Templates/master/Plugins-Templates/icons/pl
<iconUrl>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jamesmontemagno/Xamarin-Templates/master/Plugins-Templates/icons/plugin_icon_nuget.png</iconUrl>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>
Long description for your plugin.
</description>
<summary>Short description for your plugin.</summary>
<tags>xamarin, pcl, xam.pcl, plugin, plugin for xamarin, windows phone, winphone, wp8, winrt, android, xamarin.forms, ios</tags>
<dependencies>
<group targetFramework="net">
</group>
<group targetFramework="win">
</group>
<group targetFramework="wp">
</group>
<group targetFramework="wpa">
</group>
<group targetFramework="MonoAndroid">
</group>
<group targetFramework="Xamarin.iOS10">
</group>
<group targetFramework="Xamarin.Mac20">
</group>
<group targetFramework="portable-net45+win+wpa81+wp80">
</group>
<group targetFramework="uap">
</group>
<group targetFramework="dotnet">

9. PACKAGING AND PUBLISHING NUGET PACKAGE
 https://docs.nuget.org/Create/Creating-and-Publishing-a-Package
 nuget.exe update –self
 nuget.exe setApiKey “your key”
 nuget.exe pack YourPackage.nuspec
 nuget.exe push YourPackage.nupkg -Source https://www.nuget.org/api/v2/package

10. GitHub

11. TIME TO CODE

12. Thank You!