Setting up a shared project

To understand each option completely and what situations call for, let's define a solution structure for both shared projects and portable class libraries. Let's use the product search example from earlier in the chapter and set up a solution for each approach.

To set up a shared project, perform the following steps:

1. Open Xamarin Studio and start a new solution.

2. Select a new Single View App under the Multiplatform | App section.

3. Name the app ProductSearch, and select Use Shared Library.

4. Complete this new project wizard and Xamarin Studio will generate three projects: ProductSearch, ProductSearch.Droid, and ProductSearch.iOS.

5. Add the Product, ProductRepository, and ProductViewModel classes to the ProductSearch project from earlier in this chapter. You will need to add using System.Threading.Tasks; and using System.Linq; where needed.

6. Click on Build | Build All from the menu at the top to double-check everything, and you have successfully set up a cross-platform solution...