title: iOS Development using Visual Studio.Net
body: <p>I have a new mobile application I need to get out the door but I need to utilize our VS.Net IDE to build the application.</p>
  
  <p>This app needs to have iOS UI features and functionality.</p>
  
  <p>It needs to be developed in VS.Net (2010 or 2012 - does not matter).</p>
  
  <p>I am open to utilizing reasonable multiple steps to build this application but I am not interested in going down the Objective-C route (if I do that then I am doing it on a mac).</p>
  
  <p>Here is what I have looked at so far and some general notes:</p>
  
  <p>iOS Build Environment
  <a href="http://www.pmbaty.com/iosbuildenv/" rel="nofollow">http://www.pmbaty.com/iosbuildenv/</a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Objective-C</li>
  <li>Tools to create initial project in C with a vcproj file</li>
  <li>Uncertain which version of VS.Net this is supposed to support as 2010/2012 both wanted to convert</li>
  <li>Requires switching back and forth between tools and VS.Net</li>
  <li>Significant training upscale required: Objective-C, new Tools</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Visual Web GUI
  <a href="http://www.visualwebgui.com/tabid/711/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.visualwebgui.com/tabid/711/Default.aspx</a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>New project type for VS.Net 2010</li>
  <li>Has own set of controls which have to use and none others</li>
  <li>Easy to draw UI using an old style designer implementation for winforms</li>
  <li>Attempted to run project but only ever gave listing of project directory in browser</li>
  <li>Coding is in C# similar to any winforms project</li>
  <li>Significant waste of time - not very intuitive</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Nomad - VS.Net Extension (probably most simple use of vs.net)
  <a href="http://www.vsnomad.com/documentation/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.vsnomad.com/documentation/index.html</a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>New project type for VS.Net 2010</li>
  <li>Utilizes Html as the document type with Html controls</li>
  <li>Links in jquery and cordova (phonegap)</li>
  <li>Basically a phonegap project for VS.Net</li>
  <li>Requires Apple Dev membership (certs, etc) in order to build iOS apps</li>
  <li>Coding is Javascript</li>
  <li>Does allow you to build from VS.Net providing you have Provisioning Profiles and Signing Certs</li>
  <li>Has possibilities but significant training upscale as learning phonegap would be needed</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Studio for iPhone - ComponentOne
  <a href="http://www.componentone.com/SuperProducts/StudioiPhone/Demos/" rel="nofollow">http://www.componentone.com/SuperProducts/StudioiPhone/Demos/</a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Utilizes Asp.Net projects</li>
  <li>Does not work well in design mode - almost like totally integrated into VS.Net</li>
  <li>Had to add controls to the project which was strange</li>
  <li>Got 1/2 through the demo before I realized this is ONLY iPhone and not device indifferent</li>
  <li>Not so intuitive to work with but workable and the output is very nice</li>
  <li>Has possibilities but this feels like hacking Asp.net - probably just me</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>*<em>What I am looking for is either other options or confirmation I have covered the main ones so I can move on perhaps use something like PhoneGap, Sencha or? *</em></p>