Data Binding - The Awesome Sauce lavished onto Xamarin Forms

There are some great resources around introducing Data Binding for Xamarin Forms.  Here are some great posts I've come across that are worth reading and bookmarking.

For some background on getting started with Xamarin Forms. Check out the Xamarin guide here:
https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/xamarin-forms/

Xamarin have a solid section that gives a good start into learning XAML and Data Binding here:
https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/xamarin-forms/user-interface/xaml-basics/
Its definitely worth reading through all six sections.
Part 1. Getting Started with XAML
Part 2. Essential XAML Syntax
Part 3. XAML Markup Extensions
Part 4. Data Binding Basics
Part 5. From Data Binding to MVVM
Part 6. Compiling XAML

Data Binding Controls to each other to prevent/reduce writing code-behind.
https://blog.xamarin.com/advanced-data-binding-for-ios-android-and-windows/

Awesome Xamarin Forms How-To Commands

Recently read a great blog from David Britch giving a comprehensive guide to using commands with Xamarin Forms.

https://blog.xamarin.com/simplifying-events-with-commanding/

Fresh Essentials for Xamarin Forms

Michael Ridland has recently blogged about a nice light weight library of essential and commonly used converters, controls and utilities.

http://www.michaelridland.com/xamarin/freshessentials-for-xamarin-forms-the-must-have-nuget-for-forms/

Simple Xamarin Forms Demo App

A Simple Xamarin Forms Sample App

Recently I presented a short Xamarin Forms introduction.  It was only a short 30min taster, but I wanted to ensure I was showing something a little deeper than a simple "Hello World" App.  I personally find those kind of demo's too basic and not enough to get a taste of how using a technology is going to suit real world work.

Here's the App I built for the demo:

https://github.com/Benrnz/CorporateBsGenerator

Demo points

1. Solution structure of a Xamarin Forms App.
2. Entry point - how does it start and choose the first Xaml page?
3. Anatomy of a Xaml page.
4. Xaml Basics
1. Root elements, in this case a ContentPage. Other options are MasterDetailPage, TabbedPage, and NavigationPage.
2. Setting Page Padding to different values for each platform.
3. Layout Controls: In this case we're using a AbsoluteLayout and a StackLayout.  Another common Layout is Grid.
4. Labels, Styles, and basic value DataBinding.
5. Using different buttons for iOS and Android.  The Material Design Floating Action Button.
6. Binding can be used for more than value binding. The FAB has a bound reference to the ListView.
5. Code Behind
1. Great to get started
2. Event Handlers
3. Best Practice - Code behind doesn't scale well.  The MVVM pattern.
6. A look at more advanced customisation for Android. A Custom Renderer to create a Floating Action Button.
7. Tooling - What do we need to develop and test an App?