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Maui Linux .NET
Welcome to **Maui Linux .NET** — a community-maintained **fork of Microsoft’s .NET MAUI** to add **Linux support via GtkSharp** (GTK). This project builds on prior community efforts (see the original **maui-linux** fork) and aims to deliver a usable developer experience on Linux.
Note:
- This is **not** an official Microsoft platform.
- It is a **fork** focused on Linux, using **GtkSharp** (GTK) bindings rather than a Skia-only approach.
- See: original fork and discussions for Linux + GTK backend. [Sources]
📅 Timeline
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| March 2021 | Community discussion on Linux/GTK for MAUI | Early planning around **GtkSharp** backend. [1] |
| May 23, 2022 | **.NET MAUI 6.0 GA** | First stable MAUI (Android, iOS, macOS, Windows). [2][3] |
| Nov 8, 2022 | **.NET MAUI 7.0** | Ships with .NET 7. [4] |
| Nov 14, 2023 | **.NET MAUI 8.0 (LTS)** | Major quality & tooling updates. [5] |
| Nov 12, 2024 | **.NET MAUI 9.0 (GA)** | Performance & control updates. [6][7] |
| 2021–2022 | **maui-linux** fork takes shape | Community fork from dotnet/maui to add Linux/GTK. [8][9] |
| Oct 2025 | **Maui Linux .NET** (this fork) | Project reboot with focus on docs, builds, and contributor onboarding. |
Sources: [1] Linux + GTK discussion (2021) – GtkSharp options. [2] .NET MAUI GA news (May 2022). [3] Microsoft support policy page (dates). [4] Support policy lists MAUI 7 (Nov 2022). [5] “Announcing .NET MAUI in .NET 8” (Nov 2023). [6] “Announcing .NET 9” (MAUI 9 highlights). [7] What’s new in .NET MAUI 9 (docs). [8] **maui-linux** repo (forked from dotnet/maui). [9] HN/Community notes: fork uses **GtkSharp**.
🚧 Project Status
- Goal:** make MAUI apps run on Linux via **GtkSharp** (GTK backend), with Wayland/X11 support and sane packaging.
- Current challenges (why this fork exists):**
- **Documentation gaps** – outdated or missing; hard to reproduce a working environment.
- **Stalled upstream activity** – months without meaningful updates in the original fork; open issues linger. [10]
- **Hard to compile** – repeated reports of build failures scare contributors away. [11]
- **Thin community** – without docs and green builds, it’s tough to grow contributors.
- Our focus:** fix the build (scripts/CI), write clear docs, and provide small, verifiable steps to success.
💪 Contribute
We welcome:
- **Developers:** GTK handlers, windowing, input, WebView (WebKitGTK), packaging (Flatpak/Deb).
- **Doc writers:** Getting Started, Troubleshooting, Architecture notes.
- **Testers:** Ubuntu/Fedora/Arch; Wayland & X11; HiDPI.
Start here: How to Start · Contributing Guide · Roadmap
🧭 How to Start
- Follow How to Start for prerequisites and the `bootstrap.sh`.
- Try the sample: `dotnet build` / `dotnet run`.
- If it fails, see Troubleshooting and open an Issue with logs.
🔗 External Links
- Original fork: maui-linux (GitHub)
- GTK backend community: MauiGtk Community (GitHub)
- Official MAUI: dotnet/maui (GitHub)
ℹ️ About this Wiki
This wiki documents the **Maui Linux .NET** fork for Linux/GTK. It’s maintained by volunteers. Please improve this page, or contribute via PRs once repo ↔ wiki sync is enabled.
Last updated: October 2025