Use classic C# Class Library to service as Data Access Layer for multiple platforms

Question

First of all I know the classic Class Library is not compatible with UWP projects, or Xamarin projects. This is not what this is about.

I'm very used to creating applications where a Web App and a Desktop Application (Win Forms) would shared the same database. I would simply create a Class Library (classic) and used as the DbContext for the whole solution. It was very simple. Back then, I was able to Enable-Migrations directly in the class library and it would work like a charm.

Nowadays, Windows Forms are deprecated, or rather, removed from Asp.NET Core and classic Class Libraries can't be referenced in UWP projects. I also can't enable migrations (Add-Migration, now the enable-migrations is obsolete) in UWP Class Libraries. It tells me to do it inside a UWP Application, not in a library.

Is there anyway to bypass this? I don't care if I have to create yet another layer to make some sort of "middle maning", as long as I don't have to create data access models in each application. This next project will have two UWP apps (one of them being design for IoT), an MVC Web App, and two Xamarin apps (Android and iOS).

I also accept structure related suggestions... Maybe I'm overthinking this. Thanks.

Edit: I would like to add that I tried to use "Shared Project", and whilst it presents a nice tool, it doesn't do what I need.

Are you aware of the existence of [PCLs and shared projects](https://xamarinhelp.com/portable-class-library-pcl-vs-shared-projects/)? — Gert Arnold, Oct 28 '16 at 20:36
@GertArnold PCL also doesn't allow migrations in the library, but I really didn't know about shared projects, and from a short reading, it seems like it'll work — Guilherme Lofrano Corneto, Oct 29 '16 at 00:50
Did you have any luck with the .NET Standard class library, sharing it between Windows Forms and UWP? — Marcelo Scofano Diniz, Aug 13 '20 at 02:31

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:09

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Did you looked at .NET Standard library?

Maybe it will get you in the right direction with your project.

More info may be found in this SO answer.

EDIT: Here you can find an example on how to create a .NET standard library.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:09

Community

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answered Nov 01 '16 at 19:03

Mihail Stancescu

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I'm guessing that's not a project type, because I didn't bump into it when trying to create different types of projects. I looked it up online, and I still couldn't figure out how to use that. Is it just a reference to add in? – Guilherme Lofrano Corneto Nov 03 '16 at 16:51
After having sometime to experiment with the standard library, I can say that it's the best possible scenario for me, so I'm marking this down as the answer. – Guilherme Lofrano Corneto Nov 18 '16 at 10:46
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For sure at 2016 it wasn't, but for some time now it is a project type. – Marcelo Scofano Diniz Aug 13 '20 at 02:32

Use classic C# Class Library to service as Data Access Layer for multiple platforms

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