32feet.NET Documentation

32feet.NET is an open-source library designed to provide access to Personal Area Networking (PAN) technologies from .NET code. It supports desktop, mobile, and embedded systems.

The library is modular and consists of several specialized packages for different protocols and platforms:

• Bluetooth Classic: Via InTheHand.Net.Bluetooth
• Bluetooth LE (Low Energy): Via InTheHand.BluetoothLE
• Bluetooth Permissions: For .NET MAUI 7.0 and Xamarin.Forms via InTheHand.Bluetooth.Permissions
• IrDA (Infrared): Via InTheHand.Net.IrDA
• Object Exchange (Obex): Via InTheHand.Net.Obex
• NFC: Via InTheHand.Nfc
• macOS Bindings: InTheHand.IOBluetooth and InTheHand.IOBluetoothUI for Xamarin Mac.

32feet.NET provides several specialized libraries for Personal Area Networking (PAN) in .NET. Depending on your hardware and protocol requirements, you should use one of the following namespaces:

• InTheHand.BluetoothLE: For Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication.
• InTheHand.Bluetooth.Permissions: For managing Bluetooth permissions within .NET MAUI applications.
• InTheHand.Net.Bluetooth: For Bluetooth Classic communication.
• InTheHand.Net.IrDA: For Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication.
• InTheHand.Net.Obex: For Object Exchange (OBEX) protocol support.

The library provides multiple providers to support various platforms.

• Generic Targets: For net6.0 and net7.0 targets, the DLL includes Linux and WebAssembly providers to ensure the widest compatibility.
• Explicit Targeting: For optimal results and to ensure the correct implementation is deployed, it is recommended to use an explicit target platform in your project configuration.

For implementation guidance and detailed technical specifications, use the following resources:

• User Guide & Tutorials: The Wiki contains general information on library features, choosing the correct Bluetooth connection type, and feature-specific usage instructions.
• API Reference: Detailed API documentation is available at https://inthehand.github.io/.

InTheHand.Nfc is a cross-platform NFC tag reader for .NET 8.0+ supporting Android, iOS, and Mac Catalyst. The API follows the WebNFC model and is currently limited to reading NDEF messages.

To use the library:

1. Instantiate an NdefReader.
2. Subscribe to the Reading event to handle incoming NDEF messages.
3. Call ScanAsync(CancellationToken) to start the scanning session.

When a tag is read, the NdefReadingEventArgs provides an NdefMessage containing one or more NdefRecord objects. You can inspect the RecordType (e.g., NdefRecordType.Mime) and access the payload via the Data property.

var reader = new NdefReader();
reader.Reading += Reader_Reading;

// Start scanning
await reader.ScanAsync(cancellationToken);

32feet.NET is distributed via NuGet. Choose the package that matches your required protocol and platform:

Use the InTheHand.Bluetooth.Permissions library to manage Bluetooth permissions in .NET MAUI 7.0 and Xamarin.Forms applications. This library provides a permission instance that integrates with the standard Permissions API.

Note: If you are using .NET MAUI 8.0 or later, use the built-in MAUI permission equivalents instead, as they are designed to match this library's behavior.

// Check the current permission status
PermissionStatus status = await Permissions.CheckStatusAsync<InTheHand.Bluetooth.Permissions.Bluetooth>();

// Request the permission from the user
PermissionStatus status = await Permissions.RequestAsync<InTheHand.Bluetooth.Permissions.Bluetooth>();

Although the library is released as a .NET Standard DLL, it is only compatible with Windows operating systems.

Supported versions include:

• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 10
• Windows 11

Requirement: You must have a compatible IrDA dongle and a working driver installed on the Windows machine to use this library.

32feet.NET is a .NET networking API designed for devices and desktop computers. It provides support for several networking stacks and protocols, including:

• Bluetooth Stacks: Microsoft, Broadcom/Widcomm, BlueSoleil, and StoneStreetOne Bluetopia.
• IrDA: Microsoft Windows supported Infrared Data Association devices.
• OBEX: Object Exchange services for both Bluetooth and IrDA mediums.

The library's object model is designed to maintain consistency across Bluetooth, IrDA, and traditional TCP/IP networking, making it easier to work with different communication mediums using a unified approach.