Updating classes used in multiple projects?

Question

I have several classes that are abstracted in such a way that I can use them in several projects. I always work on these classes, optimizing, adding, etc. Therefore, when I optimize something in one of these classes, then I need to copy this new version into every project that I remember using it. This is not a good way to do this, but is there a better way?

thanks

Answer 1

Instead of manually copying the updated classes to each project that uses them, create a class library project and reference the compiled file in each project that uses classes. Organizing your classes as this will help you follow the DRY principle (Do Not Repeat Yourself).

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If you need to link to files instead of compiled libraries, you can link to the file as a link, so that several projects link to the same file without copying it to each solution folder. To do this, right-click on your project, select "Add an existing item ...", find the .cs file and select "Add as link" from the drop-down list in the lower right corner.

Answer 2

Put these base classes in one project and share this project between your various solutions as a class reference library. This way you do not have to copy / paste anything between projects or solutions, and everything should always be relevant.

You can even set up a local NuGet feed so you can use NuGet to retrieve this shared project as a link in a well-structured and manageable way.

Answer 3

How about whether you extract classes into a separate project and add a link to that project in every project that you use?

Answer 4

It’s a bad idea to copy the folder file throughout the application. To avoid repetition, you can:

• make a link if the number of files is really small. In the Visual Studio Solution Browser, right-click Add existing file , select your file and click the split button Add as link
• create a separate project and refer to this project, where necessary, if the number of files is not small.

Answer 5

Create a base library and create it in a "shared" location. Add a link to it in the project. This will reduce other projects and be faster to build.