To add a project to Visual Studio source control, you can either add the specific project individually (especially if the solution isn't under source control) or, more commonly, add the entire solution, which will include its projects.
Adding a Single Project (Without Placing the Solution Under Source Control)
If your Visual Studio solution is not currently managed by source control, you can add a specific project within that solution to source control independently.
Here are the steps for this scenario:
- In the Solution Explorer pane, locate the project you want to add.
- Right-click the project.
- From the context menu that appears, select Add Project to Source Control.
Note that within solutions that are not under source control, you can only add one project at a time using this method. If you need to add multiple projects this way, you will need to repeat the steps for each one.
Adding a Solution (The More Common Approach)
The typical workflow in Visual Studio is to add the entire solution to source control. When you add the solution, all projects contained within it are automatically included and tracked by your source control system (like Git, Azure DevOps, etc.).
Adding the solution is often the preferred method as it keeps all related code, project configurations, and solution settings under version control together. The exact steps can vary based on your version of Visual Studio and the source control provider you are using, but common methods include:
- Using the Git menu in Visual Studio to Create Git Repository or Add to Source Control.
- Right-clicking the Solution item itself in the Solution Explorer and selecting relevant source control options like "Add Solution to Source Control" or initiating a Git repository from there.
Comparing the Methods
Here's a quick comparison of the two approaches:
| Feature | Adding Single Project (Solution Not Under SC) | Adding Solution (Common Workflow) |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Right-click Project in Solution Explorer | Often via Git Menu or Solution Right-click |
| Scope | A single project | Entire solution and all included projects |
| Prerequisites | Solution is not under source control | Can be done whether solution is new or existing |
| Limitations | Only one project at a time | Usually adds all current projects together |
Choosing the right method depends on whether you need to track just one part of a larger, un-versioned solution or manage the entire codebase as a single unit. For most development scenarios, adding the entire solution is the standard and recommended practice.
