How to correctly manage versions of your application?

Question

I need tips on how you control different versions of you applications. At the moment I simple overwrite the same project every time I make changes. As my projects get bigger and bigger, this is becoming a problem for me. Is there a built-in function to correctly manage different versions of you program, and maybe even a simple form to fill out a change log, or should I simple just save the entire project in a separate folder each time?

Answer 1

In my opinion, the immediate answer would be to try TFS, because according to tags you are developing in VB.NET, and TFS is very well integrated in Visual Studio (which is logical since it's Microsoft's too).

The problem is, if you are completely new to this you should most probably set up the server side, and I don't think that is neither easy nor free...

Free/open source alternatives are Subversion and Git, they are widely used and documented. Subversion follows a client-server architecture (data is hosted in the server), while Git is distributed, meaning that it's the developers who actually host the data. This last option may suit you better if you are working alone. An useful link regarding this: Using Git with Visual Studio

Source control is a tricky and huge world, you should first learn the basics and the main concepts, after that a world of possibilities will open up to you. Good luck!! :)

Answer 2

Given you have a modern version of Visual Studio (2015 or 2017), you have an option for creating a Git repository in the right bottom of the New Project dialog.

If you already have a solution/project, you can right click the solution and choose Add To Source Control, and a git repository will be added in the same folder as your solution.

The Output window will give some information that is has been created (I created two new there this way (1) and (2) ), and now you will have access to the standard git commands for source control.

If you don't have a modern version of Visual Studio or are using some other tool, you can go command line. You then download git itself first from https://git-scm.com/download/win

Then go to your solution folder, and do:

Git init

This command will make your current folder into a full blown git repository.

To learn how to use Git (there are a lot of guides) , but e.g. start with https://backlogtool.com/git-guide/en/
For your use, as a single dev, you only need the basics.