Shared Project vs. Class Library in Visual Studio: Which Should You Choose?

Visual Studio: Shared Projects vs. Class Libraries – A Comparative Analysis

Choosing between shared projects and class libraries in Visual Studio 2015 is a critical decision for developers. Both facilitate code reuse, but their underlying mechanisms differ significantly.

Shared Projects: Source Code Reuse

Unlike class libraries, which compile into independent assemblies, shared projects maintain code as source files. This allows the code to be directly integrated into each project that references it. This is particularly useful for cross-platform development, ensuring consistent code across different target platforms.

Class Libraries: Compiled Assemblies for Reuse

Class libraries represent the traditional approach to code reuse. They compile into assemblies—the fundamental units of reuse. These assemblies are then referenced by other projects, making the library's functionality available. This approach lends itself well to creating independent, distributable components.

Understanding the Shared Project Workflow

In Solution Explorer, shared projects appear under the References node. However, their code and assets are treated as linked files, intrinsically integrated into the referencing project. Changes within the shared project automatically propagate to all dependent projects, ensuring code consistency.

The Advantages of Shared Projects

Compared to class libraries, shared projects offer several key advantages:

• Simplified Code Sharing: A more streamlined method for cross-platform code sharing than manually managing individual files.
• Faster Build Times: Bypassing the compilation step of class libraries results in faster build processes, especially for large projects.
• Streamlined Referencing: Eliminates complex assembly referencing, simplifying the code sharing process.

Conclusion: Selecting the Optimal Approach

The choice between shared projects and class libraries depends entirely on project-specific needs. For seamless cross-platform code sharing, shared projects are the preferred option. However, for creating independent, reusable components suitable for distribution, class libraries remain the established and reliable choice.

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