Should Project Files Like .project, .classpath, and .settings Be Included in Version Control?

Version Control Practices for Project Files

When working with development environments like Eclipse, users may encounter numerous project files such as .project, .classpath, and .settings. A common question arises: should these files be included in version control systems (VCSs)?

Answer:

Yes, it is recommended to keep portable setting files under version control. Portable setting files are those that do not contain absolute paths. This includes:

• .project
• .classpath (if using relative paths)
• IDE settings (vital for enforcing code analysis rules across users)
• IDE-specific settings (to be documented in a README file and versioned)

Rationale:

By keeping portable setting files in VCS, you ensure that:

• New team members or contributors can quickly set up and configure the project without additional documentation or setup procedures.
• Code analysis rules and other project-wide configurations are consistent for all users.
• Collaboration and code sharing become seamless as settings can be tracked and synchronized with changes.

Exception:

IDE-specific recommendations that are not portable (e.g., specific editor themes or window layouts) should not be included in VCS but instead documented elsewhere.

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