Project structure for MVVM in WPF

Question

What is the project structure you end up with when using MVVM in WPF?

From the tutorials I saw now, they usually have folders: Model, ViewModel and View.

In Model you put classes like Person for example that capture data and logic.

In ViewModel you instantiate classes defined in Model. The View contains .xaml files.

Edit: I edit my original post to send an example project structure. I have question related to this. How do I organize these: App.config App.xaml MainWindow.xaml

Should I leave them outside like they are now or should I put them in some folder?

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Is your question about "project structure" or about what is MVVM ? Bascially in the folders "Models" you put your models, in "ViewModels" your view models and in "Views" your views... — franssu

Sheridan Sheridan · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-16T10:50:32

You have described the usual or common folder layout. From experience, I prefer to add a separate folder (or project in large applications) for the model data type, such as the typical Person class that you mentioned. The reason that I do this is because this often becomes one of the biggest projects. I also split it into the following sub folders:

DataTypes
    Collections
    Enums
    Interfaces

I also have separate folders (or projects in large applications) for the application Converter classes, extension method classes, utility (or service) classes. Finally, I have test projects that pretty much match the application folder structure. In total, this is roughly what my folders look like:

Solution

    Third Party Libraries <<< (Solution Folder)

    StartUp Project
        Images
        Resources

    Converters

    DataTypes
        Collections
        Enums
        Interfaces <<< (For Data Type classes)

    Extensions

    Models
        Data Controllers
        Data Providers
        Interfaces <<< (For swapping Model classes out in test projects)

    Utilities (Or Services)
        Interfaces <<< (For swapping Utilities classes out in test projects)

    View Models
        Commands

    Views
        Attached Properties
        Controls

UPDATE >>>

Projects, like folders, just provide levels of separation. They also help me to map out my application namespaces. For example, code classes in the Collections folder/project will be in the ApplicationName.DataTypes.Collections namespace. Classes in the Data Providers folder/project will have the ApplicationName.Models.DataProviders namespace.

Furthermore, in large applications, my project names come from their location in this hierarchy... for example, my DataTypes project is actually called ApplicationName.DataTypes and my Models project is called ApplicationName.Models. The Collections and DataProviders parts are folders, along with all of the items past the second level, eg. Enums, Images, Commands, etc.

Project structure for MVVM in WPF

4 Answers