Is Visual Studio 2017 backwards compatible with Visual Studio 2015 solutions?

45
votes

I'm thinking about installing VS 2017 and using it for work. The free download is here.

So is Visual Studio 2017 RC backwards compatible with Visual Studio 2015 solutions?

The release notes mention it here. Just wondering if someone did this and if they had any issues.

EDIT (UPDATE)

I have been working with 2017RC now since 2/1/2017 and I verified it does not change the proj or sln files at all, not even when you add / remove files to the proj / sln (except to reflect the file changes of course).

IT'S SAFE TO USE IN A 2012/2013/2015 SHOP!!!

2
backwards-compatibilityvisual-studio-2017
not for .NET Core - Alexan
@Alex, good point. I'm using 4.5.2 at the moment. - toddmo
just install VS2017, not removing VS2015 and check yourself - Alexan
what type of project you use? I can try right now. - Alexan
okay, created project in VS2015, then opened in VS2017, then again in VS2015. All is working. - Alexan

2 Answers

30
votes

It depends on the type of project.

For most (standard) types, for example web projects (Full .NET Framework), Windows projects VS 2017 is forward and backward compatible with VS 2015, solutions and projects formats are the same.

But not compatible for .NET Core projects, because project.json was changed back to .csproj.

4
votes

If you create a .csproj in VS 2017 or optimize it as suggested in Old csproj to new csproj: Visual Studio 2017 upgrade guide , it will not be compatible with VS2015 any more.