Do we have Git source control explorer in Visual Studio 2017?

Question

We get source control explorer for the TFS source control model, and it is productive.

Do we get a similar source control explorer for Git in Visual Studio 2017?

If we do have it, how do I navigate to it?

Answer 1

In short, no, there is no built-in UI support for Git in Visual Studio 2017.

Alternatively, you can try the following extensions based on your source control setup.

In Visual Studio, select Tools → Extensions and Updates, select Online on the left pane, search for one of the following in the search bar in the top right:

Bitbucket → install Visual Studio Bitbucket Extension

GitHub → Install GitHub Extension for Visual Studio

Git → Install Easy Git Integration Tools

The first two do a good job of providing UI controls to work with source control as they relate to Bitbucket or GitHub in a similar fashion to regular TFS integration (that you may be familiar with). I haven't tried the third one myself, and I'm not sure what that one is like.

Answer 2

Please see the Solution Explorer - Folder View. This can be accessed from Solution Explorer (open with CTRL+W, S), then by clicking the Solutions and Folders toggle button. In Visual Studio 2017, it looks like this:

Though it's not a 1:1 capability of the Team Foundation Source Control Explorer view, it does have the ability to view files in the local repo, open, view history, etc.

Answer 3

Visual Studio does not currently have Source Control Explorer for Git repositories. You might consider voting on this User Voice item to help the product team prioritize features:

https://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio-ide/suggestions/4178754-visual-studio-tools-for-git-extension-microsoft-g

Answer 4

In Visual Studio 2019, open the folder for the work space using "File->Open->Folder...". The solution explorer, via "View->Solution Explorer", should display all the files which you can then right click to view history and other GIT operations.