Copying Visual Studio C++ projects between non-networked computers

Question

I would like to easily copy and update Visual Studio (2010) C++ projects from my business computer to my home computer. Due to slow network access with remote access and FTP, copying data onto a thumb drive and driving home is faster.

I would like to only copy the files that changed from the business computer to thumb drive and then copy from thumb drive to home computer. Also vice-versa: copy only files that changed from home computer to thumb drive, then from thumb drive to business computer.

Accessing the project directly from the thumb drive is incredibly slow, especially with Intellisense.

I don't need to copy the temporary files, such as object files.

I've tried using Make from the command line, but it has an issue with same file names but different drive letters.

Another caveat is that my business computer is Windows 7 64-bit, and my home computer is Vista Home edition.

Preferences are for {free} Visual Studio tools, then free utilities.

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Edit 1: Different folder layouts
The "root" path of the projects is different.
Windows 7 -- /Users/tmatthews
Windows Vista -- /Users/Thomas/Work

Answer 1

I would consider using a version control like git. If your network is slow it may take a while the first time, then subsequent updates should be fast as only the changes will be transferred.

You could also just setup a GIT repo on your thumb drive and update to/from that repo on your work and home computers so as not have to copy all of the files every time. It doesn't have to go over the network, though you will likely have a much greater degree of integrity with regards to the actual version control using a network solution.

Answer 2

XCOPY the changed files and move on with your life.

at work xcopy /EXCLUDE:EXCLUDE.TXT /Y /I /E /R /D /C c:\users\tmatthews d:\usbfolder

at home xcopy /EXCLUDE:EXCLUDE.TXT /Y /I /E /R /D /C d:\usbfolder c:\users\thomas\work

basically reverse the order to take the files back to work.

I have used this technique for years to duplicate the changed files on my desktop on to the file server so the files are in two places.