This is bullshit advise. We had this setting off which is default and TONs of trouble with it. People used check out, change file thinking that its latest and try to check in just to find out dozens of merge to resolve. VS is not good at merge especially when it comes to XAML etc and even just plain code. I myself found many times that when I select Resolve automatically, VS actually messes things up. Think about surprises at last minute of build and all the unit testing you have repeat. This option really saved us. It makes sure we have latest when we check out and hence minimal merge issues later. As far as ability of changing file without checking out is concerned – I think it would be useful if your developers are always traveling and only time they get for writing code is in airplains. Our devs write code in real office buildings and they have connection to TFS 99% of the time. So we enforce getting latest checking out before they start making changes and that minimized merging issue by huge margin. So please stop thinking everybody is writing code in airport and spreading practises suitable to only that situation. Thank you.

I also have this “feature” disabled. I have never had an issue with merging manually when the time comes to check in. If you are in the habit of getting latest and building before you check in (which every dev who uses a centralised VCS should be) then there’s really no need to have this turned on.

I can’t help but notice a lack of references to airports, disconnected environments or anything of that nature in this post. I also fail to see how this “practice” would only be suitable to situations of that ilk. So, lurker, I believe you’re talking out of your rear (with all due respect ).

Cheers!