How Do I Add a Reference in Rider?

Adding a reference in JetBrains Rider allows your project to utilize code and functionalities from other projects within the same solution or from external .NET assemblies. This is a fundamental step for building interconnected applications and leveraging existing libraries.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding References in Rider

To efficiently add references in Rider, follow these straightforward steps:

Referencing Other Projects and .NET Assemblies

Locate Your Project: In the Solution Explorer pane, find the specific project to which you want to add a reference. This is typically represented by a project node.
Access Context Menu: Right-click on the project node. This action will open a context menu with various options.
Navigate to Add Reference: From the context menu, hover over or select the Add option, then click on Add Reference.... This will open the "Add Reference" dialog box.
Select Your Reference:
- For Known References: In the dialog, you can start typing the name of the project or assembly you wish to reference. Rider will filter the list of available references (including other projects in your solution and common .NET assemblies).
- For File-Based Assemblies: If the assembly you need is a .dll file on your system (e.g., a custom library or a specific third-party component), click the Add From... button. This will open a file browser, allowing you to navigate to and select the desired assembly file.
Confirm Selection: After selecting the required project(s) or assembly file(s), click OK to add the reference to your project. Rider will then update your project file and dependencies.

Understanding Different Reference Types

Rider supports various types of references, each serving a distinct purpose for managing your project's dependencies.

Reference Type	Description	When to Use
Project Reference	Links one project to another project within the same Rider solution. This creates a direct dependency, meaning changes in the referenced project are automatically reflected when the referencing project builds.	Ideal when you have a multi-project solution (e.g., a core library project and a UI project that consumes it) and need to share code directly.
Assembly Reference	Links directly to a pre-compiled `.NET assembly` (a `.dll` file) located on your file system, rather than another project in your solution. These are typically external libraries or components.	Useful for integrating third-party libraries not managed via package managers like NuGet, or for referencing specific versions of internal compiled components.

Practical Tips for Managing References

Project Node is Key: Always initiate the reference addition process by right-clicking the specific project you intend to modify within the Solution Explorer.
Automatic Dependency Management: When you add a Project Reference, Rider and the .NET build system automatically handle the build order and ensure the referenced project is compiled before its consumers, simplifying dependency management within your solution.
File-Based Flexibility: The Add From... option for assembly references provides flexibility for incorporating .dll files that might not be part of your immediate solution structure, such as specialized internal tools or older library versions.
Review Dependencies: Periodically review your project's references to remove any unused ones, which can help reduce build times and application size.

For further detailed information on managing project dependencies in Rider, you can consult the official JetBrains Rider documentation on managing references.