Question Which files are okay to just copy paste from one project to another?

I know that you should use the Asset Export option to move assets from one project to another, but is this really always necessary? Let's say a project contains a PNG image or a WAV audio clip. Does it really break anything if I open that asset folder in Windows Explorer and copy-paste the asset into a different project? After all, those are the same file types that I dragged into the first project anyway.

 

You don't need to use Asset Export at all. You can move assets that do not have dependencies freely. When they have dependencies, just include them (and their .meta files!) or use the Asset Export. There is no magic behind it. All you need to understand are .meta files and GUIDs. If you want to preserve GUIDs (essential for dependencies) and import settings, just copy an asset also with its .meta file.
A problem might occur, if you copy an asset and its .meta file to other version of UnityEditor. There might be some changes in serialization. They are almost always resolved automagically, just be aware of such thing.

 

Sharing code between projects, DLLs, symbolic linkages, source control, etc:

https://forum.unity.com/threads/your-techniques-to-share-code-between-projects.575959/#post-3835837

 

Interesting read, I will put a question there.

 

Thank you guys for your answers!
@Kurt-Dekker it seems that your article talks about code sharing, not assets, or am I mistaken?

 

Same smell. It's all just data. One can't run without the other, so the sharing process is identical.

The only possible consideration might be if the asset data is awkwardly large.