问题
We need to allow users to check-out check-in files in Windows Explorer.
Is it mandatory to install Visual Studio in order to use Team Explorer or TFS Power Tools?
What kind of licenses will be needed?
回答1:
You can install Team Explorer which is free (but still uses the VS shell), this doesn't require any kind of Visual Studio license: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/devops/2017/04/05/reintroducing-the-team-explorer-standalone-installer/
Then you can install the TFS Power Tools to get the Windows Explorer extension which allows you to do basic source control operations in Windows Explorer.
Note: If you are connecting to an on-premise TFS you still need to purchase TFS CAL's. If you are using Azure DevOps (formerly Visual Studio Online) you get 5 users for free.
回答2:
First install the free Visual Studio Explorer 2019
Go to https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/
Go to All downloads > Visual Studio 2019 > Visual Studio Team Explorer 2019 > Download
Run the installer
Then install the Microsoft Team Foundation Version Control Windows Shell Extension
Download from here
You may need to reboot to finish installation.
来源：https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20987952/without-installing-visual-studio-can-i-use-team-explorer-or-tfs-power-tools-to-c