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# Development Directory

The Development Directory is the workspace for writing, testing, and organizing device-side script projects. A typical flow is to create or open a project here, then continue in the Text Editor to edit, run, debug, and generate artifacts.

If you only need to upload and batch-run existing scripts, start with Script Management.

## Open the Development Directory​

1. Click `File Manager` from the main action bar.
2. In the File Manager, switch to `Development Directory` from the directory buttons at the top.
3. From there, create a new project or right-click an existing project folder and open it.

The File Manager directories have different purposes:

- `Script Directory`: scripts that can be selected, uploaded, and batch-run from the main screen.
- `Files Directory`: images, temporary files, and reusable resources.
- `Reports Directory`: reports produced by batch authorization, schedules, and other operations.
- `Development Directory`: projects that are still being edited, tested, encrypted, or packaged.

If `Development Directory` is not visible, development project support is not enabled in the current deployment. You can still manage existing scripts from the `Script Directory`. To use development projects, use a runtime that supports this feature or ask the deployer to enable it.

## Create a Project​

In `File Manager → Development Directory`:

1. Click `New Project`.
2. Enter a project name.
3. Choose the project type.
4. Keep or disable `Open after create`.
5. Click `Create`.

Project names cannot contain `/ \ : * ? " < > |`. Use names that are easy to recognize, such as English letters, numbers, dashes, or dots, for example `com.example.demo`.

Available project types:

- `Single-file Script (.xxt)`: suitable for regular script development. After creation, the entry script is opened and common script folders are expanded.
- `Script Package (.xpp)`: suitable for script package projects. After creation, the root entry script is opened.

If you are not sure which one to choose, start with `Single-file Script (.xxt)`. Choose `Script Package (.xpp)` only when you specifically need to maintain an XXTouch script package.

`Open after create` is enabled by default. Keep it enabled to open the project in the Text Editor immediately. Disable it if you only want to create the project folder and open it later.

## Open a Project​

In `Development Directory`, right-click a project folder and choose `Open Project`. The Text Editor opens with a project tree and editor area.

Common project tree actions:

- Click a text file to open it in the editor.
- Click an image file to preview it. From the preview, open the Color Picker when you need to sample colors.
- Right-click a file or folder name to create, rename, delete, copy paths, download, or reveal it in the File Manager.
- Drag files inside the project tree to organize the project.
- Right-click `main.json` and choose `Edit Script UI Configuration` to edit the script parameter form in the Script UI Editor.

When opening another project, if the current project has unsaved files, the Text Editor asks before closing them.

After opening a project for the first time, usually edit the entry script first, then follow the Text Editor guide to select a development test device and run it once.