Getting Started with Dev WorkDir

Last updated: 2026-09-02 App version: v1.x (local convenience)

Welcome to Dev WorkDir 👋

Dev WorkDir is a dev projects quick launcher for macOS. From your menu bar or desktop, it opens your projects — and their editors, terminals, and scripts — in one click. Built for the AI coding era.

This guide will get you up and running in 3 minutes.

Step 1: First Launch & Permission Setup

When you open Dev WorkDir for the first time, a 2-step onboarding appears.

1. Grant Home Directory Access

  1. Click “Grant Access”
  2. Select your Home folder in the file dialog
  3. Click “Open” to grant permission

Why do we need this? Dev WorkDir needs access to scan your project folders. Everything stays local — we never upload anything.

2. Scan & Import Your Work Directories

Dev WorkDir scans your home folder for projects and offers to:

  • Import All Work Directories — add every detected project folder at once
  • Add Folder Manually — pick specific folders (e.g., ~/Projects or ~/Developer)
  • Skip for now — add folders later from the sidebar

Once imported, all your projects appear in the grid — and their framework icons, Git branches, and todos are detected automatically.

Step 2: Get to Know the Interface

Dev WorkDir has three main areas:

┌───────────┬──────────────────────┬──────────────────┐
│           │                      │                  │
│  Sidebar  │    Content Area      │   Detail View    │
│           │                      │                  │
└───────────┴──────────────────────┴──────────────────┘
  • Work Directories: Your added folders and projects
  • Dotfiles: Quick access to your configuration files
  • Create Project: Button to start a new project from templates

Content Area (Middle)

  • Project cards in a grid layout
  • Each card shows the project name, framework icon, and Git branch
  • Double-click a card to run the project

Detail View (Right)

  • Project information and settings
  • Todo list for the selected project
  • Double-click action configuration
  • Environment variables

Step 3: Create Your First Project

  1. Click “Create Project” in the sidebar
  2. Choose a template from 21 built-in options:
    • Frontend: Next.js, React, Vue, Svelte, Astro, etc.
    • Backend: Hono, FastAPI, Django, Gin, etc.
    • Mobile/Desktop: Expo, Tauri, Capacitor
    • Docs: VitePress, Docusaurus, Hugo
  3. Enter a project name
  4. Choose where to save it
  5. Select your preferred editor (auto-detected)
  6. Click “Create”

Your new project will be created and automatically opened in your editor.

Step 4: Use the Menu Bar

Click the Dev WorkDir icon in your menu bar for instant access:

  • Recent Projects: Quick access to your 10 most recent projects
  • Hover over a project to open it in any editor or run scripts
  • Create Project: Start a new project from anywhere
  • Open Main Window: Access the full interface

Pro Tip: The menu bar is the fastest way to switch between projects. Keep it open and use it all day.

Step 5: Double-Click to Run

Double-click any project card to run it:

  • Dev WorkDir automatically detects the right command (e.g., npm run dev, python main.py)
  • It opens Terminal and runs the command for you
  • No more typing commands manually

Customize the Double-Click Action

  1. Select a project
  2. In the detail view, find “Double-Click Action”
  3. Choose from auto-detected scripts or add your own custom command

Next Steps

Now that you’re set up, explore more features:

⭐ Power users: get WorkDir Pro to choose your favorite terminal and unlock advanced analytics. One-time purchase, lifetime license.

Need Help?

Check out our FAQ or contact us.

Happy vibe coding! 🚀