# UXP DevTool w/React: plugin build folder vs. dist

**URL:** https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/t/uxp-devtool-w-react-plugin-build-folder-vs-dist/2914
**Category:** Photoshop
**Created:** [May 6, 2021, 10:27am UTC](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/t/uxp-devtool-w-react-plugin-build-folder-vs-dist/2914 "2021-05-06T10:27:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![DavideBarranca](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/davidebarranca/32/1523_2.png) [@DavideBarranca](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/u/DavideBarranca)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2021, 10:27am UTC](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/t/uxp-devtool-w-react-plugin-build-folder-vs-dist/2914/1 "2021-05-06T10:27:45Z")

</div>

Hi,  
is there any notable difference when developing a React-based UXP plugin between pointing the DevTool to the root and setting the Plugin Options \> Advanced \> Plugin Build Folder to the `dist` folder, versus loading it the `dist` directly, as if it was a vanilla plugin?  
The latter seems to work fine to me in all my React projects, so I was wondering whether the first approach carries some benefit I’m not aware of.  
Thanks!

Davide

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![kerrishotts](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/kerrishotts/32/8_2.png) [@kerrishotts](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/u/kerrishotts)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2021, 11:50pm UTC](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/t/uxp-devtool-w-react-plugin-build-folder-vs-dist/2914/2 "2021-05-06T23:50:57Z")

</div>

There are some differences that can crop up when you’re watching a React plugin, especially if you have various `clean` steps in your build process. If you’re not cleaning your build folders, you’ll probably not notice any real differences, but if your `dist` folder gets removed as part of any cleaning process, then you might have some fun times (since your `manifest.json` is what the UDT anchors to – and if it disappears… 😉 )

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![DavideBarranca](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/davidebarranca/32/1523_2.png) [@DavideBarranca](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/u/DavideBarranca)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/t/uxp-devtool-w-react-plugin-build-folder-vs-dist/2914/3 "2021-05-07T17:10:07Z")

</div>

Hi Kerri, thanks!  
Strangely enough (?) I have zero problems, and the `/dist` is cleaned each time! `¯\__(ツ)__/¯`  
For once, I’m a lucky boy 😉

Davide