DEP — DEVlink Engineering PlatformUser Guide
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Files, Folders and Data

DEP keeps four kinds of data in four places: the program, your personal settings, machine-wide licences and your projects. Knowing where each one lives helps with backups, moving to a new PC and support requests.

Where DEP keeps its files: program folder, per-user settings, machine licences and your project folders Program (per user, no admin)%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\DEVlink\DEPversions\<version>-<id>\DEP.exeresources\Projects (bundled examples)removed by the uninstaller Your settings%APPDATA%\DEVlink\DEPlicences, layout, library folder,recent projects, diagnostics, AI keyskept unless /removedata Machine licences%ProgramData%\DEVlink\DEP\licensesshared by all users of the PCinstalled by an administrator Your projects (any folder)Name.rbsproj (+ -wal, -shm)Name.rbsproj.recovery.rbsproj.dep-software-builds\ beside itnever removed by DEP
The four storage locations. Only the program folder is removed by a normal uninstall.

Program folder

Default: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\DEVlink\DEP, for example C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\Programs\DEVlink\DEP.

PathContent
versions\<version>-<id>\DEP.exeThe application. Each installed version has its own folder.
…\resources\runtime\Runtime hosts started by DEP: dep-fmi2-host.exe, dep-fmi3-host.exe, dep-fmi-me-host.exe, dep-vecu-host.exe, dep-physical-host.exe, dep-state-logic-host.exe, dep-fmu-builder.exe. Do not start them yourself.
…\resources\Projects\The 13 bundled example projects and their guides (STARTER-TUTORIALS.md, MIL-SIL-START-HERE.md, MIL-SIL-SUPPORT.md, CAN-RESTBUS-DEMO.md, ChargeLink-DEMO.md).
LICENSE.txt, THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt, SECURITY.md, CHANGELOG.mdLicence terms, third-party notices, security policy and change history.
uninstall.exe, dep-install.txt, dep-owned-files.txtThe uninstaller and its records of what setup installed.

Do not save projects inside the program folder. It is replaced on upgrade and removed on uninstall.

Your settings

%APPDATA%\DEVlink\DEP, for example C:\Users\you\AppData\Roaming\DEVlink\DEP. Kept on upgrade and normal uninstall. Deleted only by /uninstall /removedata.

File or folderContent
devlink-licenses\*.dlicLicences you installed.
licensing-settings.jsonFloating licence server address.
project-library.jsonYour chosen project library folder.
recent-projects.jsonThe Open Recent Project list.
appearance.jsonTheme and density.
engineering-diagnostics.jsonThe diagnostic journal: code, ID, time and operation of recent failures.
ai-connections.binAI connections. API keys are encrypted for your Windows account.
example-views\Verified working copies of bundled examples opened in a licensed build.
restbus-project.sqliteWorking store for legacy restbus views.
Local storage (in the same folder)Panel layouts per project and workspace, and the sidebar state.

Machine-wide licences

%ProgramData%\DEVlink\DEP\licenses. Licence files placed here by an administrator apply to every user of the computer.

Your projects

Projects live wherever you save them. A project consists of:

FileContent
Name.rbsprojThe project: a single SQLite database.
Name.rbsproj-wal, Name.rbsproj-shmTemporary companion files while the project is open. Keep them together with the project if they exist after DEP closes.
Name.rbsproj.recovery.rbsprojAutomatic recovery copy, refreshed every 60 seconds and on open and save.
.dep-software-builds\<id>\build.logBuild output of software templates built for this project.
.dep-assets\, .assets\Referenced assets such as FMUs or DBC databases, when a project references files instead of embedding them.

Files DEP writes when you export

FileCreated by
DEP-support-summary.jsonSettings → About & support → Export support summary
DEP_diagnostics_<time>.jsonProblems → Export displayed diagnostics
DEP-workspace-layout.jsonLayout → Export current layout
DEP-live-debug.jsonLive debug → Export displayed evidence
Evidence JSON and JUnit XMLScenarios → Download evidence JSON / Download JUnit
Activation request JSONLicense & ownership → Save activation request…
CSV, Vector ASC and DEP recordingsRuns → Results & recordings
FMU (.fmu)Model Designer → Native DEP → FMU Export
SSP (.ssp)SSP import & composition → Export SSP

Logs

DEP has no single log file. Use these instead:

  • The Problems panel and its export, for the current session.
  • engineering-diagnostics.json in your settings folder, for history.
  • %TEMP%\DEPSetup.log, for installation errors.
  • The session evidence in each project (Runs → Execution & HIL → Execution Evidence).

Moving to a new computer

  1. Install DEP on the new computer.
  2. Copy your project folders.
  3. Request a new node-locked licence for the new Machine ID. Licences are bound to the computer, so copying a .dlic does not work.
  4. Optionally copy %APPDATA%\DEVlink\DEP to keep your layouts and library setting, but not the licences.
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