The hosted 8th Wall platform was retired Feb 28, 2026. Existing published experiences continue to run until Feb 28, 2027. [View Migration Guide](https://8th.io/migration) [View Announcements](https://8thwall.org/blog) On this page The primary way of using the 8th Wall desktop app is with Studio projects, which use 8th Wall's scene graph format (`src/.expanse.json`) and ECS framework. Projects that aren't considered Studio projects (projects built with A-Frame, Three.js, etc) can still utilize the 8th Wall desktop app for specific features such as asset management, image targets, and the simulator, by opening in a separate Non-Studio mode. Non-Studio mode does not include a 3D scene editor. ## Minimum Requirements 1. The folder contains a `package.json` file. 2. `npm run serve` starts a local build server. - For preview to work, the `--port` argument, or the `PORT` environment variable, should be honored, e.g. `PORT=8888 npm run serve` should host the content on [http://localhost:8888](http://localhost:8888/). - If the command starts with `node`, the command will be invoked through the desktop app's internal node executable. Otherwise, node/npm are required. ## AR Simulator + Device Connect 1. dev8.js is loaded for development builds. You can add dev8.js to your project's `index.html` `` with: ```html ``` **Warning:** Note that this script should not be included in production builds. [This sample configuration](https://github.com/8thwall/studio-world-effects-example/blob/main/config/webpack.config.js#L93-L98) shows one way to achieve this, though it might vary depending on your configuration. ## Image Targets 1. Image Targets are stored in the `image-targets/` folder (not inside `src/`), with no subfolders. ## File Browser (optional) 1. Source code is in the `src` folder. 2. Non-text assets (e.g. images, models) are contained in in `src/assets/`. ## Publishing 1. `npm run build` generates a production build in the `dist` folder. ## Questions? Please open a discussion or issue [on Github](https://github.com/8thwall/8thwall). - [Minimum Requirements](https://8thwall.org/docs/getting-started/non-studio-projects#minimum-requirements) - [AR Simulator + Device Connect](https://8thwall.org/docs/getting-started/non-studio-projects#ar-simulator--device-connect) - [Image Targets](https://8thwall.org/docs/getting-started/non-studio-projects#image-targets) - [File Browser (optional)](https://8thwall.org/docs/getting-started/non-studio-projects#file-browser-optional) - [Publishing](https://8thwall.org/docs/getting-started/non-studio-projects#publishing) - [Questions?](https://8thwall.org/docs/getting-started/non-studio-projects#questions)