> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.prescaler.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Projects, builds and debug configurations

> Keep native build intent separate from physical hardware and session preferences.

A project is the source tree and its native build metadata. A build configuration selects an environment, board, preset or toolchain. A debug configuration selects how Prescaler connects to and inspects a target.

| Concept      | Example                               | What it establishes                          |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Native build | CMake Release preset                  | Compiler options and output location         |
| SDK board    | Zephyr board with revision/qualifiers | Board configuration requested from the SDK   |
| Debug device | Exact MCU part name                   | Device description requested by the debugger |
| Probe        | A selected USB debug adapter          | Connection endpoint                          |
| SVD          | Device register description           | Documented register layout                   |
| Artifact     | ELF/BIN/HEX from a build              | Program bytes and possibly symbols           |

Changing the debug-device selection does **not** rewrite the native project or retarget a binary. Change the board/build configuration, rebuild, then reselect the correct artifact before programming.

Prescaler stores IDE preferences in project metadata. Engineers normally use the UI. Native files remain visible for version control and advanced editing; see [configuration ownership](/reference/configuration).