# What's the difference between \`src/\` and \`site/src\` in a new rebar3 Nitrogen project?

**URL:** <https://erlangforums.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-src-and-site-src-in-a-new-rebar3-nitrogen-project/2881>\
**Category:** Nitrogen Forum\
**Tags:** nitrogen-questions\
**Created:** [September 19, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://erlangforums.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-src-and-site-src-in-a-new-rebar3-nitrogen-project/2881 "2023-09-19T19:41:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ostap](https://erlangforums.com/user_avatar/erlangforums.com/ostap/32/2076_2.png) [@Ostap](https://erlangforums.com/u/Ostap)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://erlangforums.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-src-and-site-src-in-a-new-rebar3-nitrogen-project/2881/1 "2023-09-19T19:41:15Z")

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Hello. I’m creating a new Nitrogen rebar3 project like this:

```plaintext
git clone git@github.com:osbre/nitrogen.git --branch=rebar3
cd nitrogen
make rel_cowboy PROJECT=example # project name

cd ../example
make run_dev
open "http://127.0.0.1:8000" # or xdg-open if on Linux

```

Just noticed there is a `site/` directory which links to the other directories:

```erlang
├── site
│ ├── include -> ../include
│ ├── src -> ../src
│ ├── static -> ../priv/static
│ └── templates -> ../priv/templates

```

As a beginner to both Erlang and Nitrogen, what are the reasons for having this directory?

Is it for compatibility with learning resources that mention the `site/` directory? If so, can I delete the `site/` folder?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ostap](https://erlangforums.com/user_avatar/erlangforums.com/ostap/32/2076_2.png) [@Ostap](https://erlangforums.com/u/Ostap)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://erlangforums.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-src-and-site-src-in-a-new-rebar3-nitrogen-project/2881/2 "2023-09-19T19:41:37Z")

</div>

After deleting this folder, the project still runs fine. Looks like the `site/` folder is not needed and was there for compatibility with older tutorials, as I mentioned. Leaving the question here in case someone gets the same one. (or comes from a search engine)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gumm](https://erlangforums.com/user_avatar/erlangforums.com/gumm/32/688_2.png) [@gumm](https://erlangforums.com/u/gumm)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://erlangforums.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-src-and-site-src-in-a-new-rebar3-nitrogen-project/2881/3 "2023-09-19T19:53:56Z")

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> [@Ostap](#):
>
> As a beginner to both Erlang and Nitrogen, what are the reasons for having this directory?

Hi @Ostap, you are correct. The `site` directory is there for backwards compatibility with any previous documentation or code that might still be referring to the `site` directory structure from Nitrogen 2.x. If you are starting a new project, it is safe to delete this directory.