# Exercise 2: Building the Project

This exercise describes how to build the Blink project. You build a project so that you can run it. When you build a project, Java WorkShop compiles the project's Java source code into a file called filename`.class`.

If you haven't yet created the Blink project, you should do so now using the steps in Creating the Blink Project.

1. Check the Java WorkShop Project Manager window for the name of the current project.
   If the current project is not Blink, double-click on the Blink project name.
2. Click the Build button on the Java WorkShop main toolbar.
   Java WorkShop compiles the `Blink.java` program into the `Blink.class` file of bytecode. Watch the Build tab (below the source editor) as Java WorkShop builds your project. The status message "Done" appears in the Build tab when your sources are finished building and compiling.

Next lesson:

  Exercise 3: Running the Project