---
schema_version: "1"
id: e318ed71bc7385bd02293f66bba936c92cec7b8dba9f48a2c8f9e368a7889944
title: Development Overview
collection: tableau
version: next
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/next/en-us/api/webdataconnector/docs/wdc_development.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/api/webdataconnector/en-us/docs/wdc_development.html
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 5490c94589fa0bf9a16495fe79d025e447a182ee066dbadf02c76e34aaf6eef0
description: Documentation for the Tableau Web Data Connector
---
**Deprecated** - This repository will be removed with the Tableau 26.3 release.

The Web Data Connector 3.0 framework is deprecated and will not receive further updates. Migrate to the [REST API Connector on Tableau Exchange](https://exchange.tableau.com/products/1111)—built by Tableau, supports JSON and CSV over HTTP GET, Basic/Bearer/OAuth authentication, and runs on Tableau 2023.3 and later. Note: this connector is extract-only and requires a JDBC driver installation.

# Development Overview

  

🕐 _2 min read_

## Creation

`taco create`

Example: `taco create my-connector -b earthquake-data`

The `taco create` command also provides git support with option `--git`. When you provide this option, the taco command automatically sets up the project as a git repository.

**Note**: Git must be installed before using this option.

## Development

Connector source code is under the connector directory, which is an [npm project](https://docs.npmjs.com/about-npm). During the development phase, taco developers mostly work under the connector directory. taco-toolkit provides standard npm support. In the connector directory, three npm scripts are available for developing connectors.

- npm run build
- npm start
- npm run clean

If you prefer working on the TACO project root directory, the TACO CLI also has corresponding commands for the npm scripts.

- taco build
- taco start
- taco clean

**Note**: if you have multiple TACO projects that depend on different versions of taco-toolkit, we recommended that you use the npm scripts.

## Tableau Integration

`taco pack`

To run the connector with Tableau apps, a connector must be packed into a `.taco` file. You, as a TACO developer, can run the `taco pack` command in the root directory of a TACO project.

The `taco pack` command does three things:

- Preparation: creating TACO XML files (according to the configurations in the `connector.json` file)
- Validation: validate the `connector.json` and XML files are set up properly
- Packaging: generate `.taco` file

In some scenarios, you might need to manually modify the TACO XML files for customization. The following options are provided:

| Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `--prepare` | When this option is present, `taco pack` only performs the prepare stage. You can use the command to create the initial TACO files for customization. |
| `--validate` | When this option is present, `taco pack` only performs the validate stage. You can use the command to validate if your TACO files are set up properly. |
| `--skip-prepare` | When this option is present, `taco pack` doesn’t generate the TACO files, which allows you to pack the customized TACO files into the `.taco` file. |

**Note**: The TACO project must be built before packing. Developers may use taco build --clean to make sure the project has a clean build.

`taco run`

Example:

`taco run Desktop --version 2022.3`

The command launches a Tableau app with your TACO connector. By default, the command looks for `.taco` files under the current directory. You can use the `--taco-dir` option to specify a directory that contains `.taco` files.