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+---
+bc-version: [all]
+domain: architecture
+keywords: [build, output, alpackages, duplicate, language-server, app-package, project-root, AL0197]
+technologies: [al]
+countries: [w1]
+application-area: [all]
+---
+
+## Description
+
+When `al_build` or the VS Code AL extension builds an AL project, the generated `.app` file is placed in the project root folder by default. Over successive builds, multiple `.app` files accumulate (e.g. `Publisher_AppName_28.0.0.1.app`, `28.0.0.4.app`, `28.0.0.7.app`). The AL language server — both in VS Code and in the MCP AL server — scans the project folder for symbol packages and may load these compiled artefacts alongside the live source files. This causes `AL0197` duplicate object errors for every object in the project, with error messages pointing to source lines rather than to the packaged artefact as the duplicate source.
+
+The errors are not real. They disappear when the stale `.app` files are removed from the root.
+
+## Rule
+
+AL build output (`.app` files) **must not** accumulate in the project root folder.
+
+Configure the build output path to a dedicated subfolder that is excluded from language server scanning.
+
+In `.vscode/settings.json`:
+```json
+{
+  "al.outputPath": ".output"
+}
+```
+
+When using the MCP `al_build` tool, pass `outputPath` explicitly:
+```
+al_build projectPath="..." outputPath=".output/AppName.app"
+```
+
+Add `.output/` to `.gitignore` if not already excluded.
+
+## What NOT to do
+
+- Do not allow `.app` files to accumulate in the project root without cleanup
+- Do not interpret `AL0197` ("already declared by extension") as a source code error before first checking for stale `.app` files in the project root
+- Do not add root `.app` files to `.gitignore` as a substitute for proper output path configuration — removal is required, not concealment
+
+## Signal to watch for
+
+If `al_build` or `al_getdiagnostics` reports `AL0197 — An application object ... is already declared by the extension '...'` for objects that exist only in source, inspect the project root for `.app` files before investigating source code.
+
+## How to recover
+
+1. Delete all `.app` files from the project root
+2. Re-add the project: `al_addproject projectPath="..."`
+3. Re-run `al_build` with an explicit `outputPath`