---
title: "DEV Device and DEV_USE"
type: "article"
slug: "dev-device-and-dev_use"
url: "http://localhost/article/dev-device-and-dev_use/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/dev-device-and-dev_use.md"
published_at: "2026-02-08T21:52:09+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-02-08T21:52:10+00:00"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "Many QL users now have access to level 2 directories on their systems, either through hard disks or through using HD or ED disks. It is easy enough to put software into these directories to make sure that individual disks or drives don’t become cluttered with masses of small programs. But many QL programs were…"
category:
  - name: "International QL Report"
    slug: "international-ql-report"
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post_tag:
  - name: "QL"
    slug: "ql"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ql/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair QL"
    slug: "sinclair-ql"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/sinclair-ql/"
indiv:
  - name: "Dilwyn Jones"
    slug: "dilwyn-jones"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/dilwyn-jones/"
publication_r:
  id: 33740
  title: "International QL Report"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/international-ql-report/"
authors_r:
  - name: "Dilwyn Jones"
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volume: "4"
issue: "2"
issues_articles:
  - id: 37208
    title: "International QL Report V4 I2"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/international-ql-report-v4-i2/"
pages: "39-40"
pubdate: "July/August 1994"
archive_link: false
---

# DEV Device and DEV_USE

Many QL users now have access to level 2 directories on their systems, either through hard disks or through using HD or ED disks. It is easy enough to put software into these directories to make sure that individual disks or drives don’t become cluttered with masses of small programs. But many QL programs were written by users who had no hard disk or level 2 filing systems and not many programs give you the facility to set up a program to work with subdirectories. The Gold Card manual hints at a way of doing this with the DEV device and DEV_USE commands, but doesn’t really make it obvious because the clue is hidden amid the level of detail and options available. Read the notes about the DEV device in the manual first, then read this article and try it with the short example below.