# X_DEV_STATE_UNWRITABLE

## Means

x dev cannot claim its state directory

## Typical cause

the state directory could not be created, written, or hard-linked into, so x dev cannot take its lock — a read-only checkout, a .x/ this user may not write, or a filesystem without hard links

## Fix

`ls -ld .x` — make it writable by this user, on a filesystem that supports hard links, then re-run x dev

[CLI and verify](/error-codes#cli-and-verify)