# Program Mode

Program Mode is used to develop your Cognex Designer project, by modifying and editing your project with the Cognex Designer Integrated Development Environment (IDE). During Program Mode, the vision system running the project is not actively operating (no I/O triggers are processed and no industrial communications are taking place), allowing you to modify or develop your project further.

Tip: While in Program Mode and developing your Task, press the button (or F6) in a Task to execute only the selected Task. This applies the latest project changes and runs the currently open Task without placing the entire project in Test Mode.
Note:

- See the Developing a Cognex Designer Project topic for more information about building a project.
- Communication Blocks, like Discrete I/O Blocks and Factory Protocol Blocks are not performing any actions in a Task in Program Mode. Put the project in Test Mode to check if they operate correctly.