> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vowena-dependabot-github-actions-actions-checkout-7.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# create_project

> Creates a Project on chain. A Project groups plans together under a merchant. Returns the chain-assigned project_id.

```rust theme={null}
fn create_project(
    env: Env,
    merchant: Address,
    name: String,
    description: String,
) -> u64
```

Creates a Project on chain. A Project groups billing plans together under a single merchant: one merchant can own many projects, and each plan is scoped to exactly one. Returns the chain-assigned `project_id` (a globally unique `u64`).

Every plan must reference an existing project, so merchants must create a Project before they can create any plans.

***

## Parameters

| Name          | Type      | Description                                                            |
| ------------- | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `merchant`    | `Address` | The merchant's Stellar address. Must sign the transaction.             |
| `name`        | `String`  | Human-readable project name (e.g. `"Acme SaaS"`).                      |
| `description` | `String`  | Optional longer description shown in the dashboard. Pass `""` to skip. |

***

## Authorization

```rust theme={null}
merchant.require_auth();
```

The merchant address must sign.

***

## Return value

`u64` — the new `project_id`.

***

## Events emitted

| Event             | Topics                          | Data         |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------ |
| `project_created` | `"project_created"`, `merchant` | `project_id` |

***

## Examples

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="SDK">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    import { VowenaClient, NETWORKS } from "@vowena/sdk";

    const client = new VowenaClient({
      contractId: NETWORKS.testnet.contractId,
      rpcUrl: NETWORKS.testnet.rpcUrl,
      networkPassphrase: NETWORKS.testnet.networkPassphrase,
    });

    const tx = await client.buildCreateProject({
      merchant: "GMERCHANT...ADDR",
      name: "Acme SaaS",
      description: "Recurring billing for Acme's hosted product.",
    });

    const signedXdr = await signTransaction(tx);
    const result = await client.submitTransaction(signedXdr);
    // The contract returns the new project_id via the transaction result.
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Soroban CLI">
    ```bash theme={null}
    soroban contract invoke \
      --id CONTRACT_ID \
      --network testnet \
      --source MERCHANT_SECRET \
      -- \
      create_project \
      --merchant GMERCHANT...ADDR \
      --name "Acme SaaS" \
      --description "Recurring billing for Acme's hosted product."
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Tip>
  Projects are cheap to create and can't be deleted, so you typically
  create one per product line. Each plan belongs to exactly one project.
</Tip>