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+# `include_assets` Build Step
+
+Copies files into the extension output bundle and optionally generates a `manifest.json` that describes what was copied and where.
+
+---
+
+## Step config shape
+
+```toml
+[extensions.build.steps.include_assets]
+generate_manifest = false   # optional, default false
+
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+# one entry per file/directory group to copy — see inclusion types below
+```
+
+### Top-level fields
+
+| Field | Type | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `inclusions` | array | required | List of inclusion entries (see types below) |
+| `generate_manifest` | boolean | `false` | When `true`, writes `manifest.json` to the output directory after all files are copied |
+
+---
+
+## Inclusion types
+
+### `pattern` — glob-based selection
+
+Selects files from a source directory using glob patterns.
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "pattern"
+base_dir = "./assets"          # optional, defaults to extension root
+include = ["**/*.json"]        # optional, defaults to ["**/*"]
+ignore = ["**/node_modules"]   # optional
+destination = "dist"           # optional subdirectory in the output bundle
+preserve_structure = true      # optional, default true
+```
+
+| Field | Type | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `base_dir` | string | extension root | Directory to glob from |
+| `include` | string[] | `["**/*"]` | Glob patterns to include |
+| `ignore` | string[] | — | Glob patterns to exclude |
+| `destination` | string | — | Output subdirectory |
+| `preserve_structure` | boolean | `true` | Keep relative paths from `base_dir` |
+
+**Does not contribute to manifest.**
+
+---
+
+### `static` — explicit source path
+
+Copies a single file or directory by explicit path.
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "static"
+source = "./dist/bundle.js"   # required — path relative to extension root
+destination = "assets"        # optional output subdirectory
+preserve_structure = false    # optional, default false
+```
+
+| Field | Type | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `source` | string | required | Path relative to extension root |
+| `destination` | string | — | Output subdirectory. When omitted and `preserve_structure = false`, contents are merged into the output root |
+| `preserve_structure` | boolean | `false` | Place the directory under its own name rather than merging |
+
+**Does not contribute to manifest.**
+
+---
+
+### `configKey` — resolved from extension TOML config
+
+Reads a path (or list of paths) from the extension's own TOML configuration and copies them. Silently skipped when the key is absent from the config.
+
+Use `[]` in the key path to flatten arrays during resolution.
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].targeting[].tools"   # dot-path with [] to flatten arrays
+destination = "dist"                     # optional output subdirectory
+preserve_structure = false               # optional, default false
+anchor = "extensions[].targeting[]"     # optional — for manifest grouping
+group_by = "target"                      # optional — for manifest grouping
+```
+
+| Field | Type | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `key` | string | required | Dot-path into the extension config. `[]` flattens arrays and collects all leaf values |
+| `destination` | string | — | Output subdirectory |
+| `preserve_structure` | boolean | `false` | Place source under its own name |
+| `anchor` | string | — | Array path to iterate for manifest grouping. Must be set together with `group_by` |
+| `group_by` | string | — | Property on each anchor item to use as the manifest key. Must be set together with `anchor` |
+
+**Contributes to manifest.** (See [Manifest generation](#manifest-generation) below.)
+
+> **Warning:** Setting only one of `anchor` / `group_by` logs a warning and the entry is treated as a root-level manifest entry instead.
+
+---
+
+## Manifest generation
+
+When `generate_manifest = true`, the step writes a `manifest.json` to the output directory after all files have been copied.
+
+Only `configKey` inclusions contribute to the manifest. `pattern` and `static` inclusions are ignored.
+
+### Path resolution
+
+Manifest paths are **output-relative** — they reflect where files actually landed in the output bundle, not the raw values from the config. This is tracked via the actual copy operations, so rename-on-conflict (see below) is always reflected correctly.
+
+### Root-level entries
+
+A `configKey` inclusion **without** `anchor`/`group_by` is written at the manifest root, keyed by the last segment of its `key` path:
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].tools"
+```
+
+Given `extensions[0].tools = "./tools.json"` → copies the file → manifest entry:
+
+```json
+{
+  "tools": "tools.json"
+}
+```
+
+### Anchored entries (grouped)
+
+When `anchor` and `group_by` are both set, the step iterates the array at the `anchor` path and groups manifest entries under each item's `group_by` field value. The `key` path is resolved relative to the anchor item.
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].targeting[].tools"
+anchor = "extensions[].targeting[]"
+group_by = "target"
+```
+
+Extension config:
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.targeting]]
+target = "admin.intent.link"
+tools = "./tools.json"
+
+[[extensions.targeting]]
+target = "admin.order.action"
+tools = "./order-tools.json"
+```
+
+Resulting `manifest.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "admin.intent.link": {
+    "tools": "tools.json"
+  },
+  "admin.order.action": {
+    "tools": "order-tools.json"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Multiple inclusions per anchor
+
+Multiple `configKey` entries sharing the same `anchor`/`group_by` are merged per group key:
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].targeting[].tools"
+anchor = "extensions[].targeting[]"
+group_by = "target"
+
+[[extensions.build.steps.include_assets.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].targeting[].schema"
+anchor = "extensions[].targeting[]"
+group_by = "target"
+```
+
+```json
+{
+  "admin.intent.link": {
+    "tools": "tools.json",
+    "schema": "email-schema.json"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Rename on conflict
+
+If two config entries resolve to files with the same name, the second copy gets a counter suffix (`-1`, `-2`, …) to avoid overwriting. The manifest reflects the actual output path:
+
+```json
+{
+  "admin.intent.link": { "schema": "schema.json" },
+  "admin.order.action": { "schema": "schema-1.json" }
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Full example
+
+Extension TOML:
+
+```toml
+[extensions.build]
+[[extensions.build.steps]]
+type = "include_assets"
+generate_manifest = true
+
+[[extensions.build.steps.inclusions]]
+type = "static"
+source = "./assets"
+
+[[extensions.build.steps.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].targeting[].tools"
+anchor = "extensions[].targeting[]"
+group_by = "target"
+
+[[extensions.build.steps.inclusions]]
+type = "configKey"
+key = "extensions[].targeting[].schema"
+anchor = "extensions[].targeting[]"
+group_by = "target"
+```
+
+Extension configuration:
+
+```toml
+[[extensions.targeting]]
+target = "admin.intent.link"
+tools  = "./tools.json"
+schema = "./email-schema.json"
+
+[[extensions.targeting]]
+target = "admin.order.action"
+tools  = "./tools.json"      # same file — gets renamed to tools-1.json
+schema = "./order-schema.json"
+```
+
+Output bundle:
+
+```
+output/
+  assets/          ← from static entry
+  tools.json
+  tools-1.json
+  email-schema.json
+  order-schema.json
+  manifest.json
+```
+
+`manifest.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "admin.intent.link": {
+    "tools": "tools.json",
+    "schema": "email-schema.json"
+  },
+  "admin.order.action": {
+    "tools": "tools-1.json",
+    "schema": "order-schema.json"
+  }
+}
+```