Document `#:include` support in file-based apps by Copilot · Pull Request #53350 · dotnet/docs

Copilot · 2026-04-22T21:11:14Z

The file-based apps article was missing the new #:include directive introduced with .NET 11 Preview 3 and backported to .NET SDK 10.0.3xx. This update adds directive coverage and clarifies how included source files participate in compilation.

Supported directives
- Added #:include to the top-level list of supported file-based app directives.
New #:include directive section
- Added dedicated documentation for #:include.
- Included syntax examples for including files from the app root and subfolders.
- Added version availability note: .NET 11 Preview 3 and .NET SDK 10.0.3xx+.
Default included items clarification
- Documented that files referenced by #:include are included in compilation.

#:include helpers.cs
#:include models/customer.cs

Console.WriteLine("Hello!");

Internal previews

📄 File	🔗 Preview link
docs/core/sdk/file-based-apps.md	File-based apps

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/27329bc4-87c0-469b-b146-55d906707455 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

gewarren · 2026-04-22T21:54:15Z

 ## Supported directives

-File-based apps use directives prefixed with `#:` to configure the build and run the application. Supported directives include: `#:package`, `#:project`, `#:property`, and `#:sdk`. Place these directives at the top of the C# file.
+File-based apps use directives prefixed with `#:` to configure the build and run the application. Supported directives include: `#:package`, `#:project`, `#:include`, `#:property`, and `#:sdk`. Place these directives at the top of the C# file.


Insert alphabetically.

Addressed in 45e2f60. The supported directives list and directive sections are now ordered alphabetically.

gewarren · 2026-04-22T21:54:43Z


+### `#:include`
+
+Includes another C# source file in your file-based app.


Suggested change

Includes another C# source file in your file-based app.

Includes another C# source file in the file-based app.

Applied in 45e2f60. The sentence now reads: “Includes another C# source file in the file-based app.”

gewarren · 2026-04-22T21:57:14Z

@copilot Please respond to feedback.

Reordered the list of supported directives for clarity and moved the `#:project` section to a new position.

Removed duplicate section for the `#:include` directive in the documentation.

Copilot

Pull request overview

Updates the file-based apps documentation to cover the newly supported #:include directive so developers can split a file-based app across multiple source files.

Changes:

Adds #:include to the supported directives list.
Adds a new #:include subsection with examples and an availability note.

Copilot · 2026-04-22T22:05:03Z

+### `#:include`
+
+Includes another C# source file in the file-based app.
+
+```csharp
+#:include helpers.cs
+#:include models/customer.cs
+```
+
+The `#:include` directive is available in .NET 11 Preview 3 and .NET SDK 10.0.3xx and later.


The new #:include section doesn't currently explain how included files participate in compilation (for example, that the included source is compiled as part of the same app and can contribute types/top-level statements). That detail is called out in the PR description, so consider adding one clarifying sentence here to avoid ambiguity about what "includes" means.

@copilot apply changes based on this feedback

Applied in 95713a7. I added clarification that included files compile as part of the same app and can add declarations.

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/a2dfc33b-80ca-4bce-a649-cb0f6ef97058 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-04-22T22:09:33Z

@copilot Please respond to feedback.

Done—feedback has been applied in 95713a7.

Initial plan

d8ea0eb

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and gewarren Apr 22, 2026

Copilot AI linked an issue Apr 22, 2026 that may be closed by this pull request

File-based apps can include other code files #53204

Open

Copilot started work on behalf of gewarren April 22, 2026 21:11 View session

Document #:include support for file-based apps

da16212

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/27329bc4-87c0-469b-b146-55d906707455 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

dotnet-policy-service Bot added the dotnet-fundamentals/svc label Apr 22, 2026

Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Update article on file-based apps with include syntax~~ Document #:include support in file-based apps Apr 22, 2026

Copilot finished work on behalf of gewarren April 22, 2026 21:14

Copilot AI requested a review from gewarren April 22, 2026 21:14

gewarren reviewed Apr 22, 2026

View reviewed changes

gewarren added 2 commits April 22, 2026 14:59

Reorganize supported directives in file-based apps docs

dce1256

Reordered the list of supported directives for clarity and moved the `#:project` section to a new position.

Remove duplicate #:include directive section

c26788a

Removed duplicate section for the `#:include` directive in the documentation.

gewarren reviewed Apr 22, 2026

View reviewed changes

Comment thread docs/core/sdk/file-based-apps.md Outdated

Update docs/core/sdk/file-based-apps.md

45e2f60

gewarren approved these changes Apr 22, 2026

View reviewed changes

gewarren marked this pull request as ready for review April 22, 2026 22:03

gewarren requested a review from a team as a code owner April 22, 2026 22:03

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings April 22, 2026 22:03

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of gewarren April 22, 2026 22:03 View session

Copilot AI reviewed Apr 22, 2026

View reviewed changes

Copilot started work on behalf of gewarren April 22, 2026 22:06 View session

Copilot AI and others added 4 commits April 22, 2026 22:07

Clarify #:include compilation behavior in file-based apps docs

94d3ead

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/a2dfc33b-80ca-4bce-a649-cb0f6ef97058 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Refine #:include clarification wording for list clarity

b5f492a

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/a2dfc33b-80ca-4bce-a649-cb0f6ef97058 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Adjust include clarification phrasing

70062cf

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/a2dfc33b-80ca-4bce-a649-cb0f6ef97058 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Split include clarification into two sentences

95713a7

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/dotnet/docs/sessions/a2dfc33b-80ca-4bce-a649-cb0f6ef97058 Co-authored-by: gewarren <24882762+gewarren@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of gewarren April 22, 2026 22:10

Copilot AI requested a review from gewarren April 22, 2026 22:10

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Document `#:include` support in file-based apps#53350

Document `#:include` support in file-based apps#53350
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		### `#:include`

		Includes another C# source file in your file-based app.

	Includes another C# source file in your file-based app.
	Includes another C# source file in the file-based app.

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