# The alice.toml manifest

> Configure package metadata, dependencies, generated projects, and native publishing.

Canonical: https://alice-lang.org/documentation/tools/manifest/

[Documentation index](https://alice-lang.org/documentation/llms.txt) · [Complete book](https://alice-lang.org/llms-full.txt)

## One project source of truth

`alice.toml` describes a package. Alice rewrites its generated `.alice/<name>.alproj` from the manifest on commands that synchronize the project. Do not edit or commit generated projects.

```toml
[package]
name = "tea-shop"
version = "0.1.0"
kind = "exe"
target = "net10.0"

[dependencies]
"Newtonsoft.Json" = "13.*"
Geometry = { path = "../Geometry" }
Legacy = { path = "../Legacy/Legacy.csproj" }
Shared = { workspace = true }

[build]
native = false
```

## Package fields

| Field     | Meaning                                        |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `name`    | Package name used for the generated project    |
| `version` | Package version                                |
| `kind`    | `exe`, `lib`, or `game`                        |
| `target`  | Target framework; current default is `net10.0` |

`game` adds the MonoGame DesktopGL dependency. `alice new` writes a suitable initial manifest and ignore file.

## Source layout

`src/**/*.al` contains Alice source; `src/**/*.cs` can participate in a mixed project. `test/` and `spec/` are for the test runner. Outputs remain in the package's `bin/` and `obj/`, even though the generated project is under `.alice/`.

Keep these generated paths ignored:

```text
bin/
obj/
.alice/
```

## Dependencies

A string value is a NuGet version expression. A path can point to an Alice package directory or a C# project. An Alice path dependency synchronizes recursively. A directory without `alice.toml` can resolve its existing project file.

`{ workspace = true }` resolves a package by workspace member name; it is an error if that member cannot be found. Use [workspaces](https://alice-lang.org/documentation/tools/workspaces.md) to describe related packages.

After editing dependencies, run `alice install` or build. `using` imports a namespace but does not add a dependency.

## Lock file

`alice.lock` records exact versions from the last NuGet restore, read from `obj/project.assets.json`. It lives at the workspace root or beside a standalone package. Subsequent builds pin recorded versions. Commit it so collaborators restore the same dependency versions.

`alice update` intentionally refreshes those resolutions. Review the resulting lock changes together with behavior checks.

## Build settings

`[build] native = true` opts into NativeAOT. Additional MSBuild settings and framework references can live in `Directory.Build.props` or `Directory.Build.targets`; they should not be patched into generated `.alproj` files. The [SDK chapter](https://alice-lang.org/documentation/tools/sdk.md) describes how these layers work.

## Continue reading

- Previous: [CLI command reference](https://alice-lang.org/documentation/tools/cli.md)
- Next: [Workspaces and package graphs](https://alice-lang.org/documentation/tools/workspaces.md)