diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 83099ce..e9ec621 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ external/tinyply/
 external/numpyeigen/
 external/igl/
 external/geogram/
-external/tinyobjloader/
\ No newline at end of file
+external/tinyobjloader/
diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ad431b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Include essential top-level files
+include CMakeLists.txt
+include LICENSE
+include MANIFEST.in
+include README.md
+include pyproject.toml
+include setup.py
+
+# Include the cmake and source directories
+recursive-include cmake *
+recursive-include src *
+
+# Include the entire external directory first
+recursive-include external *
+
+# Exclude common unwanted file patterns from .gitignore
+global-exclude *.obj *.off *.so *.pyc *.ini
+global-exclude *.creator* *.includes *.files *.config
+exclude test.ply
+
+# Prune external libraries listed in .gitignore
+prune external/embree
+prune external/manifold
+prune external/simde
+prune external/tinyply
+prune external/numpyeigen
+prune external/igl
+prune external/geogram
+prune external/tinyobjloader
+prune external/.cache
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7d34347..1a3e3eb 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ def main():
             'numpy',
             'scipy'
         ],
-        test_suite="tests"
+        test_suite="tests",
+        include_package_data = True,
     )