diff --git a/docs/automatic_linting.md b/docs/automatic_linting.md
index 06be5705..d1a1e046 100644
--- a/docs/automatic_linting.md
+++ b/docs/automatic_linting.md
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ To enable automatic linting with the YAML language server, you need to add the f
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prefix-dev/recipe-format/main/schema.json
 ```
 
-**Alternatively**, if you prefer not to add this line to your file, you can install the [JSON Schema Store Catalog extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=remcohaszing.schemastore). This extension will also enable automatic linting for your recipe files.
\ No newline at end of file
+**Alternatively**, if you prefer not to add this line to your file, you can install the [JSON Schema Store Catalog extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=remcohaszing.schemastore). This extension will also enable automatic linting for your recipe files.
diff --git a/docs/build_options.md b/docs/build_options.md
index fe47072a..c56de4c1 100644
--- a/docs/build_options.md
+++ b/docs/build_options.md
@@ -8,25 +8,80 @@ There are some specialized build options to control various features:
 
 These are all found under the `build` key in the `recipe.yaml`.
 
-## Always include and always copy files
+## Include only certain files in the package
 
-There are some options that control the inclusion of files in the final package.
+Sometimes you may want to include only a subset of the files installed by the
+build process in your package. For this, the `files` key can be used. Only _new_
+files are considered for inclusion (ie. files that were not in the host
+environment beforehand).
 
-The `always_include_files` option can be used to include files even if they are
-already in the environment as part of some other host dependency. This is normally
-"clobbering" and should be used with caution (since packages should not have any overlapping files).
+```yaml title="recipe.yaml"
+build:
+  # select files to be included in the package
+  # this can be used to remove files from the package, even if they are installed in the
+  # environment
+  files: list of globs
+```
+
+For example, to only include the header files in a package, you could use:
+
+```yaml title="recipe.yaml"
+build:
+  files:
+    - include/**/*.h
+```
+
+Glob patterns throughout the recipe file can also use a flexible `include` /
+`exclude` pair, such as:
+
+```yaml title="recipe.yaml"
+build:
+  files:
+    include:
+      - include/**/*.h
+    exclude:
+      - include/**/private.h
+```
+
+### Glob evaluation
+
+Glob patterns are used throughout the build options to specify files. The
+patterns are matched against the relative path of the file in the build
+directory. Patterns can contain `*` to match any number of characters, `?` to
+match a single character, and `**` to match any number of directories.
+
+For example:
+
+- `*.txt` matches all files ending in `.txt`
+- `**/*.txt` matches all files ending in `.txt` in any directory
+- `**/test_*.txt` matches all files starting with `test_` and ending in `.txt`
+  in any directory
+- `foo/` matches all files under the `foo` directory
+
+The globs are always evaluted relative to the prefix directory. If you have no
+`include` globs, but an `exclude` glob, then all files are included except those
+that match the `exclude` glob. This is equivalent to `include: ['**']`.
 
-The `always_copy_files` option can be used to copy files instead of linking them.
-This is useful for files that might be modified inside the environment (e.g. configuration files).
-Normally, files are linked from a central cache into the environment to save space – that means
-that files modified in one environment will be modified in all environments. This is not always
-desirable, and in that case you can use the `always_copy_files` option.
+## Always include and always copy files
 
-??? note "How `always_copy_files` works"
-    The `always_copy_files` option works by setting the `no_link` option in the
-    `info/paths.json` to `true` for the files in question. This means that the
-    files are copied instead of linked when the package is installed.
+There are some options that control the inclusion of files in the final package.
 
+The `always_include_files` option can be used to include files even if they are
+already in the environment as part of some other host dependency. This is
+normally "clobbering" and should be used with caution (since packages should not
+have any overlapping files).
+
+The `always_copy_files` option can be used to copy files instead of linking
+them. This is useful for files that might be modified inside the environment
+(e.g. configuration files). Normally, files are linked from a central cache into
+the environment to save space – that means that files modified in one
+environment will be modified in all environments. This is not always desirable,
+and in that case you can use the `always_copy_files` option.
+
+??? note "How `always_copy_files` works" The `always_copy_files` option works by
+setting the `no_link` option in the `info/paths.json` to `true` for the
+files in question. This means that the files are copied instead of linked
+when the package is installed.
 
 ```yaml title="recipe.yaml"
 build:
@@ -38,19 +93,6 @@ build:
   always_copy_files: list of globs
 ```
 
-!!! note "Glob patterns"
-    Glob patterns are used througout the build options to specify files. The
-    patterns are matched against the relative path of the file in the build
-    directory.
-    Patterns can contain `*` to match any number of characters, `?` to match a
-    single character, and `**` to match any number of directories.
-
-    For example:
-
-    - `*.txt` matches all files ending in `.txt`
-    - `**/*.txt` matches all files ending in `.txt` in any directory
-    - `**/test_*.txt` matches all files starting with `test_` and ending in `.txt` in any directory
-
 ## Merge build and host environments
 
 In very rare cases you might want to merge the build and host environments to
@@ -135,7 +177,6 @@ build:
 
     # used to prefer this variant less
     down_prioritize_variant: integer (defaults to 0, higher is less preferred)
-
 ```
 
 ## Dynamic linking configuration
@@ -160,8 +201,8 @@ If you want to stop `rattler-build` from relocating the binaries, you can set
 `binary_relocation` to `false`. If you want to only relocate some binaries, you
 can select the relevant ones with a glob pattern.
 
-To read more about `rpath`s and how rattler-build creates relocatable binary packages,
-see the [internals](internals.md) docs.
+To read more about `rpath`s and how rattler-build creates relocatable binary
+packages, see the [internals](internals.md) docs.
 
 If you link against some libraries (possibly even outside of the prefix, in a
 system location), then you can use the `missing_dso_allowlist` to allow linking
@@ -169,12 +210,12 @@ against these and suppress any warnings. This list is pre-populated with a list
 of known system libraries on the different operating systems.
 
 As part of the post-processing, `rattler-build` checks for overlinking and
-overdepending. "Overlinking" is when a binary links against a library that is not
-specified in the run requirements. This is usually a mistake because the library
-would not be present in the environment when the package is installed.
+overdepending. "Overlinking" is when a binary links against a library that is
+not specified in the run requirements. This is usually a mistake because the
+library would not be present in the environment when the package is installed.
 
-Conversely, "overdepending" is when a library is part of the run requirements, but
-is not actually used by any of the binaries/libraries in the package.
+Conversely, "overdepending" is when a library is part of the run requirements,
+but is not actually used by any of the binaries/libraries in the package.
 
 ```yaml title="recipe.yaml"
 build:
diff --git a/docs/highlevel.md b/docs/highlevel.md
index a2ec0f76..dae124ed 100644
--- a/docs/highlevel.md
+++ b/docs/highlevel.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ dependencies are. From the recipe file, `rattler-build` executes several steps:
 
 2. **Fetch source**:
 
-   Retrieve specified source files, such as `.tar.gz` files, `git` repositories, local paths. 
+   Retrieve specified source files, such as `.tar.gz` files, `git` repositories, local paths.
    Additionally, this step will apply patches that can be specified alongside the source file.
 
 3. **Install build environments**:
diff --git a/docs/tutorials/python.md b/docs/tutorials/python.md
index b637eb99..da237dab 100644
--- a/docs/tutorials/python.md
+++ b/docs/tutorials/python.md
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # Writing a Python package
 
-Writing a Python package is fairly straightforward, especially for "Python-only" packages. 
+Writing a Python package is fairly straightforward, especially for "Python-only" packages.
 In the second example we will build a package for `numpy` which contains compiled code.
 
 ## A Python-only package
-The following recipe uses the `noarch: python` setting to build a `noarch` package that can be installed on any platform without modification. 
+The following recipe uses the `noarch: python` setting to build a `noarch` package that can be installed on any platform without modification.
 This is very handy for packages that are pure Python and do not contain any compiled extensions.
 
 Additionally, `noarch: python` packages work with a range of Python versions (contrary to packages with compiled extensions that are tied to a specific Python version).
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ rattler-build build --recipe ./ipywidgets
 ## A Python package with compiled extensions
 
 We will build a package for `numpy` – which contains compiled code.
-Since compiled code is `python` version-specific, we will need to specify the `python` version explicitly. 
+Since compiled code is `python` version-specific, we will need to specify the `python` version explicitly.
 The best way to do this is with a "variant_config.yaml" file:
 
 ```yaml title="variant_config.yaml"
diff --git a/src/linux/link.rs b/src/linux/link.rs
index 17dff1f3..e23c2fc6 100644
--- a/src/linux/link.rs
+++ b/src/linux/link.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 //! Relink shared objects to use an relative path prefix
 
-use globset::GlobSet;
 use goblin::elf::{Dyn, Elf};
 use goblin::elf64::header::ELFMAG;
 use goblin::strtab::Strtab;
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ use std::io::Read;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use crate::post_process::relink::{RelinkError, Relinker};
+use crate::recipe::parser::GlobVec;
 use crate::system_tools::{SystemTools, Tool};
 use crate::utils::to_lexical_absolute;
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ impl Relinker for SharedObject {
         prefix: &Path,
         encoded_prefix: &Path,
         custom_rpaths: &[String],
-        rpath_allowlist: Option<&GlobSet>,
+        rpath_allowlist: &GlobVec,
         system_tools: &SystemTools,
     ) -> Result<(), RelinkError> {
         if !self.has_dynamic {
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl Relinker for SharedObject {
                 let resolved = self.resolve_rpath(rpath, prefix, encoded_prefix);
                 if resolved.starts_with(encoded_prefix) {
                     final_rpaths.push(rpath.clone());
-                } else if rpath_allowlist.map(|g| g.is_match(rpath)).unwrap_or(false) {
+                } else if rpath_allowlist.is_match(rpath) {
                     tracing::info!("Rpath in allow list: {}", rpath.display());
                     final_rpaths.push(rpath.clone());
                 }
@@ -197,10 +197,7 @@ impl Relinker for SharedObject {
                     "$ORIGIN/{}",
                     relative_path.to_string_lossy()
                 )));
-            } else if rpath_allowlist
-                .map(|glob| glob.is_match(rpath))
-                .unwrap_or(false)
-            {
+            } else if rpath_allowlist.is_match(rpath) {
                 tracing::info!("rpath ({:?}) for {:?} found in allowlist", rpath, self.path);
                 final_rpaths.push(rpath.clone());
             } else {
@@ -402,7 +399,6 @@ fn builtin_relink(elf_path: &Path, new_rpath: &[PathBuf]) -> Result<(), RelinkEr
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use globset::{Glob, GlobSetBuilder};
     use std::{fs, path::Path};
     use tempfile::tempdir_in;
 
@@ -426,10 +422,7 @@ mod test {
         let binary_path = tmp_dir.join("zlink");
         fs::copy(prefix.join("zlink"), &binary_path)?;
 
-        let globset = GlobSetBuilder::new()
-            .add(Glob::new("/usr/lib/custom**").unwrap())
-            .build()
-            .unwrap();
+        let globvec = GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["/usr/lib/custom**"], None);
 
         // default rpaths of the test binary are:
         // - /rattler-build_zlink/host_env_placehold/lib
@@ -441,7 +434,7 @@ mod test {
             &prefix,
             encoded_prefix,
             &[],
-            Some(&globset),
+            &globvec,
             &SystemTools::default(),
         )?;
         let object = SharedObject::new(&binary_path)?;
@@ -487,7 +480,7 @@ mod test {
             &prefix,
             encoded_prefix,
             &[String::from("lib/")],
-            None,
+            &GlobVec::default(),
             &SystemTools::default(),
         )?;
         let object = SharedObject::new(&binary_path)?;
diff --git a/src/macos/link.rs b/src/macos/link.rs
index ab9ee353..fe023ff5 100644
--- a/src/macos/link.rs
+++ b/src/macos/link.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 //! Relink a dylib to use relative paths for rpaths
-use globset::GlobSet;
 use goblin::mach::Mach;
 use memmap2::MmapMut;
 use scroll::Pread;
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ use std::io::Read;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use crate::post_process::relink::{RelinkError, Relinker};
+use crate::recipe::parser::GlobVec;
 use crate::system_tools::{SystemTools, Tool};
 use crate::utils::to_lexical_absolute;
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ impl Relinker for Dylib {
         prefix: &Path,
         encoded_prefix: &Path,
         custom_rpaths: &[String],
-        rpath_allowlist: Option<&GlobSet>,
+        rpath_allowlist: &GlobVec,
         system_tools: &SystemTools,
     ) -> Result<(), RelinkError> {
         let mut changes = DylibChanges::default();
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ impl Relinker for Dylib {
                 let resolved = self.resolve_rpath(rpath, prefix, encoded_prefix);
                 if resolved.starts_with(encoded_prefix) {
                     final_rpaths.push(rpath.clone());
-                } else if rpath_allowlist.map(|g| g.is_match(rpath)).unwrap_or(false) {
+                } else if rpath_allowlist.is_match(rpath) {
                     tracing::info!("Rpath in allow list: {}", rpath.display());
                     final_rpaths.push(rpath.clone());
                 }
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ impl Relinker for Dylib {
                 final_rpaths.push(new_rpath.clone());
                 // changes.change_rpath.insert(rpath.clone(), new_rpath);
                 // modified = true;
-            } else if rpath_allowlist.map(|g| g.is_match(rpath)).unwrap_or(false) {
+            } else if rpath_allowlist.is_match(rpath) {
                 tracing::info!("Allowlisted rpath: {}", rpath.display());
                 final_rpaths.push(rpath.clone());
             } else {
@@ -533,11 +533,11 @@ mod tests {
     use tempfile::tempdir_in;
 
     use super::{install_name_tool, RelinkError};
-    use crate::post_process::relink::Relinker;
     use crate::{
         macos::link::{Dylib, DylibChanges},
         system_tools::SystemTools,
     };
+    use crate::{post_process::relink::Relinker, recipe::parser::GlobVec};
 
     #[test]
     fn test_relink_builtin() -> Result<(), RelinkError> {
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ mod tests {
                 tmp_prefix,
                 &encoded_prefix,
                 &[],
-                None,
+                &GlobVec::default(),
                 &SystemTools::default(),
             )
             .unwrap();
diff --git a/src/package_test/content_test.rs b/src/package_test/content_test.rs
index 2a0b2025..ac5bbe32 100644
--- a/src/package_test/content_test.rs
+++ b/src/package_test/content_test.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ impl PackageContentsTest {
         target_platform: &Platform,
     ) -> Result<Vec<(String, GlobSet)>, globset::Error> {
         let mut result = Vec::new();
-        for include in self.include.globs() {
+        for include in self.include.include_globs() {
             let glob = if target_platform.is_windows() {
                 format!("Library/include/{include}")
             } else {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl PackageContentsTest {
     ) -> Result<Vec<(String, GlobSet)>, globset::Error> {
         let mut result = Vec::new();
 
-        for bin in self.bin.globs() {
+        for bin in self.bin.include_globs() {
             let globset = if target_platform.is_windows() {
                 // This is usually encoded as `PATHEXT` in the environment
                 let path_ext = "{,.exe,.bat,.cmd,.com,.ps1}";
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ impl PackageContentsTest {
 
         if target_platform.is_windows() {
             // Windows is special because it requires both a `.dll` and a `.bin` file
-            for lib in self.lib.globs() {
+            for lib in self.lib.include_globs() {
                 if lib.glob().ends_with(".dll") {
                     result.push((
                         lib.glob().to_string(),
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ impl PackageContentsTest {
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            for lib in self.lib.globs() {
+            for lib in self.lib.include_globs() {
                 let globset = if target_platform.is_osx() {
                     if lib.glob().ends_with(".dylib") || lib.glob().ends_with(".a") {
                         GlobSet::builder()
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ impl PackageContentsTest {
             "lib/python*/site-packages"
         };
 
-        for site_package in self.site_packages.globs() {
+        for site_package in self.site_packages.include_globs() {
             let mut globset = GlobSet::builder();
 
             if site_package.glob().contains('/') {
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ impl PackageContentsTest {
     pub fn files_as_globs(&self) -> Result<Vec<(String, GlobSet)>, globset::Error> {
         let mut result = Vec::new();
 
-        for file in self.files.globs() {
+        for file in self.files.include_globs() {
             let globset = GlobSet::builder().add(file.clone()).build()?;
             result.push((file.glob().to_string(), globset));
         }
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_include_globs() {
         let package_contents = PackageContentsTest {
-            include: GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["foo", "bar"]),
+            include: GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["foo", "bar"], None),
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ mod tests {
         test_glob_matches(&globs, paths).unwrap();
 
         let package_contents = PackageContentsTest {
-            include: GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["foo", "bar"]),
+            include: GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["foo", "bar"], None),
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
diff --git a/src/package_test/serialize_test.rs b/src/package_test/serialize_test.rs
index 22015341..2a1b70d2 100644
--- a/src/package_test/serialize_test.rs
+++ b/src/package_test/serialize_test.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ impl CommandsTest {
                 &output.build_configuration.directories.recipe_dir,
                 folder,
             )
-            .with_parse_globs(globs.iter().map(AsRef::as_ref))
+            .with_globvec(globs)
             .use_gitignore(true)
             .run()?;
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl CommandsTest {
                 &output.build_configuration.directories.work_dir,
                 folder,
             )
-            .with_parse_globs(globs.iter().map(AsRef::as_ref))
+            .with_globvec(globs)
             .use_gitignore(true)
             .run()?;
 
diff --git a/src/packaging.rs b/src/packaging.rs
index c5ca37f5..42fb5103 100644
--- a/src/packaging.rs
+++ b/src/packaging.rs
@@ -82,8 +82,6 @@ fn copy_license_files(
     if output.recipe.about().license_file.is_empty() {
         Ok(None)
     } else {
-        let license_globs = output.recipe.about().license_file.clone();
-
         let licenses_folder = tmp_dir_path.join("info/licenses/");
         fs::create_dir_all(&licenses_folder)?;
 
@@ -91,7 +89,7 @@ fn copy_license_files(
             &output.build_configuration.directories.recipe_dir,
             &licenses_folder,
         )
-        .with_parse_globs(license_globs.iter().map(AsRef::as_ref))
+        .with_globvec(&output.recipe.about().license_file)
         .use_gitignore(false)
         .run()?;
 
@@ -102,7 +100,7 @@ fn copy_license_files(
             &output.build_configuration.directories.work_dir,
             &licenses_folder,
         )
-        .with_parse_globs(license_globs.iter().map(AsRef::as_ref))
+        .with_globvec(&output.recipe.about().license_file)
         .use_gitignore(false)
         .run()?;
 
@@ -359,6 +357,7 @@ impl Output {
         let files_after = Files::from_prefix(
             &self.build_configuration.directories.host_prefix,
             self.recipe.build().always_include_files(),
+            self.recipe.build().files(),
         )?;
 
         package_conda(self, tool_configuration, &files_after)
diff --git a/src/packaging/file_finder.rs b/src/packaging/file_finder.rs
index 25da9f07..d4f95320 100644
--- a/src/packaging/file_finder.rs
+++ b/src/packaging/file_finder.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use content_inspector::ContentType;
 use fs_err as fs;
-use globset::GlobSet;
 use rattler_conda_types::PrefixRecord;
 use std::{
     collections::{HashMap, HashSet},
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@ use std::{
 use tempfile::TempDir;
 use walkdir::WalkDir;
 
-use crate::metadata::Output;
+use crate::{metadata::Output, recipe::parser::GlobVec};
 
 use super::{file_mapper, PackagingError};
 
@@ -65,7 +64,11 @@ impl Files {
     /// Find all files in the given (host) prefix and remove all previously installed files (based on the PrefixRecord
     /// of the conda environment). If always_include is Some, then all files matching the glob pattern will be included
     /// in the new_files set.
-    pub fn from_prefix(prefix: &Path, always_include: Option<&GlobSet>) -> Result<Self, io::Error> {
+    pub fn from_prefix(
+        prefix: &Path,
+        always_include: &GlobVec,
+        files: &GlobVec,
+    ) -> Result<Self, io::Error> {
         if !prefix.exists() {
             return Ok(Files {
                 new_files: HashSet::new(),
@@ -94,10 +97,15 @@ impl Files {
 
         let mut difference = current_files
             .difference(&previous_files)
+            // If we have an files glob, we only include files that match the glob
+            .filter(|f| {
+                files.is_empty()
+                    || files.is_match(f.strip_prefix(prefix).expect("File should be in prefix"))
+            })
             .cloned()
             .collect::<HashSet<_>>();
 
-        if let Some(always_include) = always_include {
+        if !always_include.is_empty() {
             for file in current_files {
                 let file_without_prefix =
                     file.strip_prefix(prefix).expect("File should be in prefix");
diff --git a/src/packaging/metadata.rs b/src/packaging/metadata.rs
index 88bcfebf..c716d046 100644
--- a/src/packaging/metadata.rs
+++ b/src/packaging/metadata.rs
@@ -383,10 +383,7 @@ impl Output {
                 )?;
 
                 let digest = compute_file_digest::<sha2::Sha256>(p)?;
-                let no_link = always_copy_files
-                    .as_ref()
-                    .map(|g| g.is_match(&relative_path))
-                    .unwrap_or(false);
+                let no_link = always_copy_files.is_match(&relative_path);
                 paths_json.paths.push(PathsEntry {
                     sha256: Some(digest),
                     relative_path,
diff --git a/src/post_process/checks.rs b/src/post_process/checks.rs
index 111bcc80..2c551343 100644
--- a/src/post_process/checks.rs
+++ b/src/post_process/checks.rs
@@ -316,11 +316,7 @@ pub fn perform_linking_checks(
             }
 
             // Check if we allow overlinking.
-            if dynamic_linking
-                .missing_dso_allowlist()
-                .map(|v| v.is_match(lib))
-                .unwrap_or(false)
-            {
+            if dynamic_linking.missing_dso_allowlist().is_match(lib) {
                 tracing::info!(
                     "{lib:?} is missing in run dependencies for {:?}, \
                     yet it is included in the allow list. Skipping...",
diff --git a/src/post_process/python.rs b/src/post_process/python.rs
index ae1d8dab..8cd03d8b 100644
--- a/src/post_process/python.rs
+++ b/src/post_process/python.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 //!   - Compiling `.py` files to `.pyc` files
 //!   - Replacing the contents of `.dist-info/INSTALLER` files with "conda"
 use fs_err as fs;
-use globset::GlobSet;
 use rattler::install::{get_windows_launcher, python_entry_point_template, PythonInfo};
 use rattler_conda_types::Platform;
 use std::collections::HashSet;
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ use std::process::Command;
 
 use crate::metadata::Output;
 use crate::packaging::{PackagingError, TempFiles};
+use crate::recipe::parser::GlobVec;
 use crate::utils::to_forward_slash_lossy;
 
 pub fn python_bin(prefix: &Path, target_platform: &Platform) -> PathBuf {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub fn compile_pyc(
     output: &Output,
     paths: &HashSet<PathBuf>,
     base_path: &Path,
-    skip_paths: Option<&GlobSet>,
+    skip_paths: &GlobVec,
 ) -> Result<HashSet<PathBuf>, PackagingError> {
     let build_config = &output.build_configuration;
     let python_interpreter = if output.build_configuration.cross_compilation() {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ pub fn compile_pyc(
         }
     });
 
-    if let Some(skip_paths) = skip_paths {
+    if !skip_paths.is_empty() {
         py_files.retain(|p| {
             !skip_paths.is_match(
                 p.strip_prefix(base_path)
@@ -163,12 +163,7 @@ pub fn python(temp_files: &TempFiles, output: &Output) -> Result<HashSet<PathBuf
             output,
             &temp_files.files,
             temp_files.temp_dir.path(),
-            output
-                .recipe
-                .build()
-                .python()
-                .skip_pyc_compilation
-                .globset(),
+            &output.recipe.build().python().skip_pyc_compilation,
         )?);
 
         // create entry points if it is not a noarch package
diff --git a/src/post_process/relink.rs b/src/post_process/relink.rs
index 0aa6211b..aa84fa3f 100644
--- a/src/post_process/relink.rs
+++ b/src/post_process/relink.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ use crate::packaging::TempFiles;
 
 use crate::linux::link::SharedObject;
 use crate::macos::link::Dylib;
+use crate::recipe::parser::GlobVec;
 use crate::system_tools::{SystemTools, ToolError};
-use globset::GlobSet;
 use rattler_conda_types::{Arch, Platform};
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ pub trait Relinker {
         prefix: &Path,
         encoded_prefix: &Path,
         custom_rpaths: &[String],
-        rpath_allowlist: Option<&GlobSet>,
+        rpath_allowlist: &GlobVec,
         system_tools: &SystemTools,
     ) -> Result<(), RelinkError>;
 }
diff --git a/src/recipe/parser/about.rs b/src/recipe/parser/about.rs
index 24978366..97943b21 100644
--- a/src/recipe/parser/about.rs
+++ b/src/recipe/parser/about.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use crate::{
     validate_keys,
 };
 
-use super::FlattenErrors;
+use super::{FlattenErrors, GlobVec};
 
 /// About information.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ pub struct About {
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub license_family: Option<String>,
     /// The license file(s) of the package.
-    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
-    pub license_file: Vec<String>,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "GlobVec::is_empty")]
+    pub license_file: GlobVec,
     /// The license URL of the package.
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub license_url: Option<Url>,
diff --git a/src/recipe/parser/build.rs b/src/recipe/parser/build.rs
index b37c0731..880168da 100644
--- a/src/recipe/parser/build.rs
+++ b/src/recipe/parser/build.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use std::str::FromStr;
 
-use globset::GlobSet;
 use rattler_conda_types::{package::EntryPoint, NoArchType};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
@@ -103,10 +102,15 @@ pub struct Build {
     /// Variant ignore and use keys
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "VariantKeyUsage::is_default")]
     pub(super) variant: VariantKeyUsage,
+    /// Prefix detection settings
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "PrefixDetection::is_default")]
     pub(super) prefix_detection: PrefixDetection,
+    /// Post-process operations for regex based replacements
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
     pub(super) post_process: Vec<PostProcess>,
+    /// Include files in the package
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "GlobVec::is_empty")]
+    pub(super) files: GlobVec,
 }
 
 /// Post process operations for regex based replacements
@@ -164,13 +168,18 @@ impl Build {
     }
 
     /// Get the always copy files settings.
-    pub fn always_copy_files(&self) -> Option<&GlobSet> {
-        self.always_copy_files.globset()
+    pub fn always_copy_files(&self) -> &GlobVec {
+        &self.always_copy_files
     }
 
     /// Get the always include files settings.
-    pub fn always_include_files(&self) -> Option<&GlobSet> {
-        self.always_include_files.globset()
+    pub fn always_include_files(&self) -> &GlobVec {
+        &self.always_include_files
+    }
+
+    /// Get the include files settings.
+    pub fn files(&self) -> &GlobVec {
+        &self.files
     }
 
     /// Get the prefix detection settings.
@@ -211,7 +220,8 @@ impl TryConvertNode<Build> for RenderedMappingNode {
             merge_build_and_host_envs,
             variant,
             prefix_detection,
-            post_process
+            post_process,
+            files
         }
 
         Ok(build)
@@ -262,13 +272,13 @@ impl DynamicLinking {
     }
 
     /// Get the missing DSO allowlist.
-    pub fn missing_dso_allowlist(&self) -> Option<&GlobSet> {
-        self.missing_dso_allowlist.globset()
+    pub fn missing_dso_allowlist(&self) -> &GlobVec {
+        &self.missing_dso_allowlist
     }
 
     /// Get the rpath allow list.
-    pub fn rpath_allowlist(&self) -> Option<&GlobSet> {
-        self.rpath_allowlist.globset()
+    pub fn rpath_allowlist(&self) -> &GlobVec {
+        &self.rpath_allowlist
     }
 
     /// Get the overdepending behavior.
diff --git a/src/recipe/parser/glob_vec.rs b/src/recipe/parser/glob_vec.rs
index 0ffd9a5b..96779fe2 100644
--- a/src/recipe/parser/glob_vec.rs
+++ b/src/recipe/parser/glob_vec.rs
@@ -1,44 +1,111 @@
 use std::fmt::{self, Debug, Formatter};
+use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::path::Path;
 
 use globset::{Glob, GlobSet};
 
-use serde::ser::SerializeSeq;
+use serde::ser::{SerializeMap, SerializeSeq};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::_partialerror;
 use crate::recipe::custom_yaml::{
-    HasSpan, RenderedNode, RenderedScalarNode, RenderedSequenceNode, TryConvertNode,
+    HasSpan, RenderedMappingNode, RenderedNode, RenderedScalarNode, RenderedSequenceNode,
+    TryConvertNode,
 };
 use crate::recipe::error::{ErrorKind, PartialParsingError};
 
+/// Wrapper type to simplify serialization of Vec<Glob>
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
+struct InnerGlobVec(Vec<Glob>);
+
+impl Deref for InnerGlobVec {
+    type Target = Vec<Glob>;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl InnerGlobVec {
+    fn globset(&self) -> Result<GlobSet, globset::Error> {
+        let mut globset_builder = globset::GlobSetBuilder::new();
+        for glob in self.iter() {
+            globset_builder.add(glob.clone());
+        }
+        globset_builder.build()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Vec<String>> for InnerGlobVec {
+    fn from(vec: Vec<String>) -> Self {
+        let vec = vec
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|glob| to_glob(&glob).expect("glob parsing failed"))
+            .collect();
+        Self(vec)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Vec<Glob>> for InnerGlobVec {
+    fn from(vec: Vec<Glob>) -> Self {
+        Self(vec)
+    }
+}
+
+fn to_glob(glob: &str) -> Result<Glob, globset::Error> {
+    if glob.ends_with('/') && !glob.contains('*') {
+        // we treat folders as globs that match everything in the folder
+        Glob::new(&format!("{}**", glob))
+    } else {
+        Glob::new(glob)
+    }
+}
+
 /// A vector of globs that is also immediately converted to a globset
 /// to enhance parser errors.
 #[derive(Default, Clone)]
-pub struct GlobVec(Vec<Glob>, Option<GlobSet>);
+pub struct GlobVec {
+    include: InnerGlobVec,
+    exclude: InnerGlobVec,
+    include_globset: GlobSet,
+    exclude_globset: GlobSet,
+}
 
 impl PartialEq for GlobVec {
     fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
-        self.0 == other.0
+        self.include == other.include && self.exclude == other.exclude
     }
 }
 
 impl Eq for GlobVec {}
 
-impl Serialize for GlobVec {
+impl Serialize for InnerGlobVec {
     fn serialize<S: serde::Serializer>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error> {
-        let mut seq = serializer.serialize_seq(Some(self.0.len()))?;
-        for glob in self.0.iter() {
+        let mut seq = serializer.serialize_seq(Some(self.len()))?;
+        for glob in self.iter() {
             seq.serialize_element(glob.glob())?;
         }
         seq.end()
     }
 }
 
+impl Serialize for GlobVec {
+    fn serialize<S: serde::Serializer>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error> {
+        if self.exclude.is_empty() {
+            self.include.serialize(serializer)
+        } else {
+            let mut map = serializer.serialize_map(Some(2))?;
+            map.serialize_entry("include", &self.include)?;
+            map.serialize_entry("exclude", &self.exclude)?;
+            map.end()
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl Debug for GlobVec {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         f.debug_list()
-            .entries(self.0.iter().map(|glob| glob.glob()))
+            .entries(self.include.iter().map(|glob| glob.glob()))
             .finish()
     }
 }
@@ -48,113 +115,176 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for GlobVec {
     where
         D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
     {
-        let mut raw_globs: Vec<String> = Vec::deserialize(deserializer)?;
-        let mut globs = Vec::with_capacity(raw_globs.len());
-        for raw in raw_globs.drain(..) {
-            let glob = Glob::new(&raw).map_err(serde::de::Error::custom)?;
-            globs.push(glob);
+        #[derive(Deserialize)]
+        #[serde(untagged)]
+        enum GlobVecInput {
+            List(Vec<String>),
+            Map {
+                include: Vec<String>,
+                exclude: Vec<String>,
+            },
         }
 
-        if globs.is_empty() {
-            Ok(Self(globs, None))
-        } else {
-            let mut globset_builder = globset::GlobSetBuilder::new();
-            for glob in globs.iter() {
-                globset_builder.add(glob.clone());
-            }
-            let globset = globset_builder.build().map_err(serde::de::Error::custom)?;
+        let input = GlobVecInput::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+        let (include, exclude) = match input {
+            GlobVecInput::List(list) => (list, Vec::new()),
+            GlobVecInput::Map { include, exclude } => (include, exclude),
+        };
 
-            Ok(Self(globs, Some(globset)))
-        }
+        GlobVec::new(include.into(), exclude.into())
+            .map_err(|e| serde::de::Error::custom(e.to_string()))
     }
 }
 
 impl GlobVec {
+    /// Create a new GlobVec from a vector of globs
+    fn new(include: InnerGlobVec, exclude: InnerGlobVec) -> Result<Self, globset::Error> {
+        let include_globset = include.globset()?;
+        let exclude_globset = exclude.globset()?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            include,
+            exclude,
+            include_globset,
+            exclude_globset,
+        })
+    }
+
     /// Returns true if the globvec is empty
     pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
-        self.0.is_empty()
+        self.include.is_empty() && self.exclude.is_empty()
     }
 
     /// Returns an iterator over the globs
-    pub fn globs(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &Glob> {
-        self.0.iter()
+    pub fn include_globs(&self) -> &Vec<Glob> {
+        &self.include
     }
 
-    /// Returns the globset if it exists
-    pub fn globset(&self) -> Option<&GlobSet> {
-        self.1.as_ref()
+    /// Returns an iterator over the globs
+    pub fn exclude_globs(&self) -> &Vec<Glob> {
+        &self.exclude
     }
 
-    /// Returns true if the path matches any of the globs
+    /// Returns true if the path matches any include glob and does not match any exclude glob
+    /// If there are no globs at all, we match nothing.
+    /// If there is no include glob, we match everything except the exclude globs.
     pub fn is_match(&self, path: &Path) -> bool {
-        if let Some(globset) = self.1.as_ref() {
-            globset.is_match(path)
-        } else {
-            false
+        // if both include & exclude are empty, we match nothing
+        if self.is_empty() {
+            return false;
         }
+        // if include is empty, it matches everything. Otherwise we check!
+        let is_match = self.include.is_empty() || self.include_globset.is_match(path);
+        // if exclude is empty, it matches everything. Otherwise we check!
+        is_match && (self.exclude.is_empty() || !self.exclude_globset.is_match(path))
     }
 
     /// Only used for testing
     #[cfg(test)]
-    pub fn from_vec(vec: Vec<&str>) -> Self {
-        let mut glob_vec = Vec::with_capacity(vec.len());
-        for glob in vec.into_iter() {
-            glob_vec.push(Glob::new(glob).unwrap());
-        }
-
-        if glob_vec.is_empty() {
-            Self(glob_vec, None)
-        } else {
-            let mut globset_builder = globset::GlobSetBuilder::new();
-            for glob in glob_vec.iter() {
-                globset_builder.add(glob.clone());
-            }
-            let globset = globset_builder.build().unwrap();
-
-            Self(glob_vec, Some(globset))
+    pub fn from_vec(include: Vec<&str>, exclude: Option<Vec<&str>>) -> Self {
+        let include_vec: Vec<Glob> = include
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|glob| to_glob(glob).unwrap())
+            .collect();
+        let exclude_vec: Vec<Glob> = exclude
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|glob| to_glob(glob).unwrap())
+            .collect();
+
+        let include = InnerGlobVec(include_vec);
+        let globset = include.globset().unwrap();
+        let exclude = InnerGlobVec(exclude_vec);
+        let exclude_globset = exclude.globset().unwrap();
+
+        Self {
+            include,
+            exclude,
+            include_globset: globset,
+            exclude_globset: exclude_globset,
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl TryConvertNode<GlobVec> for RenderedNode {
     fn try_convert(&self, name: &str) -> Result<GlobVec, Vec<PartialParsingError>> {
-        self.as_sequence()
-            .ok_or_else(|| {
-                vec![_partialerror!(
-                    *self.span(),
-                    ErrorKind::ExpectedSequence,
-                    label = format!("expected a list of globs strings for '{}'", name)
-                )]
-            })
-            .and_then(|s| s.try_convert(name))
+        match self {
+            RenderedNode::Sequence(sequence) => sequence.try_convert(name),
+            RenderedNode::Mapping(mapping) => mapping.try_convert(name),
+            RenderedNode::Scalar(scalar) => scalar.try_convert(name),
+            _ => Err(vec![_partialerror!(
+                *self.span(),
+                ErrorKind::ExpectedSequence,
+                label = "expected a list of globs strings"
+            )]),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn to_vector_of_globs(
+    sequence: &RenderedSequenceNode,
+) -> Result<Vec<Glob>, Vec<PartialParsingError>> {
+    let mut vec = Vec::with_capacity(sequence.len());
+    for item in sequence.iter() {
+        let str: String = item.try_convert("globs")?;
+        vec.push(
+            to_glob(&str)
+                .map_err(|err| vec![_partialerror!(*item.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)])?,
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(vec)
+}
+
+impl TryConvertNode<GlobVec> for RenderedScalarNode {
+    fn try_convert(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<GlobVec, Vec<PartialParsingError>> {
+        let vec = vec![to_glob(self.as_str())
+            .map_err(|err| vec![_partialerror!(*self.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)])?];
+        GlobVec::new(vec.into(), InnerGlobVec::default())
+            .map_err(|err| vec![_partialerror!(*self.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)])
     }
 }
 
 impl TryConvertNode<GlobVec> for RenderedSequenceNode {
     fn try_convert(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<GlobVec, Vec<PartialParsingError>> {
-        let mut vec = Vec::with_capacity(self.len());
-        for item in self.iter() {
-            let str: String = item.try_convert(_name)?;
-            vec.push(
-                Glob::new(&str).map_err(|err| {
-                    vec![_partialerror!(*item.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)]
-                })?,
-            );
-        }
+        let vec = to_vector_of_globs(self)?;
+        GlobVec::new(vec.into(), InnerGlobVec::default())
+            .map_err(|err| vec![_partialerror!(*self.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)])
+    }
+}
 
-        if vec.is_empty() {
-            Ok(GlobVec(vec, None))
-        } else {
-            let mut globset_builder = globset::GlobSetBuilder::new();
-            for glob in vec.iter() {
-                globset_builder.add(glob.clone());
+impl TryConvertNode<GlobVec> for RenderedMappingNode {
+    fn try_convert(&self, name: &str) -> Result<GlobVec, Vec<PartialParsingError>> {
+        // find the `include` and `exclude` keys
+        let mut include = Vec::new();
+        let mut exclude = Vec::new();
+
+        for (key, value) in self.iter() {
+            let key_str = key.as_str();
+            match (key_str, value) {
+                ("include", RenderedNode::Sequence(seq)) => {
+                    include = to_vector_of_globs(seq)?;
+                }
+                ("exclude", RenderedNode::Sequence(seq)) => {
+                    exclude = to_vector_of_globs(seq)?;
+                }
+                ("include" | "exclude", _) => {
+                    return Err(vec![_partialerror!(
+                        *value.span(),
+                        ErrorKind::ExpectedSequence,
+                        label = "expected a list of globs strings for `include` or `exclude`"
+                    )]);
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    return Err(vec![_partialerror!(
+                        *key.span(),
+                        ErrorKind::InvalidField(key_str.to_string().into()),
+                        help = format!("valid options for {} are `include` and `exclude`", name)
+                    )]);
+                }
             }
-            let globset = globset_builder
-                .build()
-                .map_err(|err| vec![_partialerror!(*self.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)])?;
-
-            Ok(GlobVec(vec, Some(globset)))
         }
+
+        GlobVec::new(include.into(), exclude.into())
+            .map_err(|err| vec![_partialerror!(*self.span(), ErrorKind::GlobParsing(err),)])
     }
 }
 
@@ -252,14 +382,69 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap();
         let tests_node = yaml_root.as_mapping().unwrap().get("globs").unwrap();
         let globvec: GlobVec = tests_node.try_convert("globs").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(globvec.0.len(), 3);
-        assert_eq!(globvec.1.as_ref().unwrap().len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(globvec.include.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(globvec.include_globset.len(), 3);
 
         let as_yaml = serde_yaml::to_string(&globvec).unwrap();
         insta::assert_snapshot!(&as_yaml);
         let parsed_again: GlobVec = serde_yaml::from_str(&as_yaml).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(parsed_again.0.len(), 3);
-        assert_eq!(parsed_again.1.as_ref().unwrap().len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(parsed_again.include.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(parsed_again.include_globset.len(), 3);
+
+        let yaml = r#"globs:
+        include: ["foo/", "bar", "baz/**/qux"]
+        exclude: ["foo/bar", "bar/*.txt"]
+        "#;
+
+        let yaml_root = RenderedNode::parse_yaml(0, yaml)
+            .map_err(|err| vec![err])
+            .unwrap();
+        let tests_node = yaml_root.as_mapping().unwrap().get("globs").unwrap();
+        let globvec: GlobVec = tests_node.try_convert("globs").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(globvec.include.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(globvec.include_globset.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(globvec.exclude.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(globvec.exclude_globset.len(), 2);
+
+        let as_yaml = serde_yaml::to_string(&globvec).unwrap();
+        insta::assert_snapshot!(&as_yaml);
+        let parsed_again: GlobVec = serde_yaml::from_str(&as_yaml).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(parsed_again.include.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(parsed_again.include_globset.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(parsed_again.exclude.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(parsed_again.exclude_globset.len(), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_glob_match_folder() {
+        let globvec = GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["foo/"], None);
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bar")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bla")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bla/bar")));
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("bar")));
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("bla")));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_glob_match_all_except() {
+        let globvec = GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["**"], Some(vec!["*.txt"]));
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bar.txt")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bla")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bla/bar")));
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("bar.txt")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("bla")));
+
+        // empty include should be the same
+        let globvec = GlobVec::from_vec(vec![], Some(vec!["*.txt"]));
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bar.txt")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bla")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bla/bar")));
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("bar.txt")));
+        assert!(globvec.is_match(Path::new("bla")));
+
+        // empty everything should match nothing
+        let globvec = GlobVec::from_vec(vec![], None);
+        assert!(!globvec.is_match(Path::new("foo/bar.txt")));
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/recipe/parser/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__glob_vec__tests__parsing_globvec-2.snap b/src/recipe/parser/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__glob_vec__tests__parsing_globvec-2.snap
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb247828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/recipe/parser/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__glob_vec__tests__parsing_globvec-2.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+source: src/recipe/parser/glob_vec.rs
+expression: "&as_yaml"
+---
+include:
+- foo/**
+- bar
+- baz/**/qux
+exclude:
+- foo/bar
+- bar/*.txt
diff --git a/src/recipe/parser/test.rs b/src/recipe/parser/test.rs
index 2687d2a8..5590616e 100644
--- a/src/recipe/parser/test.rs
+++ b/src/recipe/parser/test.rs
@@ -30,14 +30,13 @@ pub struct CommandsTestRequirements {
 /// The files that should be copied to the test directory (they are stored in the package)
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct CommandsTestFiles {
-    // TODO parse as globs
     /// Files to be copied from the source directory to the test directory.
-    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
-    pub source: Vec<String>,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "GlobVec::is_empty")]
+    pub source: GlobVec,
 
     /// Files to be copied from the recipe directory to the test directory.
-    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
-    pub recipe: Vec<String>,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "GlobVec::is_empty")]
+    pub recipe: GlobVec,
 }
 
 /// A test that executes a script in a freshly created environment
diff --git a/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__complete_recipe.snap b/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__complete_recipe.snap
index 0871d3cf..b15156c1 100644
--- a/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__complete_recipe.snap
+++ b/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__complete_recipe.snap
@@ -79,9 +79,19 @@ build:
   post_process:
   - files:
     - '*.cmake'
-    - bla/
+    - bla/**
     regex: complicated(.*)regex
     replacement: simple_string
+  files:
+    include:
+    - include/*
+    - '**/foo.txt'
+    - x.txt
+    - out/**
+    exclude:
+    - foo/*
+    - bar.txt
+    - baz/**
 requirements:
   build:
   - gcc_linux-64
@@ -109,6 +119,42 @@ requirements:
     - python
     from_package:
     - python
+tests:
+- test_type: command
+  script:
+  - echo FOO
+  requirements:
+    run:
+    - bash
+    build:
+    - bash
+  files:
+    source:
+    - include/**
+    - src/*.c
+    - src_file.txt
+- test_type: package_contents
+  files:
+  - test.txt
+  - license.txt
+  site_packages:
+  - numpy
+  - numpy/foo/__init__.py
+  bin:
+  - test
+  - test.exe
+  - foo*
+  lib:
+  - test
+  - test.so.*
+  include:
+  - test.h
+  - test.h*
+- test_type: python
+  imports:
+  - numpy
+  - pypy
+  pip_check: false
 about:
   homepage: https://cool-website.com/
   repository: https://github.com/some-repo/some-package
diff --git a/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__recipe_windows.snap b/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__recipe_windows.snap
index f570ef74..a3747042 100644
--- a/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__recipe_windows.snap
+++ b/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__recipe_windows.snap
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ Recipe {
             ignore_binary_files: false,
         },
         post_process: [],
+        files: [],
     },
     requirements: Requirements {
         build: [
diff --git a/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__unix_recipe.snap b/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__unix_recipe.snap
index 0354c40b..2de961be 100644
--- a/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__unix_recipe.snap
+++ b/src/recipe/snapshots/rattler_build__recipe__parser__tests__unix_recipe.snap
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ Recipe {
             ignore_binary_files: false,
         },
         post_process: [],
+        files: [],
     },
     requirements: Requirements {
         build: [
diff --git a/src/source/copy_dir.rs b/src/source/copy_dir.rs
index 57434d1f..a253e7cc 100644
--- a/src/source/copy_dir.rs
+++ b/src/source/copy_dir.rs
@@ -2,14 +2,16 @@
 use std::{
     collections::{HashMap, HashSet},
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
-    sync::Arc,
 };
 
 use fs_err::create_dir_all;
 
+use globset::Glob;
 use ignore::WalkBuilder;
 use rayon::iter::{ParallelBridge, ParallelIterator};
 
+use crate::recipe::parser::GlobVec;
+
 use super::SourceError;
 
 /// The copy options for the copy_dir function.
@@ -46,8 +48,7 @@ impl Default for CopyOptions {
 pub(crate) struct CopyDir<'a> {
     from_path: &'a Path,
     to_path: &'a Path,
-    include_globs: Vec<&'a str>,
-    exclude_globs: Vec<&'a str>,
+    globvec: GlobVec,
     use_gitignore: bool,
     use_git_global: bool,
     hidden: bool,
@@ -59,8 +60,7 @@ impl<'a> CopyDir<'a> {
         Self {
             from_path,
             to_path,
-            include_globs: Vec::new(),
-            exclude_globs: Vec::new(),
+            globvec: GlobVec::default(),
             use_gitignore: false,
             use_git_global: false,
             hidden: false,
@@ -68,54 +68,8 @@ impl<'a> CopyDir<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Parse the iterator of &str as globs
-    ///
-    /// This is a conveniance helper for parsing an iterator of &str as include and exclude globs.
-    ///
-    /// # Note
-    ///
-    /// Uses '~' as negation character (exclude globs)
-    pub fn with_parse_globs<I>(mut self, globs: I) -> Self
-    where
-        I: IntoIterator<Item = &'a str>,
-    {
-        let (exclude_globs, include_globs): (Vec<_>, Vec<_>) = globs
-            .into_iter()
-            .partition(|g| g.trim_start().starts_with('~'));
-
-        self.include_globs.extend(include_globs);
-        self.exclude_globs
-            .extend(exclude_globs.into_iter().map(|g| g.trim_start_matches('~')));
-        self
-    }
-
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn with_include_glob(mut self, include: &'a str) -> Self {
-        self.include_globs.push(include);
-        self
-    }
-
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn with_include_globs<I>(mut self, includes: I) -> Self
-    where
-        I: IntoIterator<Item = &'a str>,
-    {
-        self.include_globs.extend(includes);
-        self
-    }
-
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn with_exclude_glob(mut self, exclude: &'a str) -> Self {
-        self.exclude_globs.push(exclude);
-        self
-    }
-
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn with_exclude_globs<I>(mut self, excludes: I) -> Self
-    where
-        I: IntoIterator<Item = &'a str>,
-    {
-        self.exclude_globs.extend(excludes);
+    pub fn with_globvec(mut self, globvec: &GlobVec) -> Self {
+        self.globvec = globvec.clone();
         self
     }
 
@@ -150,21 +104,14 @@ impl<'a> CopyDir<'a> {
         self
     }
 
-    pub fn run(self) -> Result<CopyDirResult<'a>, SourceError> {
+    pub fn run(self) -> Result<CopyDirResult, SourceError> {
         // Create the to path because we're going to copy the contents only
         create_dir_all(self.to_path)?;
 
-        let (folders, globs) = self
-            .include_globs
-            .into_iter()
-            .partition::<Vec<_>, _>(|glob| glob.ends_with('/') && !glob.contains('*'));
-
-        let folders = Arc::new(folders.into_iter().map(PathBuf::from).collect::<Vec<_>>());
-
         let mut result = CopyDirResult {
             copied_paths: Vec::with_capacity(0), // do not allocate as we overwrite this anyways
-            include_globs: make_glob_match_map(globs)?,
-            exclude_globs: make_glob_match_map(self.exclude_globs)?,
+            include_globs: make_glob_match_map(self.globvec.include_globs())?,
+            exclude_globs: make_glob_match_map(self.globvec.exclude_globs())?,
         };
 
         let copied_pathes = WalkBuilder::new(self.from_path)
@@ -179,13 +126,13 @@ impl<'a> CopyDir<'a> {
                     Err(e) => return Some(Err(e)),
                 };
 
-                // if the entry is a directory, ignore it for the final output
-                if entry
+                let is_dir = entry
                     .file_type()
                     .as_ref()
                     .map(|ft| ft.is_dir())
-                    .unwrap_or(false)
-                {
+                    .unwrap_or(false);
+                // if the entry is a directory, ignore it for the final output
+                if is_dir {
                     // if the dir is empty, check if we should create it anyways
                     if entry.path().read_dir().ok()?.next().is_some()
                         || !result.include_globs().is_empty()
@@ -206,6 +153,7 @@ impl<'a> CopyDir<'a> {
                     components.iter().collect()
                 };
 
+                // include everything
                 let include = result.include_globs().is_empty();
 
                 let include = include
@@ -217,9 +165,6 @@ impl<'a> CopyDir<'a> {
                         .count()
                         != 0;
 
-                let include =
-                    include || folders.clone().iter().any(|f| stripped_path.starts_with(f));
-
                 let exclude = result
                     .exclude_globs_mut()
                     .iter_mut()
@@ -371,22 +316,22 @@ where
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub(crate) struct CopyDirResult<'a> {
+pub(crate) struct CopyDirResult {
     copied_paths: Vec<PathBuf>,
-    include_globs: HashMap<Glob<'a>, Match>,
-    exclude_globs: HashMap<Glob<'a>, Match>,
+    include_globs: HashMap<Glob, Match>,
+    exclude_globs: HashMap<Glob, Match>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> CopyDirResult<'a> {
+impl CopyDirResult {
     pub fn copied_paths(&self) -> &[PathBuf] {
         &self.copied_paths
     }
 
-    pub fn include_globs(&self) -> &HashMap<Glob<'a>, Match> {
+    pub fn include_globs(&self) -> &HashMap<Glob, Match> {
         &self.include_globs
     }
 
-    fn include_globs_mut(&mut self) -> &mut HashMap<Glob<'a>, Match> {
+    fn include_globs_mut(&mut self) -> &mut HashMap<Glob, Match> {
         &mut self.include_globs
     }
 
@@ -395,11 +340,11 @@ impl<'a> CopyDirResult<'a> {
     }
 
     #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn exclude_globs(&self) -> &HashMap<Glob<'a>, Match> {
+    pub fn exclude_globs(&self) -> &HashMap<Glob, Match> {
         &self.exclude_globs
     }
 
-    fn exclude_globs_mut(&mut self) -> &mut HashMap<Glob<'a>, Match> {
+    fn exclude_globs_mut(&mut self) -> &mut HashMap<Glob, Match> {
         &mut self.exclude_globs
     }
 
@@ -409,32 +354,16 @@ impl<'a> CopyDirResult<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-fn make_glob_match_map(globs: Vec<&str>) -> Result<HashMap<Glob, Match>, SourceError> {
+fn make_glob_match_map(globs: &[Glob]) -> Result<HashMap<Glob, Match>, SourceError> {
     globs
-        .into_iter()
-        .map(|gl| {
-            let glob = Glob::new(gl)?;
-            let match_ = Match::new(&glob);
-            Ok((glob, match_))
+        .iter()
+        .map(|glob| {
+            let matcher = Match::new(glob);
+            Ok(((*glob).clone(), matcher))
         })
         .collect()
 }
 
-#[derive(Hash, Eq, PartialEq)]
-pub(crate) struct Glob<'a> {
-    s: &'a str,
-    g: globset::Glob,
-}
-
-impl<'a> Glob<'a> {
-    fn new(s: &'a str) -> Result<Self, SourceError> {
-        Ok(Self {
-            s,
-            g: globset::Glob::new(s)?,
-        })
-    }
-}
-
 pub(crate) struct Match {
     matcher: globset::GlobMatcher,
     matched: bool,
@@ -443,7 +372,7 @@ pub(crate) struct Match {
 impl Match {
     fn new(glob: &Glob) -> Self {
         Self {
-            matcher: glob.g.compile_matcher(),
+            matcher: glob.compile_matcher(),
             matched: false,
         }
     }
@@ -468,6 +397,8 @@ impl Match {
 mod test {
     use std::{collections::HashSet, fs, fs::File};
 
+    use crate::recipe::parser::GlobVec;
+
     #[test]
     fn test_copy_dir() {
         let tmp_dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
@@ -501,7 +432,7 @@ mod test {
         let dest_dir_2 = tmp_dir_path.as_path().join("test_copy_dir_dest_2");
         // ignore all txt files
         let copy_dir = super::CopyDir::new(&dir, &dest_dir_2)
-            .with_include_glob("*.txt")
+            .with_globvec(&GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["*.txt"], None))
             .use_gitignore(false)
             .run()
             .unwrap();
@@ -510,13 +441,14 @@ mod test {
         assert_eq!(copy_dir.copied_paths()[0], dest_dir_2.join("test.txt"));
 
         let dest_dir_3 = tmp_dir_path.as_path().join("test_copy_dir_dest_3");
+
         // ignore all txt files
         let copy_dir = super::CopyDir::new(&dir, &dest_dir_3)
-            .with_exclude_glob("*.txt")
+            .with_globvec(&GlobVec::from_vec(vec![], Some(vec!["*.txt"])))
             .use_gitignore(false)
             .run()
             .unwrap();
-
+        println!("{:?}", copy_dir.copied_paths());
         assert_eq!(copy_dir.copied_paths().len(), 2);
         let expected = [
             dest_dir_3.join("test_dir/test.md"),
@@ -539,7 +471,7 @@ mod test {
         let dest_dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
 
         let copy_dir = super::CopyDir::new(tmp_dir.path(), dest_dir.path())
-            .with_include_glob("test_copy_dir/")
+            .with_globvec(&GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["test_copy_dir/"], None))
             .use_gitignore(false)
             .run()
             .unwrap();
@@ -548,8 +480,10 @@ mod test {
         fs_err::remove_dir_all(&dest_dir).unwrap();
         fs_err::create_dir_all(&dest_dir).unwrap();
         let copy_dir = super::CopyDir::new(tmp_dir.path(), dest_dir.path())
-            .with_include_glob("test_copy_dir/")
-            .with_exclude_glob("*.rst")
+            .with_globvec(&GlobVec::from_vec(
+                vec!["test_copy_dir/test_1.txt"],
+                Some(vec!["*.rst"]),
+            ))
             .use_gitignore(false)
             .run()
             .unwrap();
@@ -562,7 +496,7 @@ mod test {
         fs_err::remove_dir_all(&dest_dir).unwrap();
         fs_err::create_dir_all(&dest_dir).unwrap();
         let copy_dir = super::CopyDir::new(tmp_dir.path(), dest_dir.path())
-            .with_include_glob("test_copy_dir/test_1.txt")
+            .with_globvec(&GlobVec::from_vec(vec!["test_copy_dir/test_1.txt"], None))
             .use_gitignore(false)
             .run()
             .unwrap();
diff --git a/src/windows/link.rs b/src/windows/link.rs
index f0757467..3e5d5a83 100644
--- a/src/windows/link.rs
+++ b/src/windows/link.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ use fs_err::File;
 use goblin::pe::{header::DOS_MAGIC, PE};
 use scroll::Pread;
 
-use crate::post_process::relink::{RelinkError, Relinker};
+use crate::{
+    post_process::relink::{RelinkError, Relinker},
+    recipe::parser::GlobVec,
+};
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 struct Dll {
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ impl Relinker for Dll {
         _prefix: &Path,
         _encoded_prefix: &Path,
         _custom_rpaths: &[String],
-        _rpath_allowlist: Option<&globset::GlobSet>,
+        _rpath_allowlist: &GlobVec,
         _system_tools: &crate::system_tools::SystemTools,
     ) -> Result<(), crate::post_process::relink::RelinkError> {
         // On Windows, we don't need to relink anything
diff --git a/test-data/recipes/include_files/recipe.yaml b/test-data/recipes/include_files/recipe.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdfeb568
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-data/recipes/include_files/recipe.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package:
+  name: include_files
+  version: 1.0.0
+
+build:
+  files:
+    include:
+      - include/*
+    exclude:
+      - "*.exe"
+
+  script: |
+    mkdir -p $PREFIX/include
+    mkdir -p $PREFIX/lib
+    touch $PREFIX/include/include_file.h
+    touch $PREFIX/include/include_file.c
+    touch $PREFIX/include/include_file.exe
+    touch $PREFIX/lib/lib_foo.so
diff --git a/test-data/recipes/test-parsing/single_output.yaml b/test-data/recipes/test-parsing/single_output.yaml
index 22d99eff..8b34b6ba 100644
--- a/test-data/recipes/test-parsing/single_output.yaml
+++ b/test-data/recipes/test-parsing/single_output.yaml
@@ -37,6 +37,16 @@ build:
     - false
   noarch: generic
   merge_build_and_host_envs: true
+  files:
+    include:
+      - include/*
+      - "**/foo.txt"
+      - x.txt
+      - out/**
+    exclude:
+      - foo/*
+      - bar.txt
+      - baz/
   script:
     env:
       TEST: MYENV_VAR
@@ -121,6 +131,41 @@ requirements:
     by_name:
       - python
 
+tests:
+  - script: |
+      echo FOO
+    requirements:
+      run:
+        - bash
+      build:
+        - bash
+    files:
+      source:
+        - include/
+        - src/*.c
+        - src_file.txt
+  - package_contents:
+      lib:
+        - test
+        - test.so.*
+      include:
+        - test.h
+        - test.h*
+      bin:
+        - test
+        - test.exe
+        - foo*
+      site_packages: 
+        - numpy
+        - numpy/foo/__init__.py
+      files:
+        - test.txt
+        - license.txt
+  - python:
+      imports:
+        - numpy
+        - pypy
+      pip_check: false
 
 about:
   homepage: https://cool-website.com
diff --git a/test/end-to-end/test_simple.py b/test/end-to-end/test_simple.py
index c4bdc5bd..7728ec54 100644
--- a/test/end-to-end/test_simple.py
+++ b/test/end-to-end/test_simple.py
@@ -855,3 +855,23 @@ def test_post_link(rattler_build: RattlerBuild, recipes: Path, tmp_path: Path):
     pp = paths["paths"]
     assert len(pp) == 1
     assert pp[0]["_path"] == "bin/.postlink-post-link.sh"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    os.name == "nt", reason="recipe does not support execution on windows"
+)
+def test_include_files(rattler_build: RattlerBuild, recipes: Path, tmp_path: Path):
+    path_to_recipe = recipes / "include_files"
+    args = rattler_build.build_args(
+        path_to_recipe,
+        tmp_path,
+    )
+    rattler_build(*args)
+
+    pkg = get_extracted_package(tmp_path, "include_files")
+
+    paths = json.loads((pkg / "info/paths.json").read_text())
+    pp = paths["paths"]
+    assert len(pp) == 2
+    assert pp[0]["_path"] == "include/include_file.c"
+    assert pp[1]["_path"] == "include/include_file.h"