Techniques for forming an application from a particular file that has source code in a particular language include receiving, from the particular file, comment data. The comment data is ignored according to the particular language. The comment data includes build data indicating how to use the source code in a build process. The build process packages compiled code to form the application. Based on the build data in the comment data, build-input data is generated. The build-input data indicates input for the build process. These techniques automatically provide, for the application build process, build information known to the application developer who produced the source code.