# Composer - Include Files Plugin

When using the Composer Autoloader if you need project files included prior to files autoloaded by any of your dependancies your out of luck. No longer!

Just add the files you need included using `"include_files"` and they will be include prior to any files included by your dependancies.

```json
// composer.json (project)
{
    "require": {
        "funkjedi/composer-include-files": "dev-master",
    },
    "extra": {
        "include_files": [
            "/path/to/file/you/want/to/include",
            "/path/to/another/file/you/want/to/include"
        ]
    },
}
```

## Specific Use Case

A good example of where this is required is when overriding helpers provided by Laravel.

In the past simply modifying `bootstrap/autoload.php` to include helpers was sufficient. However new versions of PHPUnit include the Composer Autoloader prior to executing the PHPUnit bootstrap file. Consequently this method of overriding helpers is no longer viable as it will trigger a fatal error when your bootstrap file is included.

But now we can use *Composer - Include Files Plugin* to have Composer include the files in the necessary order.

```json
// composer.json (project)
{
    "require": {
        "laravel/framework": "^5.2",
        "funkjedi/composer-include-files": "dev-master",
    },
    "extra": {
        "include_files": [
            "app/helpers.php"
        ]
    },
}
```
