diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f7023a3..23a8bb0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -7,4 +7,6 @@ hs_err_pid*
 .idea
 .vscode
 .bsp
-out
\ No newline at end of file
+.bloop
+.metals
+out
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fc8ec81..5354535 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Universal packaging for Java application, ported from [sbt-native-packager](https://github.com/sbt/sbt-native-packager).
 
-Currently, `mill-universal-packager` only supports universal `zip` archive with Bash start script.
+Currently, `mill-universal-packager` only supports universal `stage` with Bash start script and the corresponding `zip` archive.
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@ object example extends JavaAppPackagingModule {
 }
 ```
 
+Run `universalStage` command
+
+```bash
+> mill example.universalStage
+```
+
+The output directory can be found at `universalStage.dest` in Mill's `out` folder.
+
 Run `universalPackage` command
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/build.sc b/build.sc
index d2c4529..fce99d1 100644
--- a/build.sc
+++ b/build.sc
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ object `mill-universal-packager` extends ScalaModule with CiReleaseModule {
   override def compileIvyDeps = super.compileIvyDeps() ++ Agg(
     ivy"com.lihaoyi::mill-scalalib:${millVersion()}"
   )
+
 }
 
 object itest extends MillIntegrationTestModule {
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ object itest extends MillIntegrationTestModule {
 
   override def testInvocations = Seq(
     PathRef(testBase / "example") -> Seq(
+      TestInvocation.Targets(Seq("universalStage")),
       TestInvocation.Targets(Seq("universalPackage"))
     )
   )
diff --git a/itest/src/example/build.sc b/itest/src/example/build.sc
index 696a40d..3975922 100644
--- a/itest/src/example/build.sc
+++ b/itest/src/example/build.sc
@@ -22,4 +22,6 @@ object example extends RootModule with ScalaModule with JavaAppPackagingModule {
     ivy"dev.zio::zio:2.0.19"
   )
 
+  override def topLevelDirectory = T { Some("example-app") }
+
 }
diff --git a/mill-universal-packager/src/io/github/hoangmaihuy/mill/packager/universal/UniversalPackagerModule.scala b/mill-universal-packager/src/io/github/hoangmaihuy/mill/packager/universal/UniversalPackagerModule.scala
index f1b146b..5896df4 100644
--- a/mill-universal-packager/src/io/github/hoangmaihuy/mill/packager/universal/UniversalPackagerModule.scala
+++ b/mill-universal-packager/src/io/github/hoangmaihuy/mill/packager/universal/UniversalPackagerModule.scala
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package io.github.hoangmaihuy.mill.packager.universal
 
 import mill._
 import io.github.hoangmaihuy.mill.packager._
+import os.Path
 
 trait UniversalPackagerModule extends PackagerModule {
 
@@ -22,15 +23,39 @@ trait UniversalPackagerModule extends PackagerModule {
     }
   }
 
+  /** Create an zip package file. The task will run universalStage() first, and then zip the stage output directory as
+    * the result.
+    */
   def universalPackage: T[PathRef] = T {
+    val stagePath = universalStage().path
+    val m2 = os.walk(stagePath).map { case p =>
+      val targetSubPath = p.relativeTo(stagePath).asSubPath
+      topLevelDirectory() match {
+        case None      => p -> targetSubPath
+        case Some(dir) => p -> os.sub / dir / targetSubPath
+      }
+    }
     val zip = T.dest / (packageName() + ".zip")
-    val mappings = universalMappings()
-    // add top level directory if defined
-    val m2 = topLevelDirectory().map { dir =>
-      mappings.map { case (f, p) => f -> (os.sub / dir / p) }
-    } getOrElse (mappings)
     ZipHelper.zip(m2, zip)
     PathRef(zip)
   }
 
+  /** Create a local directory with all the files laid out as they would be in the final distribution.
+    *
+    * Note: the output "stage" directory should always have no top level directory.
+    */
+  def universalStage: T[PathRef] = T {
+    universalMappings().foreach { case (f, p) =>
+      os.copy(
+        from = f,
+        to = Path(p, T.dest),
+        createFolders = true,
+        followLinks = true,
+        replaceExisting = true,
+        mergeFolders = true
+      )
+    }
+    PathRef(T.dest)
+  }
+
 }