diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/config.py b/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/config.py
index 87791cd4..8bf5d45b 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/config.py
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/config.py
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ class ROSBackendConfig(pydantic.BaseModel, extra="forbid", arbitrary_types_allow
     # Environment variables to set during the build
     env: dict[str, str] | None = None
     # Directory for debug files of this script
-    debug_dir: Path | None = pydantic.Field(default=None, alias="debug-dir")
+    debug_dir: Path | None = pydantic.Field(
+        default=None, validation_alias=pydantic.AliasChoices("debug-dir", "debug_dir")
+    )
     # Extra input globs to include in the build hash
     extra_input_globs: list[str] | None = pydantic.Field(default=None, alias="extra-input-globs")
 
diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/metadata_provider.py b/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/metadata_provider.py
index e3b95d3b..73ffca1b 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/metadata_provider.py
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/metadata_provider.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class PackageXmlMetadataProvider(MetadataProvider):  # type: ignore[misc]  # Met
     def __init__(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]  # no typing for args and kwargs
         self,
         package_xml_path: str,
+        manifest_root: str,
         *args,
         extra_input_globs: list[str] | None = None,
         package_mapping_files: list[str] | None = None,
@@ -57,11 +58,13 @@ def __init__(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]  # no typing for args and kwargs
 
         Args:
             package_xml_path: Path to the package.xml file
+            manifest_root: Path to the manifest root directory
             extra_input_globs: Additional glob patterns to include
             package_mapping_files: Package mapping file paths to track as inputs
         """
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.package_xml_path = package_xml_path
+        self.manifest_root = manifest_root
         self._package_data: PackageData | None = None
         self._extra_input_globs = list(extra_input_globs or [])
         self._package_mapping_files = list(package_mapping_files or [])
@@ -148,8 +151,9 @@ def license(self) -> str | None:
         return None
 
     def license_file(self) -> str | None:
-        """Return package.xml as the license files."""
-        return "package.xml"
+        """Return package.xml as the license files, relative to manifest_root."""
+        # TODO: This does not work currently, so return None
+        return None
 
     def summary(self) -> str | None:
         """Return the description as summary from package.xml."""
@@ -189,6 +193,7 @@ class ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(PackageXmlMetadataProvider):
     def __init__(
         self,
         package_xml_path: str,
+        manifest_root: str,
         distro_name: str | None = None,
         *,
         extra_input_globs: list[str] | None = None,
@@ -199,12 +204,14 @@ def __init__(
 
         Args:
             package_xml_path: Path to the package.xml file
+            manifest_root: Path to the manifest root directory
             distro_name: ROS distro. If None, will use the base package name without distro prefix.
             extra_input_globs: Additional glob patterns to include
             package_mapping_files: Package mapping file paths to track as inputs
         """
         super().__init__(
             package_xml_path,
+            manifest_root=manifest_root,
             extra_input_globs=extra_input_globs,
             package_mapping_files=package_mapping_files,
         )
diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/ros_generator.py b/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/ros_generator.py
index 422746a3..22f983a6 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/ros_generator.py
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/src/pixi_build_ros/ros_generator.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def generate_recipe(
         package_mapping_files = [str(path) for path in backend_config.get_package_mapping_file_paths()]
         metadata_provider = ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(
             str(package_xml_path),
+            str(manifest_root),
             backend_config.distro.name,
             extra_input_globs=list(backend_config.extra_input_globs or []),
             package_mapping_files=package_mapping_files,
diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/templates/build_catkin.sh b/backends/pixi-build-ros/templates/build_catkin.sh
index e0968210..4f6044f0 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/templates/build_catkin.sh
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/templates/build_catkin.sh
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ if [ "${PKG_NAME}" == "ros-noetic-catkin" ]; then
     CATKIN_BUILD_BINARY_PACKAGE="OFF"
 fi
 
-rm -rf build
-mkdir build
+mkdir -p build
 cd build
 
 # necessary for correctly linking SIP files (from python_qt_bindings)
diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_package_xml.ambr b/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_package_xml.ambr
index aca58249..4133fae1 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_package_xml.ambr
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_package_xml.ambr
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
   about:
     homepage: https://test.io/custom_ros
     license: LicenseRef-Apache License 2.0
-    license_file: package.xml
+    license_file: null
     summary: Demo
     description: Demo
     documentation: null
diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_version_constraints.ambr b/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_version_constraints.ambr
index 1f182c1b..820fc309 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_version_constraints.ambr
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/__snapshots__/test_version_constraints.ambr
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
   about:
     homepage: null
     license: LicenseRef-Apache License 2.0
-    license_file: package.xml
+    license_file: null
     summary: Demo
     description: Demo
     documentation: null
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
   about:
     homepage: null
     license: LicenseRef-Apache License 2.0
-    license_file: package.xml
+    license_file: null
     summary: Demo
     description: Demo
     documentation: null
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@
   about:
     homepage: null
     license: LicenseRef-Apache License 2.0
-    license_file: package.xml
+    license_file: null
     summary: Demo
     description: Demo
     documentation: null
diff --git a/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/test_meta_data_provider.py b/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/test_meta_data_provider.py
index 2499fcb5..735397e3 100644
--- a/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/test_meta_data_provider.py
+++ b/backends/pixi-build-ros/tests/test_meta_data_provider.py
@@ -10,25 +10,27 @@
 def test_metadata_provider(package_xmls: Path):
     """Test the MetaDataProvider class."""
     package_xml_path = package_xmls / "custom_ros.xml"
-    metadata_provider = PackageXmlMetadataProvider(str(package_xml_path))
+    metadata_provider = PackageXmlMetadataProvider(str(package_xml_path), str(package_xmls))
     assert metadata_provider.name() == "custom_ros"
     assert metadata_provider.version() == "0.0.1"
     assert metadata_provider.license() == "LicenseRef-Apache License 2.0"
     assert metadata_provider.description() == "Demo"
     assert metadata_provider.homepage() == "https://test.io/custom_ros"
     assert metadata_provider.repository() == "https://github.com/test/custom_ros"
+    assert metadata_provider.license_file() is None
 
 
 def test_ros_metadata_provider(package_xmls: Path):
     """Test the RosMetaDataProvider class."""
     package_xml_path = package_xmls / "custom_ros.xml"
-    metadata_provider = ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(str(package_xml_path), distro_name="noetic")
+    metadata_provider = ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(str(package_xml_path), str(package_xmls), distro_name="noetic")
     assert metadata_provider.name() == "ros-noetic-custom-ros"
     assert metadata_provider.version() == "0.0.1"
     assert metadata_provider.license() == "LicenseRef-Apache License 2.0"
     assert metadata_provider.description() == "Demo"
     assert metadata_provider.homepage() == "https://test.io/custom_ros"
     assert metadata_provider.repository() == "https://github.com/test/custom_ros"
+    assert metadata_provider.license_file() is None
 
 
 def test_metadata_provider_raises_on_broken_xml(package_xmls: Path):
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ def test_metadata_provider_raises_on_broken_xml(package_xmls: Path):
     broken_xml_path = package_xmls / "broken.xml"
 
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as exc_info:
-        ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(str(broken_xml_path), distro_name="noetic")
+        ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(str(broken_xml_path), str(package_xmls), distro_name="noetic")
 
     # Verify the exception contains location information
     error = exc_info.value
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ def test_metadata_provider_includes_package_mapping_files_in_input_globs():
         # Create metadata provider
         metadata_provider = ROSPackageXmlMetadataProvider(
             str(package_xml_path),
+            str(temp_path),
             distro_name="noetic",
             package_mapping_files=package_mapping_files,
         )
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-backend/src/intermediate_backend.rs b/crates/pixi-build-backend/src/intermediate_backend.rs
index 313fd1d1..e9b2afeb 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-backend/src/intermediate_backend.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-backend/src/intermediate_backend.rs
@@ -113,9 +113,13 @@ impl<T: GenerateRecipe> IntermediateBackend<T> {
                 (source_dir, manifest_rel_path)
             }
             Some(source_dir) => {
-                let manifest_rel_path = pathdiff::diff_paths(manifest_path, &source_dir)
+                let manifest_rel_path = pathdiff::diff_paths(&manifest_path, &source_dir)
                     .ok_or_else(|| {
-                        miette::miette!("the manifest is not relative to the source directory")
+                        miette::miette!(
+                            "the manifest: {} is not relative to the source directory: {}",
+                            manifest_path.display(),
+                            source_dir.display()
+                        )
                     })?;
                 (source_dir, manifest_rel_path)
             }
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-backend/tests/integration/protocol.rs b/crates/pixi-build-backend/tests/integration/protocol.rs
index 248c5975..86c6f9ae 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-backend/tests/integration/protocol.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-backend/tests/integration/protocol.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ mod imp {
     #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
     pub struct TestBackendConfig {
         /// If set, internal state will be logged as files in that directory
+        #[serde(alias = "debug_dir")]
         pub debug_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-cmake/src/config.rs b/crates/pixi-build-cmake/src/config.rs
index 75eefc53..476bfe10 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-cmake/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-cmake/src/config.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ pub struct CMakeBackendConfig {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub env: IndexMap<String, String>,
     /// If set, internal state will be logged as files in that directory
+    #[serde(alias = "debug_dir")]
     pub debug_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     /// Extra input globs to include in addition to the default ones
     #[serde(default)]
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-mojo/src/config.rs b/crates/pixi-build-mojo/src/config.rs
index eaca8963..458c0aec 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-mojo/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-mojo/src/config.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub struct MojoBackendConfig {
     pub env: IndexMap<String, String>,
 
     /// Dir that can be specified for outputting pixi debug state.
+    #[serde(alias = "debug_dir")]
     pub debug_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
 
     /// Extra input globs to include in addition to the default ones.
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-python/src/config.rs b/crates/pixi-build-python/src/config.rs
index bf6d9263..84b1a11b 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-python/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-python/src/config.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub struct PythonBackendConfig {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub env: IndexMap<String, String>,
     /// If set, internal state will be logged as files in that directory
+    #[serde(alias = "debug_dir")]
     pub debug_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     /// Extra input globs to include in addition to the default ones
     #[serde(default)]
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-rattler-build/src/config.rs b/crates/pixi-build-rattler-build/src/config.rs
index e61f2e7e..ffde090a 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-rattler-build/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-rattler-build/src/config.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case", deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct RattlerBuildBackendConfig {
     /// If set, internal state will be logged as files in that directory
+    #[serde(alias = "debug_dir")]
     pub debug_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     /// Extra input globs to include in addition to the default ones
     #[serde(default)]
diff --git a/crates/pixi-build-rust/src/config.rs b/crates/pixi-build-rust/src/config.rs
index 157cda01..ef370fb2 100644
--- a/crates/pixi-build-rust/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/pixi-build-rust/src/config.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ pub struct RustBackendConfig {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub env: IndexMap<String, String>,
     /// If set, internal state will be logged as files in that directory
+    #[serde(alias = "debug_dir")]
     pub debug_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     /// Extra input globs to include in addition to the default ones
     #[serde(default)]
@@ -95,6 +96,23 @@ mod tests {
         serde_json::from_value::<RustBackendConfig>(json_data).unwrap();
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_debug_dir_accepts_both_formats() {
+        // Test with debug-dir (kebab-case) - the canonical format
+        let json_with_hyphen = json!({
+            "debug-dir": "/path/to/debug"
+        });
+        let config = serde_json::from_value::<RustBackendConfig>(json_with_hyphen).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(config.debug_dir, Some(PathBuf::from("/path/to/debug")));
+
+        // Test with debug_dir (underscore) - should also work due to alias
+        let json_with_underscore = json!({
+            "debug_dir": "/path/to/debug"
+        });
+        let config = serde_json::from_value::<RustBackendConfig>(json_with_underscore).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(config.debug_dir, Some(PathBuf::from("/path/to/debug")));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_merge_with_target_config() {
         let mut base_env = indexmap::IndexMap::new();
diff --git a/py-pixi-build-backend/src/types/config.rs b/py-pixi-build-backend/src/types/config.rs
index 63195d89..2cc0d956 100644
--- a/py-pixi-build-backend/src/types/config.rs
+++ b/py-pixi-build-backend/src/types/config.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use pixi_build_backend::generated_recipe::BackendConfig;
-use pyo3::{Py, PyAny, Python, pyclass, pymethods};
+use pyo3::{pyclass, pymethods, Py, PyAny, Python};
 use pythonize::pythonize;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use serde::Deserializer;
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for PyBackendConfig {
         Python::attach(|py| {
             let model = pythonize(py, &data).map_err(serde::de::Error::custom)?;
 
+            // Support both debug_dir and debug-dir
             let debug_dir: Option<PathBuf> = data
                 .as_object_mut()
-                .and_then(|obj| obj.get("debug_dir"))
+                .and_then(|obj| obj.get("debug-dir").or_else(|| obj.get("debug_dir")))
                 .and_then(|v| v.as_str().map(PathBuf::from));
 
             Ok(PyBackendConfig {