Enable per-leaf pack directory via "packageDir" key in package.json

__fixtures__/package-dir/lerna.json

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}

__fixtures__/package-dir/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "name": "package-dir"
+}

__fixtures__/package-dir/packages/package-1/dist/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "package-1",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "packageDir": "dist"
+}

__fixtures__/package-dir/packages/package-1/dist/tmp.txt

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+I am included

__fixtures__/package-dir/packages/package-1/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "package-1",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "packageDir": "dist"
+}

__fixtures__/package-dir/packages/package-2/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "name": "package-2",
+  "version": "2.0.0"
+}

commands/publish/README.md

@@ -275,6 +275,26 @@ You can customize the dist-tag on a per-package basis by setting [`tag`](https:/
 - Passing [`--dist-tag`](#--dist-tag-tag) will _overwrite_ this value.
 - This value is _always_ ignored when [`--canary`](#--canary) is passed.
 
+
+### `packageDir` key in `package.json`
+
+You can specify a relative folder where `lerna` should run `pack`.  This will enable publishing the contents of e.g. a `dist` folder 
+vs. the root of the package.  
+
+Here's an example snippet of package.json that takes advantage: 
+```javascript
+{
+  "name": "@your-org/your-project",
+  "main": "index.js",
+  "packageDir": "dist",
+  "scripts" : {
+    "build": "babel source --presets env,react-app --out-dir dist --copy-files && cp package.json dist && cp README.md dist",
+    "prepare": "npm run build"
+  },
+  ...
+}
+```
+
 ## LifeCycle Events
 
 Lerna will run [npm lifecycle scripts](https://docs.npmjs.com/misc/scripts#description) during `lerna publish` in the following order:

commands/publish/__tests__/publish-command.test.js

@@ -262,6 +262,29 @@ Map {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("packageDir property", () => {
+    it("allows you to do even more fancy crap", async () => {
+      const cwd = await initFixture("package-dir");
+
+      await lernaPublish(cwd)();
+
+      for (const name of ["package-1"]) {
+        expect(packDirectory).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({ name }),
+          expect.stringContaining(`packages/${name}/dist`),
+          expect.any(Object)
+        );
+      }
+      for (const name of ["package-2"]) {
+        expect(packDirectory).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({ name }),
+          expect.stringContaining(`packages/${name}`),
+          expect.any(Object)
+        );
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("in a cyclical repo", () => {
     it("should throw an error with --reject-cycles", async () => {
       expect.assertions(1);

commands/publish/index.js

@@ -595,7 +595,12 @@ class PublishCommand extends Command {
     }
 
     const { contents } = this.options;
-    const getLocation = contents ? pkg => path.resolve(pkg.location, contents) : pkg => pkg.location;
+    const getLocation = contents
+      ? pkg => path.resolve(pkg.location, contents)
+      : pkg => {
+          const packageDir = pkg.get("packageDir");
+          return packageDir ? path.resolve(pkg.location, packageDir) : pkg.location;
+        };
 
     const opts = this.conf.snapshot;
     const mapper = pPipe(