diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index e74b78e..f1c0217 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -236,6 +236,15 @@ version = "1.0.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "5b63caa9aa9397e2d9480a9b13673856c78d8ac123288526c37d7839f2a86990"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "convert_case"
+version = "0.10.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "633458d4ef8c78b72454de2d54fd6ab2e60f9e02be22f3c6104cdc8a4e0fceb9"
+dependencies = [
+ "unicode-segmentation",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "core-foundation"
 version = "0.9.4"
@@ -287,6 +296,29 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.59.0",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "derive_more"
+version = "2.1.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d751e9e49156b02b44f9c1815bcb94b984cdcc4396ecc32521c739452808b134"
+dependencies = [
+ "derive_more-impl",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "derive_more-impl"
+version = "2.1.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "799a97264921d8623a957f6c3b9011f3b5492f557bbb7a5a19b7fa6d06ba8dcb"
+dependencies = [
+ "convert_case",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "rustc_version",
+ "syn 2.0.101",
+ "unicode-xid",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "dirs"
 version = "6.0.0"
@@ -1083,6 +1115,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "clap",
  "clap-markdown",
  "ctrlc",
+ "derive_more",
  "dirs",
  "inquire",
  "open",
@@ -1093,6 +1126,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "strum 0.27.1",
  "strum_macros 0.27.1",
  "tempfile",
+ "thiserror",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1263,6 +1297,15 @@ version = "0.1.25"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "989e6739f80c4ad5b13e0fd7fe89531180375b18520cc8c82080e4dc4035b84f"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rustc_version"
+version = "0.4.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "cfcb3a22ef46e85b45de6ee7e79d063319ebb6594faafcf1c225ea92ab6e9b92"
+dependencies = [
+ "semver",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rustix"
 version = "1.0.7"
@@ -1359,6 +1402,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "semver"
+version = "1.0.28"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8a7852d02fc848982e0c167ef163aaff9cd91dc640ba85e263cb1ce46fae51cd"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "serde"
 version = "1.0.219"
@@ -1797,6 +1846,12 @@ version = "0.1.14"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7dd6e30e90baa6f72411720665d41d89b9a3d039dc45b8faea1ddd07f617f6af"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "unicode-xid"
+version = "0.2.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ebc1c04c71510c7f702b52b7c350734c9ff1295c464a03335b00bb84fc54f853"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "untrusted"
 version = "0.9.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 6992872..9ceea66 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ chrono = { version = "0.4.41", features = ["serde"] }
 clap = { version = "4.5.38", features = ["derive"] }
 clap-markdown = "0.1.5"
 ctrlc = "3.4.7"
+derive_more = { version = "2.1.1", features = ["full"] }
 dirs = "6.0.0"
 inquire = "0.7.5"
 open = "5.3.3"
@@ -30,3 +31,4 @@ spinners = "4.2.0"
 strum = "0.27.1"
 strum_macros = "0.27.1"
 tempfile = "3.20.0"
+thiserror = "2.0.20"
diff --git a/scripts/test-init.sh b/scripts/test-init.sh
index fb5dd8b..879e8a3 100755
--- a/scripts/test-init.sh
+++ b/scripts/test-init.sh
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ pwd
     --title ExampleProject \
     --tags "economics, ComPuterScience" \
     --color red \
-    --template HTML \
+    --template Markdown \
     --description "This is an example project" \
     --license "gPl-2.0"
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/init.rs b/src/cmd/init.rs
index 7fc6ec0..ffa005d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/init.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/init.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
-use std::{
-    error::Error,
-    fs::{self},
-    process::Command,
-    str::FromStr,
-};
+use std::{collections::HashMap, error::Error, process::Command, str::FromStr};
 
 use clap::Args;
 use spinners::{Spinner, Spinners};
 use strum::IntoEnumIterator;
 
-use crate::{config, template::Template};
+use crate::{
+    config,
+    templates::{templater::Templater, CLITemplate, Renderer},
+};
 
 /// Options for the `oseda init` command
 #[derive(Args, Debug)]
@@ -41,26 +39,6 @@ pub struct InitOptions {
     pub description: Option<String>,
 }
 
-// embed all the static markdown template files into binary
-const MD_VITE_CONFIG_JS: &str = include_str!("../static/md-templates/vite.config.js");
-const MD_INDEX_HTML: &str = include_str!("../static/md-templates/index.html");
-const MD_MAIN_JS: &str = include_str!("../static/md-templates/main.js");
-const MD_SLIDES: &str = include_str!("../static/md-templates/slides.md");
-const MD_CUSTOM_CSS: &str = include_str!("../static/md-templates/custom.css");
-const MD_FERRIS: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../static/md-templates/ferris.png");
-const MD_GITIGNORE: &str = include_str!("../static/md-templates/.gitignore");
-const MD_FAVICON: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../static/md-templates/favicon.png");
-
-// do the same with the html templates
-const HTML_VITE_CONFIG_JS: &str = include_str!("../static/html-templates/vite.config.js");
-const HTML_INDEX_HTML: &str = include_str!("../static/html-templates/index.html");
-const HTML_MAIN_JS: &str = include_str!("../static/html-templates/main.js");
-const HTML_SLIDES: &str = include_str!("../static/html-templates/slides.html");
-const HTML_CUSTOM_CSS: &str = include_str!("../static/html-templates/custom.css");
-const HTML_FERRIS: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../static/html-templates/ferris.png");
-const HTML_GITIGNORE: &str = include_str!("../static/html-templates/.gitignore");
-const HTML_FAVICON: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../static/html-templates/favicon.png");
-
 /// Initialize an Oseda project with the provided options
 ///
 /// This command will:
@@ -77,7 +55,7 @@ const HTML_FAVICON: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../static/html-templates/favicon.png
 pub fn init(opts: InitOptions) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     let template = match opts.template {
         Some(ref arg_template) => {
-            Template::from_str(arg_template).map_err(|_| "Invalid template".to_string())?
+            CLITemplate::from_str(arg_template).map_err(|_| "Invalid template".to_string())?
         }
         None => prompt_template()?,
     };
@@ -132,56 +110,18 @@ pub fn init(opts: InitOptions) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
 
     config::write_config(&conf.title, &conf)?;
 
-    // 99% sure we'll only ever have to maintain these two template schemas
-    match template {
-        Template::Markdown => {
-            // fs::write(format!("{}/package.json", &conf.title), MD_PACKAGE_JSON)?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/vite.config.js", &conf.title), MD_VITE_CONFIG_JS)?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/index.html", &conf.title), MD_INDEX_HTML)?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/.gitignore", &conf.title), MD_GITIGNORE)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/src", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/src/main.js", &conf.title), MD_MAIN_JS)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/slides", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/slides/slides.md", &conf.title), MD_SLIDES)?;
+    // empty hashmap for now
+    let mut params: HashMap<String, String> = HashMap::new();
+    params.insert(String::from("TITLE"), conf.title.clone());
 
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/css", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/css/custom.css", &conf.title), MD_CUSTOM_CSS)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/public", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/public/ferris.png", &conf.title), MD_FERRIS)?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/public/favicon.png", &conf.title), MD_FAVICON)?;
-        }
-        Template::HTML => {
-            // fs::write(format!("{}/package.json", &conf.title), HTML_PACKAGE_JSON)?;
-            fs::write(
-                format!("{}/vite.config.js", &conf.title),
-                HTML_VITE_CONFIG_JS,
-            )?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/index.html", &conf.title), HTML_INDEX_HTML)?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/.gitignore", &conf.title), HTML_GITIGNORE)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/src", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/src/main.js", &conf.title), HTML_MAIN_JS)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/slides", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/slides/slides.html", &conf.title), HTML_SLIDES)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/css", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/css/custom.css", &conf.title), HTML_CUSTOM_CSS)?;
-
-            std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/public", &conf.title))?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/public/ferris.png", &conf.title), HTML_FERRIS)?;
-            fs::write(format!("{}/public/favicon.png", &conf.title), HTML_FAVICON)?;
-        }
-    }
+    let templater = Templater::new(template, params);
+    templater.write_to_fs(&conf.title)?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn prompt_template() -> Result<Template, Box<dyn Error>> {
-    let template_opts: Vec<Template> = Template::iter().collect();
+fn prompt_template() -> Result<CLITemplate, Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let template_opts: Vec<CLITemplate> = CLITemplate::iter().collect();
 
     let chosen_template = inquire::Select::new("Select a template:", template_opts).prompt()?;
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 2d616c7..b2b6a34 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ pub mod license;
 pub mod net;
 pub mod puppeteer;
 pub mod tags;
-pub mod template;
+pub mod templates;
 
 /// Oseda Project scafolding CLI
 #[derive(Parser)]
diff --git a/src/template.rs b/src/template.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 94ed923..0000000
--- a/src/template.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use strum_macros::{Display, EnumIter, EnumString};
-
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone, Copy, Display, EnumIter, EnumString)]
-#[strum(ascii_case_insensitive)]
-pub enum Template {
-    HTML,
-    Markdown,
-}
diff --git a/src/templates/html/mod.rs b/src/templates/html/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..907ed8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/html/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+use std::{collections::HashMap, fs};
+
+use crate::templates::{render_template, Renderer, RendererError};
+
+pub const HTML_VITE_CONFIG_JS: &str = include_str!("static/vite.config.js");
+pub const HTML_INDEX_HTML: &str = include_str!("static/index.html");
+pub const HTML_MAIN_JS: &str = include_str!("static/main.js");
+pub const HTML_SLIDES: &str = include_str!("static/slides.html");
+pub const HTML_CUSTOM_CSS: &str = include_str!("static/custom.css");
+pub const HTML_FERRIS: &[u8] = include_bytes!("static/ferris.png");
+pub const HTML_GITIGNORE: &str = include_str!("static/.gitignore");
+pub const HTML_FAVICON: &[u8] = include_bytes!("static/favicon.png");
+
+pub struct HtmlRenderer {
+    pub params: HashMap<String, String>,
+}
+
+impl Renderer for HtmlRenderer {
+    fn write_to_fs(&self, target_dir: &str) -> Result<(), RendererError> {
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/vite.config.js", target_dir),
+            render_template(HTML_VITE_CONFIG_JS, &self.params),
+        )?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/index.html", target_dir),
+            render_template(HTML_INDEX_HTML, &self.params),
+        )?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/.gitignore", target_dir),
+            render_template(HTML_GITIGNORE, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/src", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/src/main.js", target_dir),
+            render_template(HTML_MAIN_JS, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/slides", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/slides/slides.html", target_dir),
+            render_template(HTML_SLIDES, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/css", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/css/custom.css", target_dir),
+            render_template(HTML_CUSTOM_CSS, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/public", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(format!("{}/public/ferris.png", target_dir), HTML_FERRIS)?;
+        fs::write(format!("{}/public/favicon.png", target_dir), HTML_FAVICON)?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/.gitignore b/src/templates/html/static/.gitignore
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/.gitignore
rename to src/templates/html/static/.gitignore
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/custom.css b/src/templates/html/static/custom.css
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/custom.css
rename to src/templates/html/static/custom.css
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/favicon.png b/src/templates/html/static/favicon.png
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/favicon.png
rename to src/templates/html/static/favicon.png
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/ferris.png b/src/templates/html/static/ferris.png
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/ferris.png
rename to src/templates/html/static/ferris.png
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/index.html b/src/templates/html/static/index.html
similarity index 91%
rename from src/static/html-templates/index.html
rename to src/templates/html/static/index.html
index 797fdc5..226c0f0 100644
--- a/src/static/html-templates/index.html
+++ b/src/templates/html/static/index.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <html lang="en">
     <head>
         <meta charset="UTF-8" />
-        <title>My OSEDA project</title>
+        <title>{{ TITLE }}</title>
         <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
         <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon.png" />
     </head>
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/main.js b/src/templates/html/static/main.js
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/main.js
rename to src/templates/html/static/main.js
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/slides.html b/src/templates/html/static/slides.html
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/slides.html
rename to src/templates/html/static/slides.html
diff --git a/src/static/html-templates/vite.config.js b/src/templates/html/static/vite.config.js
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/html-templates/vite.config.js
rename to src/templates/html/static/vite.config.js
diff --git a/src/templates/md/mod.rs b/src/templates/md/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a055ad3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/md/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+use std::{collections::HashMap, fs};
+
+use crate::templates::{render_template, Renderer, RendererError};
+
+pub const MD_VITE_CONFIG_JS: &str = include_str!("static/vite.config.js");
+pub const MD_INDEX_HTML: &str = include_str!("static/index.html");
+pub const MD_MAIN_JS: &str = include_str!("static/main.js");
+pub const MD_SLIDES: &str = include_str!("static/slides.md");
+pub const MD_CUSTOM_CSS: &str = include_str!("static/custom.css");
+pub const MD_FERRIS: &[u8] = include_bytes!("static/ferris.png");
+pub const MD_GITIGNORE: &str = include_str!("static/.gitignore");
+pub const MD_FAVICON: &[u8] = include_bytes!("static/favicon.png");
+
+pub struct MarkdownRenderer {
+    pub params: HashMap<String, String>,
+}
+
+impl Renderer for MarkdownRenderer {
+    fn write_to_fs(&self, target_dir: &str) -> Result<(), RendererError> {
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/vite.config.js", target_dir),
+            render_template(MD_VITE_CONFIG_JS, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/index.html", target_dir),
+            render_template(MD_INDEX_HTML, &self.params),
+        )?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/.gitignore", target_dir),
+            render_template(MD_GITIGNORE, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/src", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/src/main.js", target_dir),
+            render_template(MD_MAIN_JS, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/slides", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/slides/slides.md", target_dir),
+            render_template(MD_SLIDES, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/css", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(
+            format!("{}/css/custom.css", target_dir),
+            render_template(MD_CUSTOM_CSS, &self.params),
+        )?;
+
+        // binary files do not need templated
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{}/public", target_dir))?;
+        fs::write(format!("{}/public/ferris.png", target_dir), MD_FERRIS)?;
+        fs::write(format!("{}/public/favicon.png", target_dir), MD_FAVICON)?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/.gitignore b/src/templates/md/static/.gitignore
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/.gitignore
rename to src/templates/md/static/.gitignore
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/custom.css b/src/templates/md/static/custom.css
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/custom.css
rename to src/templates/md/static/custom.css
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/favicon.png b/src/templates/md/static/favicon.png
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/favicon.png
rename to src/templates/md/static/favicon.png
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/ferris.png b/src/templates/md/static/ferris.png
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/ferris.png
rename to src/templates/md/static/ferris.png
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/index.html b/src/templates/md/static/index.html
similarity index 91%
rename from src/static/md-templates/index.html
rename to src/templates/md/static/index.html
index 797fdc5..226c0f0 100644
--- a/src/static/md-templates/index.html
+++ b/src/templates/md/static/index.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <html lang="en">
     <head>
         <meta charset="UTF-8" />
-        <title>My OSEDA project</title>
+        <title>{{ TITLE }}</title>
         <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
         <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon.png" />
     </head>
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/main.js b/src/templates/md/static/main.js
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/main.js
rename to src/templates/md/static/main.js
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/slides.md b/src/templates/md/static/slides.md
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/slides.md
rename to src/templates/md/static/slides.md
diff --git a/src/static/md-templates/vite.config.js b/src/templates/md/static/vite.config.js
similarity index 100%
rename from src/static/md-templates/vite.config.js
rename to src/templates/md/static/vite.config.js
diff --git a/src/templates/mod.rs b/src/templates/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bc2a75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+pub mod templater;
+
+pub mod html;
+pub mod md;
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use strum_macros::{Display, EnumIter, EnumString};
+
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum RendererError {
+    #[error("I/O error while rendering template: {0}")]
+    Io(#[from] std::io::Error),
+
+    #[error("Could not render template: {0}")]
+    CouldNotWriteTemplate(String),
+
+    #[error("Unknown error while rendering template")]
+    Unknown,
+}
+
+pub trait Renderer {
+    fn write_to_fs(&self, target_dir: &str) -> Result<(), RendererError>;
+}
+
+pub fn render_template(text: &str, params: &HashMap<String, String>) -> String {
+    let mut update_me = String::from(text);
+
+    // { is escaped with {{, repeat for both halves
+    params.iter().for_each(|(key, value)| {
+        update_me = update_me.replace(&format!("{{{{ {key} }}}}"), value);
+    });
+    update_me
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone, Copy, Display, EnumIter, EnumString)]
+#[strum(ascii_case_insensitive)]
+pub enum CLITemplate {
+    HTML,
+    Markdown,
+}
diff --git a/src/templates/templater.rs b/src/templates/templater.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d07282a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/templater.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use crate::templates::{
+    html::HtmlRenderer, md::MarkdownRenderer, CLITemplate, Renderer, RendererError,
+};
+
+pub struct Templater {
+    template_type: CLITemplate,
+    params: HashMap<String, String>,
+}
+
+impl Templater {
+    pub fn new(template_type: CLITemplate, params: HashMap<String, String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            template_type,
+            params,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn update_template(&self, text: &str) -> String {
+        let mut update_me = String::from(text);
+        self.params.iter().for_each(|(key, value)| {
+            // { is escaped with {, so to replace {{ key }} you need {{{{ {key} }}}}
+            update_me = update_me.replace(&format!("{{{{ {key} }}}}"), value);
+        });
+
+        update_me
+    }
+}
+
+impl Renderer for Templater {
+    fn write_to_fs(&self, target_dir: &str) -> Result<(), RendererError> {
+        match self.template_type {
+            CLITemplate::HTML => {
+                let renderer = HtmlRenderer {
+                    params: self.params.clone(),
+                };
+                renderer.write_to_fs(target_dir)
+            }
+            CLITemplate::Markdown => {
+                let renderer = MarkdownRenderer {
+                    params: self.params.clone(),
+                };
+                renderer.write_to_fs(target_dir)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}