template-engine

template-engine

Load, validate, and populate templates consistently across frameworks.

Triggers

Alternate expressions and non-obvious activations (primary phrases are matched automatically from the skill description):

• "fill template" → template instantiation
• "scaffold from template" → template-driven generation

Purpose

This skill provides a unified template instantiation engine that:

• Locates templates across project, framework, and installation locations
• Parses template structure and placeholders
• Gathers required inputs from context or prompts
• Populates and validates instantiated artifacts
• Integrates with artifact-metadata for tracking

Behavior

When triggered, this skill:

1. Locates template:

   • Search project templates first (.aiwg/templates/)
   • Search active framework templates
   • Search AIWG installation templates
   • Return first match or list similar templates

2. Parses template:

   • Extract placeholders ({{variable}}, {variable})
   • Identify required vs optional sections
   • Detect conditional blocks
   • Build input requirements list

3. Gathers inputs:

   • Check context for matching values
   • Prompt for missing required values
   • Apply defaults for optional values

4. Instantiates template:

   • Replace all placeholders
   • Evaluate conditional sections
   • Process loops/repeating sections
   • Format output

5. Validates output:

   • Check all placeholders replaced
   • Validate structure
   • Create metadata (via artifact-metadata skill)

6. Saves artifact:

   • Write to appropriate location
   • Update artifact index

Template Discovery Order

1. .aiwg/templates/{template-name}.md
2. .aiwg/templates/{category}/{template-name}.md
3. {framework}/templates/{category}/{template-name}.md
4. ~/.local/share/ai-writing-guide/.../{template-name}.md

Template Syntax

Basic Placeholders

# {{project_name}} Architecture Document

**Author**: {{author}}
**Date**: {{date}}
**Version**: {{version|default:0.1.0}}