The template generator built for platform teams

How it works

Define a boilerplate.yml with your variables, write Go-template files, and run one command. Boilerplate handles prompts, defaults, validation, and rendering.

1. Define variables

boilerplate.yml

variables:
  - name: ProjectName
    description: The name of your project
    type: string

  - name: EnableDocker
    description: Include Docker configuration?
    type: bool
    default: true

2. Write templates

README.md

# {{.ProjectName}}

Welcome to {{.ProjectName}}!

{{if .EnableDocker}}
## Docker

Run with: `docker compose up`
{{end}}

3. Generate

boilerplate \
  --template-url ./my-template \
  --output-folder ./my-project \
  --var ProjectName="My App"

4. Output

my-project/README.md

# My App

Welcome to My App!

## Docker

Run with: `docker compose up`

Why Boilerplate?

Boilerplate is designed for platform teams who need to generate infrastructure code, create app starter templates, enforce standards, and automate workflows across an entire organization.

Run it anywhere

Boilerplate is a single Go binary with zero runtime dependencies. Download it, run it on your laptop, in CI/CD, or in a container. No Python, no Node, no version conflicts.

Easily capture variables

Boilerplate accepts variable values interactively, from the CLI, via YAML files, or through environment variables.

Build powerful templates

Boilerplate extends Go templates to include serious templating power including 40+ built-in functions, partials, conditionals, capturing shell command output, and more.

And there's more

• Composable templates — Build complex scaffolds from smaller, reusable templates using the dependency system.
• Variable validation — Seven variable types with built-in validators including required, regex, email, URL, and semver.
• Hooks — Run shell commands before or after rendering to format code, install dependencies, or run tests.
• Remote templates — Fetch templates from Git repos, S3, GCS, or HTTP URLs.
• Snippets — Embed code from source files in generated docs to keep examples always in sync.
• Non-interactive mode — Run fully headless in CI/CD pipelines with --non-interactive, --var-file, and environment variables.

Get started

Install Boilerplate Install via Homebrew, download a binary, or build from source. Write your first template Step-by-step tutorial to create and render your first template. View on GitHub Browse the source, open issues, and contribute.