diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
deleted file mode 100644
index a93dec4..0000000
--- a/.envrc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-if ! has nix_direnv_version || ! nix_direnv_version 3.0.6; then
-  source_url "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nix-community/nix-direnv/3.0.6/direnvrc" "sha256-RYcUJaRMf8oF5LznDrlCXbkOQrywm0HDv1VjYGaJGdM="
-fi
-use flake
diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..0b67630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+template/.envrc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index aa28ad5..fc9a130 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: true
 jobs:
   DeterminateCI:
-    uses: DeterminateSystems/ci/.github/workflows/workflow.yml@main
+    uses: dataheld/ci/.github/workflows/workflow.yml@pass-thru-failearly
     permissions:
       id-token: "write"
       contents: "read"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79728a0..a17368d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,16 +13,28 @@ extra-[DRY](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_repeat_yourself) 🤌
 ## Installing
 
 > \[!NOTE\]
+> This is not another flake or development framework.
+> It is much less; just the set of composable nix flakes and modules that I use for my projects.
+
+> \[!TIP\]
 > This is the software you need to have on your _system_.
 > All project-specific software is handled automatically.
 
 1. Install Nix (the package manager).
    The [Determinate Nix Installer](https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-installer) is recommended.
+
 1. Install [direnv](https://direnv.net).
+
 1. (optional) Install
    [nix-direnv](https://github.com/nix-community/nix-direnv)
    for better performance during development.
-1. (if not already done) Clone the repo
+
+1. Add the necessary boilerplate files.
+
+   ```sh
+   nix flake init --template "https://flakehub.com/f/dataheld/nullkomma/0.1.*#default"
+   ```
+
 1. (one-time only) Inside the repo, run `direnv allow`
 
 > \[!TIP\]
diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
index b815689..7dac35d 100644
--- a/flake.lock
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -158,7 +158,9 @@
     },
     "flake-parts": {
       "inputs": {
-        "nixpkgs-lib": "nixpkgs-lib"
+        "nixpkgs-lib": [
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
       },
       "locked": {
         "lastModified": 1741352980,
@@ -241,35 +243,66 @@
         "url": "https://flakehub.com/f/nix-community/naersk/0.1.%2A"
       }
     },
-    "nixpkgs": {
+    "nix-github-actions": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "nixpkgs": [
+          "nix-unit",
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
+      },
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1739758141,
-        "narHash": "sha256-uq6A2L7o1/tR6VfmYhZWoVAwb3gTy7j4Jx30MIrH0rE=",
-        "rev": "c618e28f70257593de75a7044438efc1c1fc0791",
-        "revCount": 714614,
-        "type": "tarball",
-        "url": "https://api.flakehub.com/f/pinned/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.714614%2Brev-c618e28f70257593de75a7044438efc1c1fc0791/0195155d-20df-7b25-ad70-45871483b8d2/source.tar.gz"
+        "lastModified": 1731952509,
+        "narHash": "sha256-p4gB3Rhw8R6Ak4eMl8pqjCPOLCZRqaehZxdZ/mbFClM=",
+        "owner": "nix-community",
+        "repo": "nix-github-actions",
+        "rev": "7b5f051df789b6b20d259924d349a9ba3319b226",
+        "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {
-        "type": "tarball",
-        "url": "https://flakehub.com/f/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.%2A.tar.gz"
+        "owner": "nix-community",
+        "repo": "nix-github-actions",
+        "type": "github"
       }
     },
-    "nixpkgs-lib": {
+    "nix-unit": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "flake-parts": [
+          "flake-parts"
+        ],
+        "nix-github-actions": "nix-github-actions",
+        "nixpkgs": [
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ],
+        "treefmt-nix": "treefmt-nix"
+      },
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1740877520,
-        "narHash": "sha256-oiwv/ZK/2FhGxrCkQkB83i7GnWXPPLzoqFHpDD3uYpk=",
+        "lastModified": 1741624954,
+        "narHash": "sha256-VjLS010BEfwuK343Dst08NnQNS8SRtVCDkz1zTsHuvI=",
         "owner": "nix-community",
-        "repo": "nixpkgs.lib",
-        "rev": "147dee35aab2193b174e4c0868bd80ead5ce755c",
+        "repo": "nix-unit",
+        "rev": "e9d81f6cffe67681e7c04a967d29f18c2c540af5",
         "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {
         "owner": "nix-community",
-        "repo": "nixpkgs.lib",
+        "repo": "nix-unit",
         "type": "github"
       }
     },
+    "nixpkgs": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1739758141,
+        "narHash": "sha256-uq6A2L7o1/tR6VfmYhZWoVAwb3gTy7j4Jx30MIrH0rE=",
+        "rev": "c618e28f70257593de75a7044438efc1c1fc0791",
+        "revCount": 714614,
+        "type": "tarball",
+        "url": "https://api.flakehub.com/f/pinned/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.714614%2Brev-c618e28f70257593de75a7044438efc1c1fc0791/0195155d-20df-7b25-ad70-45871483b8d2/source.tar.gz"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "type": "tarball",
+        "url": "https://flakehub.com/f/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.%2A.tar.gz"
+      }
+    },
     "nixpkgs_2": {
       "locked": {
         "lastModified": 1736200483,
@@ -300,12 +333,12 @@
     },
     "nixpkgs_4": {
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1741332913,
-        "narHash": "sha256-ri1e8ZliWS3Jnp9yqpKApHaOo7KBN33W8ECAKA4teAQ=",
-        "rev": "20755fa05115c84be00b04690630cb38f0a203ad",
-        "revCount": 715401,
+        "lastModified": 1742268799,
+        "narHash": "sha256-IhnK4LhkBlf14/F8THvUy3xi/TxSQkp9hikfDZRD4Ic=",
+        "rev": "da044451c6a70518db5b730fe277b70f494188f1",
+        "revCount": 715814,
         "type": "tarball",
-        "url": "https://api.flakehub.com/f/pinned/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.715401%2Brev-20755fa05115c84be00b04690630cb38f0a203ad/0195727e-13d5-7381-935b-fec5e4805a71/source.tar.gz"
+        "url": "https://api.flakehub.com/f/pinned/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.715814%2Brev-da044451c6a70518db5b730fe277b70f494188f1/0195a953-6802-701a-a1d1-1b8453be1416/source.tar.gz"
       },
       "original": {
         "type": "tarball",
@@ -335,8 +368,9 @@
         "flake-iter": "flake-iter",
         "flake-parts": "flake-parts",
         "flake-schemas": "flake-schemas_2",
+        "nix-unit": "nix-unit",
         "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs_4",
-        "treefmt-nix": "treefmt-nix"
+        "treefmt-nix": "treefmt-nix_2"
       }
     },
     "rust-analyzer-src": {
@@ -391,6 +425,27 @@
       }
     },
     "treefmt-nix": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "nixpkgs": [
+          "nix-unit",
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1733662930,
+        "narHash": "sha256-9qOp6jNdezzLMxwwXaXZWPXosHbNqno+f7Ii/xftqZ8=",
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "treefmt-nix",
+        "rev": "357cda84af1d74626afb7fb3bc12d6957167cda9",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "treefmt-nix",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "treefmt-nix_2": {
       "inputs": {
         "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs_5"
       },
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index a7a31d0..a7fb171 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -7,69 +7,122 @@
     fh.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/DeterminateSystems/fh/0.1.*";
     flake-checker.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/DeterminateSystems/flake-checker/0.2.*";
     flake-iter.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/DeterminateSystems/flake-iter/0.1.*";
-    flake-parts.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/hercules-ci/flake-parts/0.1.*";
+    # keep-sorted end
+    flake-parts = {
+      inputs.nixpkgs-lib.follows = "nixpkgs";
+      url = "https://flakehub.com/f/hercules-ci/flake-parts/0.1.*";
+    };
     flake-schemas.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/DeterminateSystems/flake-schemas/0.1.*";
+    nix-unit = {
+      url = "github:nix-community/nix-unit/?tag=v2.24.1";
+      inputs = {
+        flake-parts.follows = "flake-parts";
+        nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
+      };
+    };
     treefmt-nix.url = "github:numtide/treefmt-nix/3d0579f5cc93436052d94b73925b48973a104204";
-    # keep-sorted end
   };
 
-  outputs = {flake-parts, ...} @ inputs:
-    flake-parts.lib.mkFlake {inherit inputs;} {
+  outputs =
+    { flake-parts, self, ... }@inputs:
+    flake-parts.lib.mkFlake { inherit inputs; } {
       imports = [
+        # keep-sorted start
+        inputs.nix-unit.modules.flake.default
         inputs.treefmt-nix.flakeModule
+        # keep-sorted end
       ];
       systems = [
-        "x86_64-linux"
-        "aarch64-linux"
+        # keep-sorted start
         "aarch64-darwin"
+        "aarch64-linux"
         "x86_64-darwin"
+        "x86_64-linux"
+        # keep-sorted end
       ];
-      perSystem = {
-        inputs',
-        pkgs,
-        self',
-        ...
-      }: {
-        devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
-          packages = [
-            # keep-sorted start
-            inputs'.fh.packages.default
-            inputs'.flake-checker.packages.default
-            inputs'.flake-iter.packages.default
-            pkgs.git
-            pkgs.gnumake
-            pkgs.nixd
-            self'.formatter
-            # keep-sorted end
-          ];
-        };
-        treefmt = {
-          programs = {
-            # keep-sorted start
-            actionlint.enable = true;
-            alejandra.enable = true;
-            beautysh.enable = true;
-            black.enable = true;
-            cmake-format.enable = true;
-            deadnix.enable = true;
-            hclfmt.enable = true;
-            isort.enable = true;
-            jsonfmt.enable = true;
-            keep-sorted.enable = true;
-            mdformat.enable = true;
-            prettier.enable = true;
-            shellcheck.enable = true;
-            shfmt.enable = true;
-            sqlfluff.enable = true;
-            toml-sort.enable = true;
-            yamlfmt.enable = true;
-            # keep-sorted end
+      perSystem =
+        {
+          inputs',
+          pkgs,
+          self',
+          ...
+        }:
+        {
+          devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
+            packages = [
+              # keep-sorted start
+              inputs'.fh.packages.default
+              inputs'.flake-checker.packages.default
+              inputs'.flake-iter.packages.default
+              pkgs.git
+              pkgs.gnumake
+              pkgs.nixd
+              self'.formatter
+              # keep-sorted end
+            ];
+          };
+          treefmt = {
+            programs = {
+              # keep-sorted start
+              actionlint.enable = true;
+              beautysh.enable = true;
+              black.enable = true;
+              cmake-format.enable = true;
+              deadnix.enable = true;
+              hclfmt.enable = true;
+              isort.enable = true;
+              jsonfmt.enable = true;
+              keep-sorted.enable = true;
+              mdformat.enable = true;
+              nixfmt.enable = true;
+              prettier.enable = true;
+              shellcheck.enable = true;
+              shfmt.enable = true;
+              sqlfluff.enable = true;
+              toml-sort.enable = true;
+              yamlfmt.enable = true;
+              # keep-sorted end
+            };
+          };
+          nix-unit = {
+            inputs = {
+              inherit (inputs)
+                nixpkgs
+                flake-parts
+                nix-unit
+                treefmt-nix
+                ;
+            };
+            tests = {
+              "test example system-specific" = {
+                expr = "1";
+                expected = "1";
+              };
+            };
           };
         };
-        packages.default = pkgs.hello;
-      };
       flake = {
         schemas = inputs.flake-schemas.schemas;
+        templates = rec {
+          base = {
+            description = "nullkomma template";
+            path = ./templates/base;
+            welcomeText = ''
+              Welcome to the nullkomma template
+            '';
+          };
+          default = base;
+        };
+        tests = {
+          "test example system-agnostic" = {
+            expr = "2";
+            expected = "2";
+          };
+          "test template welcome text" = {
+            expr = self.templates.default.description;
+            expected = "nullkomma template";
+          };
+        };
       };
     };
 }
diff --git a/templates/base/.envrc b/templates/base/.envrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a93dec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/base/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+if ! has nix_direnv_version || ! nix_direnv_version 3.0.6; then
+  source_url "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nix-community/nix-direnv/3.0.6/direnvrc" "sha256-RYcUJaRMf8oF5LznDrlCXbkOQrywm0HDv1VjYGaJGdM="
+fi
+use flake
diff --git a/templates/base/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/templates/base/.github/workflows/ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa28ad5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/base/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+name: CI
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  push:
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+jobs:
+  DeterminateCI:
+    uses: DeterminateSystems/ci/.github/workflows/workflow.yml@main
+    permissions:
+      id-token: "write"
+      contents: "read"
+    with:
+      visibility: public
+  flake-checker:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Check Nix flake Nixpkgs inputs
+        uses: DeterminateSystems/flake-checker-action@v9
diff --git a/templates/base/.github/workflows/nix_maintenance.yml b/templates/base/.github/workflows/nix_maintenance.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41a2484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/base/.github/workflows/nix_maintenance.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: Maintenance
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: "0 0 * * 0" # runs weekly on Sunday at 01:00
+jobs:
+  nix-maintenance:
+    name: Nix Maintenance
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/nix-installer-action@main
+        with:
+          determinate: true
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/flakehub-cache-action@main
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/update-flake-lock@main
+        with:
+          pr-title: "Update flake.lock"
+          pr-labels: |
+            dependencies
+            automated
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/flake-checker-action@main
+        with:
+          fail-mode: true
diff --git a/templates/base/flake.nix b/templates/base/flake.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79c2130
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/base/flake.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  description = "nullkomma";
+
+  inputs = {
+    nixpkgs.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/NixOS/nixpkgs/0.2411.*";
+  };
+
+  outputs =
+    { ... }:
+    {
+    };
+}