What is a Template?

A template defines a multi-page site by combining blocks with content. Unlike blocks, templates have no React component. They consist of:

pages.json — defines all pages, their blocks, and content
block.config.ts — template metadata and global settings schema
package.json — dependencies and template info

pages.json Structure

The pages.json file is the heart of a template. It defines layout positions (header, footer) and individual pages with their blocks:

Layout Positions

Layout positions are blocks that appear on every page. The most common are:

header — site navigation, rendered at the top
footer — site footer, rendered at the bottom
sidebar_left — documentation sidebar

Each layout position specifies a block type and its content. This content is shared across all pages.

Publishing Templates

When you publish a template, the CLI:

Publishes all referenced blocks that have changed
Creates or updates all pages defined in pages.json
Sets up layout positions (header, footer)

Templates don't have source code to compile — they're pure configuration. This makes publishing fast and reliable.

Dev Preview

Run cmssy dev and click on a template to see a full composed preview. The dev server renders all blocks on each page with a navigation bar to switch between pages. Use Ctrl+K to quickly jump to any page.

Template vs Block