--- a/makeitso/makeitso.py	Sun Jan 02 00:48:58 2011 -0800
+++ b/makeitso/makeitso.py	Mon Jan 03 14:18:59 2011 -0800
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@
         for template in self.templates:
             template.substitute(**variables)
         
-### command line stuff
+### command line interface
 
 def invocation(url, **variables):
     """returns a string appropriate for TTW invocation"""

--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/makeitso/template.py	Mon Jan 03 14:18:59 2011 -0800
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""
+basic API template class
+"""
+
+import sys
+from makeitso import ContentTemplate
+
+class Variable(object):
+    """variable object for MakeItSo templates"""
+    
+    def __init__(self, name, default=None, description=None,
+                 cast=None):
+        self.name = name
+        self.default = default
+        self.description = description
+
+        # TODO (maybe): get cast from default variable type if not None
+        self.cast = cast
+
+        self._set = False
+
+    def set(self, value):
+        if self.cast:
+            self.value = self.cast(value)
+        else:
+            self.value = value
+        self._set = True
+
+    def read(self, fd=sys.stdout):
+        """prompt and read the variable from stdin"""
+        fd.write(self.display())
+        self.set(raw_input())
+
+    def display(self):
+        description = self.description or self.name
+        if self.default:
+            return 'Enter %s [DEFAULT: %s]:' % (description, repr(self.default))
+        else:
+            return 'Enter %s:' % description
+
+class MakeItSoTemplate(object):
+
+    def pre(self, **variables):
+        """do stuff before interpolation"""
+
+    def post(self, **variables):
+        """do stuff after interpolation"""
+        
+