diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7d38e30..05a3a49 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
-TODO.md
-main
-get/
 zig-out/
 zig-cache/
 *.core
-src/app/views/**/*.compiled.zig
-archive.tar.gz
 static/
diff --git a/archive.tar.gz b/archive.tar.gz
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b288267
Binary files /dev/null and b/archive.tar.gz differ
diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 0902c8f..d5c92fc 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void {
 
     const mime_module = try GenerateMimeTypes.generateMimeModule(b);
 
-    b.installArtifact(lib);
+    const zig_args_dep = b.dependency("args", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize });
 
     const jetzig_module = b.addModule("jetzig", .{ .root_source_file = .{ .path = "src/jetzig.zig" } });
     jetzig_module.addImport("mime_types", mime_module);
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void {
 
     lib.root_module.addImport("zmpl", zmpl_dep.module("zmpl"));
     jetzig_module.addImport("zmpl", zmpl_dep.module("zmpl"));
+    lib.root_module.addImport("args", zig_args_dep.module("args"));
 
     // This is the way to make it look nice in the zig build script
     // If we would do it the other way around, we would have to do
diff --git a/build.zig.zon b/build.zig.zon
index 6a6f26e..489696b 100644
--- a/build.zig.zon
+++ b/build.zig.zon
@@ -3,8 +3,12 @@
     .version = "0.0.0",
     .dependencies = .{
         .zmpl = .{
-            .url = "https://github.com/jetzig-framework/zmpl/archive/aa7147f8a52d927dce6cdd4f5b3bb2de5080f28c.tar.gz",
-            .hash = "12203d262b39b2328adb981e41c5127507f3d47e977c1a4e69a96688a4213b986d04",
+            .url = "https://github.com/jetzig-framework/zmpl/archive/ed99a1604b37fb05b0f5843a3288588f3dfe2e63.tar.gz",
+            .hash = "1220771fe742fc620872051b92082d370549ed857e5a93ae43f92c5767ca2aaf42b1",
+        },
+        .args = .{
+            .url = "https://github.com/MasterQ32/zig-args/archive/89f18a104d9c13763b90e97d6b4ce133da8a3e2b.tar.gz",
+            .hash = "12203ded54c85878eea7f12744066dcb4397177395ac49a7b2aa365bf6047b623829",
         },
     },
 
diff --git a/cli/build.zig b/cli/build.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..051e610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/build.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+const compile = @import("compile.zig");
+
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void {
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+
+    const exe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "jetzig",
+        .root_source_file = .{ .path = "cli.zig" },
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+
+    const zig_args_dep = b.dependency("args", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize });
+
+    exe.root_module.addImport("args", zig_args_dep.module("args"));
+    exe.root_module.addImport(
+        "init_data",
+        try compile.initDataModule(b),
+    );
+
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+
+    const run_cmd = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+    run_cmd.step.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
+    if (b.args) |args| {
+        run_cmd.addArgs(args);
+    }
+    const run_step = b.step("run", "Run the app");
+    run_step.dependOn(&run_cmd.step);
+}
diff --git a/cli/build.zig.zon b/cli/build.zig.zon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9350709
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/build.zig.zon
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+.{
+    .name = "jetzig-cli",
+    .version = "0.0.0",
+    .minimum_zig_version = "0.12.0",
+
+    .dependencies = .{
+        .args = .{
+            .url = "https://github.com/MasterQ32/zig-args/archive/89f18a104d9c13763b90e97d6b4ce133da8a3e2b.tar.gz",
+            .hash = "12203ded54c85878eea7f12744066dcb4397177395ac49a7b2aa365bf6047b623829",
+        },
+    },
+    .paths = .{
+        "",
+    },
+}
diff --git a/cli/cli.zig b/cli/cli.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65ef87d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/cli.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const args = @import("args");
+const init = @import("init.zig");
+
+const Options = struct {
+    help: bool = false,
+
+    pub const shorthands = .{
+        .h = "help",
+    };
+
+    pub const meta = .{
+        .option_docs = .{
+            .init = "Initialize a new project",
+            .help = "Print help and exit",
+        },
+    };
+};
+
+const Verb = union(enum) {
+    init: init.Options,
+};
+
+/// Main entrypoint for `jetzig` executable. Parses command line args and generates a new
+/// project, scaffolding, etc.
+pub fn main() !void {
+    var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
+    const allocator = gpa.allocator();
+    defer std.debug.assert(gpa.deinit() == .ok);
+
+    const options = try args.parseWithVerbForCurrentProcess(Options, Verb, allocator, .print);
+    defer options.deinit();
+
+    const writer = std.io.getStdErr().writer();
+
+    if (options.verb) |verb| {
+        switch (verb) {
+            .init => |opts| return init.run(
+                allocator,
+                opts,
+                writer,
+                options.positionals,
+                .{ .help = options.options.help },
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (options.options.help) {
+        try args.printHelp(Options, "jetzig", writer);
+        try writer.writeAll(
+            \\
+            \\Commands:
+            \\
+            \\  init         Initialize a new project.
+            \\
+            \\ Pass --help to any command for more information, e.g. `jetzig init --help`
+            \\
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/cli/compile.zig b/cli/compile.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1bb2ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/compile.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+fn base64Encode(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, input: []const u8) []const u8 {
+    const encoder = std.base64.Base64Encoder.init(
+        std.base64.url_safe_no_pad.alphabet_chars,
+        std.base64.url_safe_no_pad.pad_char,
+    );
+    const size = encoder.calcSize(input.len);
+    const ptr = allocator.alloc(u8, size) catch @panic("OOM");
+    _ = encoder.encode(ptr, input);
+    return ptr;
+}
+
+pub fn initDataModule(build: *std.Build) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const root_path = build.pathFromRoot("..");
+
+    var buf = std.ArrayList(u8).init(build.allocator);
+    defer buf.deinit();
+
+    const writer = buf.writer();
+
+    const paths = .{
+        "demo/build.zig",
+        "demo/src/main.zig",
+        "demo/src/app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig",
+        "demo/src/app/views/init.zig",
+        "demo/src/app/views/init/index.zmpl",
+        "demo/src/app/views/init/_content.zmpl",
+        "demo/public/jetzig.png",
+        "demo/public/zmpl.png",
+        "demo/public/favicon.ico",
+        "demo/public/styles.css",
+        ".gitignore",
+    };
+
+    try writer.writeAll(
+        \\pub const init_data = .{
+        \\
+    );
+
+    var dir = try std.fs.openDirAbsolute(root_path, .{});
+    defer dir.close();
+
+    inline for (paths) |path| {
+        const stat = try dir.statFile(path);
+        const encoded = base64Encode(
+            build.allocator,
+            try dir.readFileAlloc(build.allocator, path, stat.size),
+        );
+        defer build.allocator.free(encoded);
+
+        const output = try std.fmt.allocPrint(
+            build.allocator,
+            \\.{{ .path = "{s}", .data = "{s}" }},
+        ,
+            .{ path, encoded },
+        );
+        defer build.allocator.free(output);
+
+        try writer.writeAll(output);
+    }
+
+    try writer.writeAll(
+        \\};
+        \\
+    );
+
+    const write_files = build.addWriteFiles();
+    const init_data_source = write_files.add("init_data.zig", buf.items);
+    return build.createModule(.{ .root_source_file = init_data_source });
+}
diff --git a/cli/init.zig b/cli/init.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2be0815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/init.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,427 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const args = @import("args");
+const init_data = @import("init_data").init_data;
+
+fn base64Decode(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, input: []const u8) ![]const u8 {
+    const decoder = std.base64.Base64Decoder.init(
+        std.base64.url_safe_no_pad.alphabet_chars,
+        std.base64.url_safe_no_pad.pad_char,
+    );
+    const size = try decoder.calcSizeForSlice(input);
+    const ptr = try allocator.alloc(u8, size);
+    try decoder.decode(ptr, input);
+    return ptr;
+}
+
+pub const Options = struct {
+    path: ?[]const u8 = null,
+
+    pub const shorthands = .{
+        .p = "path",
+    };
+
+    pub const meta = .{
+        .usage_summary = "[--path PATH]",
+        .full_text =
+        \\Initializes a new Jetzig project in the current directory or attempts to
+        \\create a new directory specified by PATH
+        \\
+        \\Creates build.zig, build.zig.zon, src/main.zig, and an example view with a template.
+        \\
+        \\Run `zig build run` to launch a development server when complete.
+        ,
+        .option_docs = .{
+            .path = "Set the output path relative to the current directory (default: current directory)",
+        },
+    };
+};
+
+/// Run the `jetzig init` command.
+pub fn run(
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    options: Options,
+    writer: anytype,
+    positionals: [][]const u8,
+    other_options: struct { help: bool },
+) !void {
+    _ = options;
+    var install_path: ?[]const u8 = null;
+
+    for (positionals) |arg| {
+        if (install_path != null) {
+            std.debug.print("Unexpected positional argument: {s}\n", .{arg});
+            return error.JetzigUnexpectedPositionalArgumentsError;
+        }
+        install_path = arg;
+    }
+
+    const github_url = try githubUrl(allocator);
+    defer allocator.free(github_url);
+
+    if (other_options.help) {
+        try args.printHelp(Options, "jetzig init", writer);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    var install_dir: std.fs.Dir = undefined;
+    defer install_dir.close();
+
+    var project_name: []const u8 = undefined;
+    defer allocator.free(project_name);
+
+    if (install_path) |path| {
+        install_dir = try std.fs.cwd().makeOpenPath(path, .{});
+        project_name = try allocator.dupe(u8, std.fs.path.basename(path));
+    } else {
+        const cwd_realpath = try std.fs.cwd().realpathAlloc(allocator, ".");
+        defer allocator.free(cwd_realpath);
+
+        const default_project_name = std.fs.path.basename(cwd_realpath);
+        project_name = try promptInput(allocator, "Project name", .{ .default = default_project_name });
+        const sub_path = if (std.mem.eql(u8, project_name, default_project_name)) "" else project_name;
+
+        const default_install_path = try std.fs.path.join(
+            allocator,
+            &[_][]const u8{ cwd_realpath, sub_path },
+        );
+        defer allocator.free(default_install_path);
+
+        const input_install_path = try promptInput(
+            allocator,
+            "Install path",
+            .{ .default = default_install_path },
+        );
+        defer allocator.free(input_install_path);
+        install_dir = try std.fs.cwd().makeOpenPath(input_install_path, .{});
+    }
+
+    const real_path = try install_dir.realpathAlloc(allocator, ".");
+    defer allocator.free(real_path);
+
+    const output = try std.fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "Creating new project in {s}\n\n", .{real_path});
+    defer allocator.free(output);
+    try writer.writeAll(output);
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/build.zig",
+        "build.zig",
+        &[_]Replace{.{ .from = "jetzig-demo", .to = project_name }},
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/src/main.zig",
+        "src/main.zig",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/src/app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig",
+        "src/app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/src/app/views/init.zig",
+        "src/app/views/root.zig",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/src/app/views/init/index.zmpl",
+        "src/app/views/root/index.zmpl",
+        &[_]Replace{
+            .{ .from = "init/", .to = "root/" },
+        },
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/src/app/views/init/_content.zmpl",
+        "src/app/views/root/_content.zmpl",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/public/jetzig.png",
+        "public/jetzig.png",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/public/zmpl.png",
+        "public/zmpl.png",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/public/favicon.ico",
+        "public/favicon.ico",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        "demo/public/styles.css",
+        "public/styles.css",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try copySourceFile(
+        allocator,
+        install_dir,
+        ".gitignore",
+        ".gitignore",
+        null,
+    );
+
+    try runCommand(allocator, install_dir, &[_][]const u8{
+        "zig",
+        "fetch",
+        "--save",
+        github_url,
+    });
+
+    // TODO: Use arg or interactive prompt to do Git setup in net project, default to no.
+    // const git_setup = false;
+    // if (git_setup) try gitSetup(allocator, install_dir);
+
+    std.debug.print(
+        \\
+        \\Setup complete! ✈️ 🦎
+        \\
+        \\Launch your new application:
+        \\
+        \\    $ cd {s}
+        \\
+        \\    $ zig build run
+        \\
+        \\And then browse to http://localhost:8080/
+        \\
+        \\
+    , .{real_path});
+}
+
+fn runCommand(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, install_dir: std.fs.Dir, argv: []const []const u8) !void {
+    const result = try std.process.Child.run(.{ .allocator = allocator, .argv = argv, .cwd_dir = install_dir });
+    defer allocator.free(result.stdout);
+    defer allocator.free(result.stderr);
+
+    const command = try std.mem.join(allocator, " ", argv);
+    defer allocator.free(command);
+
+    std.debug.print("[exec] {s}", .{command});
+
+    if (result.term.Exited != 0) {
+        printFailure();
+        std.debug.print(
+            \\
+            \\Error running command: {s}
+            \\
+            \\[stdout]:
+            \\
+            \\{s}
+            \\
+            \\[stderr]:
+            \\
+            \\{s}
+            \\
+        , .{ command, result.stdout, result.stderr });
+        return error.JetzigRunCommandError;
+    } else {
+        printSuccess();
+    }
+}
+
+const Replace = struct {
+    from: []const u8,
+    to: []const u8,
+};
+
+fn copySourceFile(
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    install_dir: std.fs.Dir,
+    src: []const u8,
+    dest: []const u8,
+    replace: ?[]const Replace,
+) !void {
+    std.debug.print("[create] {s}", .{dest});
+
+    var content: []const u8 = undefined;
+    if (replace) |capture| {
+        const initial = readSourceFile(allocator, src) catch |err| {
+            printFailure();
+            return err;
+        };
+        defer allocator.free(initial);
+        for (capture) |item| {
+            content = try std.mem.replaceOwned(u8, allocator, initial, item.from, item.to);
+        }
+    } else {
+        content = readSourceFile(allocator, src) catch |err| {
+            printFailure();
+            return err;
+        };
+    }
+    defer allocator.free(content);
+
+    writeSourceFile(install_dir, dest, content) catch |err| {
+        printFailure();
+        return err;
+    };
+    printSuccess();
+}
+
+// Read a file from Jetzig source code.
+fn readSourceFile(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, path: []const u8) ![]const u8 {
+    inline for (init_data) |file| {
+        if (std.mem.eql(u8, path, file.path)) return try base64Decode(allocator, file.data);
+    }
+    return error.SourceFileNotFound;
+}
+
+// Write a file to the new project's directory.
+fn writeSourceFile(install_dir: std.fs.Dir, path: []const u8, content: []const u8) !void {
+    // TODO: Detect presence and ask for confirmation if necessary.
+    if (std.fs.path.dirname(path)) |dirname| {
+        var dir = try install_dir.makeOpenPath(dirname, .{});
+        defer dir.close();
+
+        const file = try dir.createFile(std.fs.path.basename(path), .{ .truncate = true });
+        defer file.close();
+
+        try file.writeAll(content);
+    } else {
+        const file = try install_dir.createFile(path, .{ .truncate = true });
+        defer file.close();
+
+        try file.writeAll(content);
+    }
+}
+
+// Generate a full GitHub URL for passing to `zig fetch`.
+fn githubUrl(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) ![]const u8 {
+    var client = std.http.Client{ .allocator = allocator };
+    defer client.deinit();
+
+    const url = "https://api.github.com/repos/jetzig-framework/jetzig/branches/main";
+    const extra_headers = &[_]std.http.Header{.{ .name = "X-GitHub-Api-Version", .value = "2022-11-28" }};
+
+    var response_storage = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator);
+    defer response_storage.deinit();
+
+    const fetch_result = try client.fetch(.{
+        .location = .{ .url = url },
+        .extra_headers = extra_headers,
+        .response_storage = .{ .dynamic = &response_storage },
+    });
+
+    if (fetch_result.status != .ok) {
+        std.debug.print("Error fetching from GitHub: {s}\n", .{url});
+        return error.JetzigGitHubFetchError;
+    }
+
+    const parsed_response = try std.json.parseFromSlice(
+        struct { commit: struct { sha: []const u8 } },
+        allocator,
+        response_storage.items,
+        .{ .ignore_unknown_fields = true },
+    );
+    defer parsed_response.deinit();
+
+    return try std.mem.concat(
+        allocator,
+        u8,
+        &[_][]const u8{
+            "https://github.com/jetzig-framework/jetzig/archive/",
+            parsed_response.value.commit.sha,
+            ".tar.gz",
+        },
+    );
+}
+
+// Prompt a user for input and return the result. Accepts an optional default value.
+fn promptInput(
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    prompt: []const u8,
+    options: struct { default: ?[]const u8 },
+) ![]const u8 {
+    const stdin = std.io.getStdIn();
+    const reader = stdin.reader();
+
+    const max_read_bytes = 1024;
+
+    while (true) {
+        if (options.default) |default| {
+            std.debug.print(
+                \\{s} [default: "{s}"]: 
+            , .{ prompt, default });
+        } else {
+            std.debug.print(
+                \\{s}: 
+            , .{prompt});
+        }
+        const input = try reader.readUntilDelimiterOrEofAlloc(allocator, '\n', max_read_bytes);
+        if (input) |capture| {
+            defer allocator.free(capture);
+
+            if (std.mem.eql(u8, capture, "")) {
+                if (options.default) |default| return try allocator.dupe(u8, strip(default));
+            } else return try allocator.dupe(u8, strip(capture));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Strip leading and trailing whitespace from a u8 slice.
+fn strip(input: []const u8) []const u8 {
+    return std.mem.trim(u8, input, &std.ascii.whitespace);
+}
+
+// Initialize a new Git repository when setting up a new project (optional).
+fn gitSetup(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, install_dir: *std.fs.Dir) !void {
+    try runCommand(allocator, install_dir, &[_][]const u8{
+        "git",
+        "init",
+        ".",
+    });
+
+    try runCommand(allocator, install_dir, &[_][]const u8{
+        "git",
+        "add",
+        ".",
+    });
+
+    try runCommand(allocator, install_dir, &[_][]const u8{
+        "git",
+        "commit",
+        "-m",
+        "Initialize Jetzig project",
+    });
+}
+
+/// Print a success confirmation.
+fn printSuccess() void {
+    std.debug.print(" ✅\n", .{});
+}
+
+/// Print a failure confirmation.
+fn printFailure() void {
+    std.debug.print(" ❌\n", .{});
+}
diff --git a/demo/build.zig.zon b/demo/build.zig.zon
index 2e43c0f..321158c 100644
--- a/demo/build.zig.zon
+++ b/demo/build.zig.zon
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 .{
-    .name = "sandbox-jetzig",
+    .name = "jetzig-demo",
     .version = "0.0.0",
     .minimum_zig_version = "0.12.0",
     .dependencies = .{
diff --git a/demo/public/styles.css b/demo/public/styles.css
index e69de29..1755d47 100644
--- a/demo/public/styles.css
+++ b/demo/public/styles.css
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/* Root stylesheet. Load into your Zmpl template with:
+ *
+ * <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css" />
+ *
+ */
+
+.message {
+    font-weight: bold;
+    font-size: 3rem;
+}
diff --git a/demo/src/DemoMiddleware.zig b/demo/src/DemoMiddleware.zig
deleted file mode 100644
index 2209795..0000000
--- a/demo/src/DemoMiddleware.zig
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
-
-my_data: u8,
-
-const Self = @This();
-
-pub fn init(request: *jetzig.http.Request) !*Self {
-    var middleware = try request.allocator.create(Self);
-    middleware.my_data = 42;
-    return middleware;
-}
-
-pub fn beforeRequest(self: *Self, request: *jetzig.http.Request) !void {
-    request.server.logger.debug("[DemoMiddleware] Before request, custom data: {d}", .{self.my_data});
-    self.my_data = 43;
-}
-
-pub fn afterRequest(self: *Self, request: *jetzig.http.Request, response: *jetzig.http.Response) !void {
-    request.server.logger.debug("[DemoMiddleware] After request, custom data: {d}", .{self.my_data});
-    request.server.logger.debug("[DemoMiddleware] content-type: {s}", .{response.content_type});
-}
-
-pub fn deinit(self: *Self, request: *jetzig.http.Request) void {
-    request.allocator.destroy(self);
-}
diff --git a/demo/src/app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig b/demo/src/app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06822c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/demo/src/app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/// Demo middleware. Assign middleware by declaring `pub const middleware` in the
+/// `jetzig_options` defined in your application's `src/main.zig`.
+///
+/// Middleware is called before and after the request, providing full access to the active
+/// request, allowing you to execute any custom code for logging, tracking, inserting response
+/// headers, etc.
+///
+/// This middleware is configured in the demo app's `src/main.zig`:
+///
+/// ```
+/// pub const jetzig_options = struct {
+///    pub const middleware: []const type = &.{@import("app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig")};
+/// };
+/// ```
+const std = @import("std");
+const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
+
+/// Define any custom data fields you want to store here. Assigning to these fields in the `init`
+/// function allows you to access them in the `beforeRequest` and `afterRequest` functions, where
+/// they can also be modified.
+my_custom_value: []const u8,
+
+const Self = @This();
+
+/// Initialize middleware.
+pub fn init(request: *jetzig.http.Request) !*Self {
+    var middleware = try request.allocator.create(Self);
+    middleware.my_custom_value = "initial value";
+    return middleware;
+}
+
+/// Invoked immediately after the request head has been processed, before relevant view function
+/// is processed. This gives you access to request headers but not the request body.
+pub fn beforeRequest(self: *Self, request: *jetzig.http.Request) !void {
+    request.server.logger.debug("[DemoMiddleware] my_custom_value: {s}", .{self.my_custom_value});
+    self.my_custom_value = @tagName(request.method);
+}
+
+/// Invoked immediately after the request has finished responding. Provides full access to the
+/// response as well as the request.
+pub fn afterRequest(self: *Self, request: *jetzig.http.Request, response: *jetzig.http.Response) !void {
+    request.server.logger.debug(
+        "[DemoMiddleware] my_custom_value: {s}, response status: {s}",
+        .{ self.my_custom_value, @tagName(response.status_code) },
+    );
+}
+
+/// Invoked after `afterRequest` is called, use this function to do any clean-up.
+/// Note that `request.allocator` is an arena allocator, so any allocations are automatically
+/// done before the next request starts processing.
+pub fn deinit(self: *Self, request: *jetzig.http.Request) void {
+    request.allocator.destroy(self);
+}
diff --git a/demo/src/app/views/init.zig b/demo/src/app/views/init.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fa146c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/demo/src/app/views/init.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
+
+/// `src/app/views/root.zig` represents the root URL `/`
+/// The `index` view function is invoked when when the HTTP verb is `GET`.
+/// Other view types are invoked either by passing a resource ID value (e.g. `/1234`) or by using
+/// a different HTTP verb:
+///
+/// GET / => index(request, data)
+/// GET /1234 => get(id, request, data)
+/// POST / => post(request, data)
+/// PUT /1234 => put(id, request, data)
+/// PATCH /1234 => patch(id, request, data)
+/// DELETE /1234 => delete(id, request, data)
+pub fn index(request: *jetzig.Request, data: *jetzig.Data) !jetzig.View {
+    // The first call to `data.object()` or `data.array()` sets the root response data value.
+    // JSON requests return a JSON string representation of the root data value.
+    // Zmpl templates can access all values in the root data value.
+    var root = try data.object();
+
+    // Add a string to the root object.
+    try root.put("message", data.string("Welcome to Jetzig!"));
+
+    // Request params have the same type as a `data.object()` so they can be inserted them
+    // directly into the response data. Fetch `http://localhost:8080/?message=hello` to set the
+    // param. JSON data is also accepted when the `content-type: application/json` header is
+    // present.
+    const params = try request.params();
+
+    if (params.get("message")) |value| {
+        try root.put("message_param", value);
+    }
+
+    // Set arbitrary response headers as required. `content-type` is automatically assigned for
+    // HTML, JSON responses.
+    //
+    // Static files located in `public/` in the root of your project directory are accessible
+    // from the root path (e.g. `public/jetzig.png`) is available at `/jetzig.png` and the
+    // content type is inferred from the extension using MIME types.
+    try request.response.headers.append("x-example-header", "example header value");
+
+    // Render the response and set the response code.
+    return request.render(.ok);
+}
diff --git a/demo/src/app/views/init/_content.zmpl b/demo/src/app/views/init/_content.zmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08973a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/demo/src/app/views/init/_content.zmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+// Renders the `message` response data value.
+<h3 class="message text-[#39b54a]">{.message}</h3>
+
+<div><img class="p-3 mx-auto" src="/jetzig.png" /></div>
+
+<div>
+  <a href="https://github.com/jetzig-framework/zmpl">
+    <img class="p-3 m-3 mx-auto" src="/zmpl.png" />
+  </a>
+
+</div>
+
+<div>Visit <a class="font-bold text-[#39b54a]" href="https://jetzig.dev/">jetzig.dev</a> to get started.</div>
+  <div>Join our Discord server and introduce yourself:</div>
+  <div>
+    <a class="font-bold text-[#39b54a]" href="https://discord.gg/eufqssz7X6">https://discord.gg/eufqssz7X6</a>
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/demo/src/app/views/init/index.zmpl b/demo/src/app/views/init/index.zmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7c3cb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/demo/src/app/views/init/index.zmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<html>
+  <head>
+    <script src="https://unpkg.com/htmx.org@1.9.10"></script>
+
+    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
+    <script src="https://cdn.tailwindcss.com"></script>
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css" />
+  </head>
+
+  <body>
+    <div class="text-center pt-10 m-auto">
+      // If present, renders the `message_param` response data value, add `?message=hello` to the
+      // URL to see the output:
+      <h2 class="param text-3xl text-[#f7931e]">{.message_param}</h2>
+
+      // Renders `src/app/views/init/_content.zmpl` with the same template data available:
+      <div>{^init/content}</div>
+    </div>
+  </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/demo/src/app/views/quotes.zig b/demo/src/app/views/quotes.zig
index 76eac25..27cace8 100644
--- a/demo/src/app/views/quotes.zig
+++ b/demo/src/app/views/quotes.zig
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ const Quote = struct {
 
 // Quotes taken from: https://gist.github.com/natebass/b0a548425a73bdf8ea5c618149fe1fce
 fn randomQuote(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !Quote {
-    const json = try std.fs.cwd().readFileAlloc(allocator, "src/app/config/quotes.json", 12684);
+    const path = "src/app/config/quotes.json";
+    const stat = try std.fs.cwd().statFile(path);
+    const json = try std.fs.cwd().readFileAlloc(allocator, path, stat.size);
     const quotes = try std.json.parseFromSlice([]Quote, allocator, json, .{});
     return quotes.value[std.crypto.random.intRangeLessThan(usize, 0, quotes.value.len)];
 }
diff --git a/demo/src/main.zig b/demo/src/main.zig
index 8159618..c73e865 100644
--- a/demo/src/main.zig
+++ b/demo/src/main.zig
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ pub const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
 pub const routes = @import("routes").routes;
 
 pub const jetzig_options = struct {
-    pub const middleware: []const type = &.{@import("DemoMiddleware.zig")};
+    pub const middleware: []const type = &.{@import("app/middleware/DemoMiddleware.zig")};
 };
 
 pub fn main() !void {
diff --git a/init.bash b/init.bash
deleted file mode 100644
index d2b17dd..0000000
--- a/init.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,79 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-printf 'Enter project name (default: "jetzig-demo"): '
-read -a project
-if [ -z "${project}" ]
-then
-  project="jetzig-demo"
-fi
-
-pwd="$(pwd)"
-printf "Enter project parent directory (default: \"${pwd}\"): "
-read -a dir
-if [ -z "${dir}" ]
-then
-  dir="${pwd}"
-fi
-
-
-set -eu
-
-project_path="${dir}/${project}"
-echo
-echo "Initializing new project in: ${project_path}"
-
-mkdir -p "${project_path}"
-
-do_exit () {
-  echo "Error fetching '$1':"
-  echo "$2"
-  echo "Exiting."
-  exit 1
-}
-
-remote_base=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jetzig-framework/jetzig/main/src/init
-
-objects=(
-  'build.zig'
-  'build.zig.zon'
-  'src/main.zig'
-  'src/app/views/index.zig'
-  'src/app/views/index.zmpl'
-  'src/app/views/quotes.zig'
-  'src/app/views/quotes/get.zmpl'
-  'src/app/config/quotes.json'
-  'public/jetzig.png'
-  '.gitignore'
-)
-
-for object in "${objects[@]}"
-do
-  printf "Creating output: ${object} "
-  url="${remote_base}/${object}"
-  mkdir -p "$(dirname "${project_path}/${object}")"
-  set +e
-  output=$(curl -s --fail --output "${project_path}/${object}" "${url}" 2>&1)
-  set -e
-  if (($?))
-  then
-    do_exit "${url}" "${output}"
-  else
-    echo "✅"
-  fi
-done
-
-sed -i.bak -e "s,%%project_name%%,${project},g" "${project_path}/build.zig"
-rm "${project_path}/build.zig.bak"
-sed -i.bak -e "s,%%project_name%%,${project},g" "${project_path}/build.zig.zon"
-rm "${project_path}/build.zig.zon.bak"
-
-echo
-echo "Finished creating new project in: ${project_path}"
-echo
-echo "Run your new project:"
-echo
-echo "  cd '${project_path}'"
-echo '  zig build run'
-echo
-echo "Welcome to Jetzig. ✈️🦎 "
-echo
diff --git a/src/init/.gitignore b/src/init/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b36f9d..0000000
--- a/src/init/.gitignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-# Compiled Zmpl views:
-src/app/views/**/*.compiled.zig
diff --git a/src/init/build.zig b/src/init/build.zig
deleted file mode 100644
index f60f3e4..0000000
--- a/src/init/build.zig
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const jetzig_build = @import("jetzig");
-// Although this function looks imperative, note that its job is to
-// declaratively construct a build graph that will be executed by an external
-// runner.
-pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    // Standard target options allows the person running `zig build` to choose
-    // what target to build for. Here we do not override the defaults, which
-    // means any target is allowed, and the default is native. Other options
-    // for restricting supported target set are available.
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-
-    // Standard optimization options allow the person running `zig build` to select
-    // between Debug, ReleaseSafe, ReleaseFast, and ReleaseSmall. Here we do not
-    // set a preferred release mode, allowing the user to decide how to optimize.
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const jetzig_dep = b.dependency("jetzig", .{ .optimize = optimize, .target = target });
-    const compile_view_step = jetzig_build.CompileViewsStep.create(b, .{ .template_path = "src/app/views/" });
-
-    // This declares intent for the library to be installed into the standard
-    // location when the user invokes the "install" step (the default step when
-    // running `zig build`).
-
-    const exe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "%%project_name%%",
-        .root_source_file = .{ .path = "src/main.zig" },
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-    });
-    exe.root_module.addImport("jetzig", jetzig_dep.module("jetzig"));
-
-    exe.root_module.addImport("zmpl", jetzig_dep.module("zmpl"));
-    // This declares intent for the executable to be installed into the
-    // standard location when the user invokes the "install" step (the default
-    // step when running `zig build`).
-    b.installArtifact(exe);
-    exe.step.dependOn(&compile_view_step.step);
-
-    // This *creates* a Run step in the build graph, to be executed when another
-    // step is evaluated that depends on it. The next line below will establish
-    // such a dependency.
-    const run_cmd = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
-
-    // By making the run step depend on the install step, it will be run from the
-    // installation directory rather than directly from within the cache directory.
-    // This is not necessary, however, if the application depends on other installed
-    // files, this ensures they will be present and in the expected location.
-    run_cmd.step.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
-
-    // This allows the user to pass arguments to the application in the build
-    // command itself, like this: `zig build run -- arg1 arg2 etc`
-    if (b.args) |args| {
-        run_cmd.addArgs(args);
-    }
-
-    // This creates a build step. It will be visible in the `zig build --help` menu,
-    // and can be selected like this: `zig build run`
-    // This will evaluate the `run` step rather than the default, which is "install".
-    const run_step = b.step("run", "Run the app");
-    run_step.dependOn(&run_cmd.step);
-
-    // Creates a step for unit testing. This only builds the test executable
-    // but does not run it.
-    const lib_unit_tests = b.addTest(.{
-        .root_source_file = .{ .path = "src/root.zig" },
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-    });
-
-    const run_lib_unit_tests = b.addRunArtifact(lib_unit_tests);
-
-    const exe_unit_tests = b.addTest(.{
-        .root_source_file = .{ .path = "src/main.zig" },
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-    });
-
-    const run_exe_unit_tests = b.addRunArtifact(exe_unit_tests);
-
-    // Similar to creating the run step earlier, this exposes a `test` step to
-    // the `zig build --help` menu, providing a way for the user to request
-    // running the unit tests.
-    const test_step = b.step("test", "Run unit tests");
-    test_step.dependOn(&run_lib_unit_tests.step);
-    test_step.dependOn(&run_exe_unit_tests.step);
-}
diff --git a/src/init/build.zig.zon b/src/init/build.zig.zon
deleted file mode 100644
index a326967..0000000
--- a/src/init/build.zig.zon
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-.{
-    .name = "%%project_name%%",
-    .version = "0.0.0",
-    .dependencies = .{
-        .jetzig = .{
-            .url = "https://github.com/jetzig-framework/jetzig/archive/0395d00b4b0f9e87a4bfab62c73ac047abb2e5da.tar.gz",
-            .hash = "122016141c39005c2149b3c6029b702332c346e3305f52376e1edbc5ee0295318e4c",
-        },
-    },
-
-    .paths = .{
-        "",
-    },
-}
diff --git a/src/init/public/jetzig.png b/src/init/public/jetzig.png
deleted file mode 100644
index 314d70c..0000000
Binary files a/src/init/public/jetzig.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/src/init/src/app/views/index.zig b/src/init/src/app/views/index.zig
deleted file mode 100644
index a7dbd34..0000000
--- a/src/init/src/app/views/index.zig
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
-const Request = jetzig.http.Request;
-const Data = jetzig.data.Data;
-const View = jetzig.views.View;
-
-pub fn index(request: *jetzig.http.Request, data: *jetzig.data.Data) anyerror!jetzig.views.View {
-    var object = try data.object();
-    try object.put("message", data.string("Welcome to Jetzig!"));
-    return request.render(.ok);
-}
diff --git a/src/init/src/app/views/quotes.zig b/src/init/src/app/views/quotes.zig
deleted file mode 100644
index 3f68156..0000000
--- a/src/init/src/app/views/quotes.zig
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
-
-const Request = jetzig.http.Request;
-const Data = jetzig.data.Data;
-const View = jetzig.views.View;
-
-pub fn get(id: []const u8, request: *Request, data: *Data) anyerror!View {
-    var body = try data.object();
-
-    const random_quote = try randomQuote(request.allocator);
-
-    if (std.mem.eql(u8, id, "random")) {
-        try body.put("quote", data.string(random_quote.quote));
-        try body.put("author", data.string(random_quote.author));
-    } else {
-        try body.put("quote", data.string("If you can dream it, you can achieve it."));
-        try body.put("author", data.string("Zig Ziglar"));
-    }
-
-    return request.render(.ok);
-}
-
-const Quote = struct {
-    quote: []const u8,
-    author: []const u8,
-};
-
-// Quotes taken from: https://gist.github.com/natebass/b0a548425a73bdf8ea5c618149fe1fce
-fn randomQuote(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !Quote {
-    const json = try std.fs.cwd().readFileAlloc(allocator, "src/app/config/quotes.json", 12684);
-    const quotes = try std.json.parseFromSlice([]Quote, allocator, json, .{});
-    return quotes.value[std.crypto.random.intRangeLessThan(usize, 0, quotes.value.len)];
-}
diff --git a/src/init/src/app/views/quotes/get.zmpl b/src/init/src/app/views/quotes/get.zmpl
deleted file mode 100644
index dca9318..0000000
--- a/src/init/src/app/views/quotes/get.zmpl
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-<div>"{.quote}"</div>
-<div><b>--{.author}</b></div>
diff --git a/src/init/src/main.zig b/src/init/src/main.zig
deleted file mode 100644
index a434403..0000000
--- a/src/init/src/main.zig
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-
-pub const jetzig = @import("jetzig");
-pub const routes = @import("routes").routes;
-
-pub fn main() !void {
-    var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
-    defer std.debug.assert(gpa.deinit() == .ok);
-    const allocator = gpa.allocator();
-
-    const app = try jetzig.init(allocator);
-    defer app.deinit();
-
-    try app.start(comptime jetzig.route(routes));
-}