diff --git a/cli/command/cmds/build.go b/cli/command/cmds/build.go
index 7f77728..02dfd15 100644
--- a/cli/command/cmds/build.go
+++ b/cli/command/cmds/build.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func (c *buildCommand) invoke() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return &errorhandling.CommandError{
 					Err:      fmt.Errorf("failed to load template resources for category %q: %w", category, err),
-					ExitCode: errorhandling.ExitGenericError,
+					ExitCode: errorhandling.ExitTemplateError,
 					HelpText: "Failed to load template resources. Please check the category name and try again.",
 				}
 			}
@@ -107,10 +107,11 @@ func (c *buildCommand) invoke() *cobra.Command {
 			if err := templater.Render(ctx, c.outputPath); err != nil {
 				return &errorhandling.CommandError{
 					Err:      fmt.Errorf("failed to render template %q: %w", category, err),
-					ExitCode: errorhandling.ExitGenericError,
+					ExitCode: errorhandling.ExitTemplateError,
 					HelpText: "Please check the template and try again.",
 				}
 			}
+
 			logger.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
 				"category": category,
 				"output":   c.outputPath,
diff --git a/cli/command/cmds/build_test.go b/cli/command/cmds/build_test.go
index 70ce01c..5b19a2c 100644
--- a/cli/command/cmds/build_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/cmds/build_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestBuildCommand(t *testing.T) {
 				return newTestBuildCommand(errorLoader, nil)
 			},
 			wantErr:  true,
-			wantExit: errorhandling.ExitGenericError,
+			wantExit: errorhandling.ExitTemplateError,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "renderer failure returns generic error",
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestBuildCommand(t *testing.T) {
 				return newTestBuildCommand(successLoader, errors.New("render failure"))
 			},
 			wantErr:  true,
-			wantExit: errorhandling.ExitGenericError,
+			wantExit: errorhandling.ExitTemplateError,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "successful render on empty dir prints success message",
diff --git a/cli/entrypoint/entrypoint.go b/cli/entrypoint/entrypoint.go
index 0891c81..acb0631 100644
--- a/cli/entrypoint/entrypoint.go
+++ b/cli/entrypoint/entrypoint.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func Run(metadata []byte) {
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		printError("Error creating command: %v", err)
-		os.Exit(errorhandling.ExitGenericError.Int())
+		os.Exit(errorhandling.ExitRuntimeError.Int())
 	}
 
 	var exitCode int
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func handlerExecError(err error) int {
 		return cmdErr.ExitCode.Int()
 	}
 	fmt.Printf("An unexpected error occurred: %v\n", err)
-	return errorhandling.ExitGenericError.Int()
+	return errorhandling.ExitRuntimeError.Int()
 }
 
 func printError(format string, args ...any) {
diff --git a/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors.go b/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors.go
index 6055bea..f3eb690 100644
--- a/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors.go
+++ b/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ func (e ExitCode) Int() int {
 
 const (
 	ExitSuccess       ExitCode = 0
-	ExitGenericError  ExitCode = 1
+	ExitRuntimeError  ExitCode = 1
 	ExitPanicError    ExitCode = 2
 	ExitTemplateError ExitCode = 3
 	ExitInputError    ExitCode = 4
diff --git a/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors_test.go b/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors_test.go
index 9bf9381..d8838bf 100644
--- a/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors_test.go
+++ b/cli/internal/errorhandling/errors_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 func TestCommandError(t *testing.T) {
 	mockErr := CommandError{
 		Err:      errors.New("mock error"),
-		ExitCode: ExitGenericError,
+		ExitCode: ExitRuntimeError,
 		HelpText: "This is some help text.",
 	}
 
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/embed.go b/cli/internal/templating/embed.go
index f4e09eb..0cd8727 100644
--- a/cli/internal/templating/embed.go
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/embed.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jgfranco17/hackstack/cli/internal/logging"
 )
 
-//go:embed resources
+//go:embed all:resources
 var embeddedResources embed.FS
 
 // CLIProject holds the variables required to render the CLI project templates.
@@ -41,10 +41,22 @@ func (d *CLIProject) Validate() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// Load retrieves the embedded template files for the specified category and returns
+// them as an fs.FS instance for use in rendering. The category must be one of the
+// currently-supported categories.
 func Load(ctx context.Context, category string) (fs.FS, error) {
 	logger := logging.FromContext(ctx).WithField("module", "templating")
 
+	allowedCategories := map[string]bool{
+		"backend": true,
+		"cli":     true,
+	}
+
 	category = strings.ToLower(category)
+	if _, ok := allowedCategories[category]; !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid templating category %q", category)
+	}
+
 	subDirPath := filepath.Join("resources", category)
 	sub, err := fs.Sub(embeddedResources, subDirPath)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/embed_test.go b/cli/internal/templating/embed_test.go
index 53a7b67..9290f94 100644
--- a/cli/internal/templating/embed_test.go
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/embed_test.go
@@ -67,16 +67,43 @@ func TestCLIProject_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestLoad_ValidCategory(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		category string
+		invalid  bool
+	}{
+		{name: "backend category", category: "backend"},
+		{name: "cli category", category: "cli"},
+		{name: "category case insensitivity", category: "CLI"},
+		{name: "invalid category", category: "unknown", invalid: true},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := testContext(t)
+			sub, err := Load(ctx, tc.category)
+
+			if tc.invalid {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "invalid templating category")
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.NotNil(t, sub)
+
+				entries, err := fs.ReadDir(sub, ".")
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, entries)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoad_InvalidCategory(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := testContext(t)
-	sub, err := Load(ctx, "cli")
 
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NotNil(t, sub)
+	_, err := Load(ctx, "unknown")
 
-	// Confirm the returned FS is non-empty.
-	entries, err := fs.ReadDir(sub, ".")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, entries, "loaded FS should contain template files")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), `invalid templating category "unknown"`)
 }
 
 func TestLoad_CategoryIsCaseInsensitive(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/engine.go b/cli/internal/templating/engine.go
index 64d32a4..4558798 100644
--- a/cli/internal/templating/engine.go
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/engine.go
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"text/template"
 
-	"github.com/jgfranco17/hackstack/cli/internal/errorhandling"
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
+
 	"github.com/jgfranco17/hackstack/cli/internal/fileutils"
 	"github.com/jgfranco17/hackstack/cli/internal/logging"
 )
@@ -29,7 +31,9 @@ func NewEngine(files fs.FS, data CLIProject) *Engine {
 func (e *Engine) Render(ctx context.Context, outputPath string) error {
 	logger := logging.FromContext(ctx).WithField("module", "templating")
 
-	count := 0
+	var count atomic.Int64
+	g, ctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
 	walker := func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("walk error at %q: %w", path, err)
@@ -40,30 +44,38 @@ func (e *Engine) Render(ctx context.Context, outputPath string) error {
 
 		destPath := filepath.Join(outputPath, filepath.FromSlash(path))
 
+		var work func() error
 		switch {
 		case strings.HasSuffix(path, ".j2"):
 			destPath = strings.TrimSuffix(destPath, ".j2")
-			logger.WithField("file", path).Trace("Rendering from template")
-			count++
-			return renderTemplate(e.Files, path, destPath, e.Data)
+			work = func() error {
+				logger.WithField("file", path).Trace("Rendering from template")
+				return renderTemplate(e.Files, path, destPath, e.Data)
+			}
 		case strings.HasSuffix(path, ".copy"):
 			destPath = strings.TrimSuffix(destPath, ".copy")
-			logger.WithField("file", path).Trace("Copying file")
-			count++
-			return fileutils.CopyFile(e.Files, path, destPath)
+			work = func() error {
+				logger.WithField("file", path).Trace("Copying file")
+				return fileutils.CopyFile(e.Files, path, destPath)
+			}
 		default:
-			return fmt.Errorf("unrecognized resource extension for %q: expected .j2 or .copy", path)
+			return fmt.Errorf("unrecognized resource extension for %q", path)
 		}
+
+		count.Add(1)
+		g.Go(work)
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	if err := fs.WalkDir(e.Files, ".", walker); err != nil {
-		return &errorhandling.CommandError{
-			Err:      fmt.Errorf("failed to render templates: %w", err),
-			ExitCode: errorhandling.ExitTemplateError,
-			HelpText: "Check template resources and verify the contents.",
-		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to render templates: %w", err)
 	}
-	logger.WithField("fileCount", count).Debug("Completed render")
+
+	if err := g.Wait(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to render templates: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	logger.WithField("fileCount", count.Load()).Debug("Completed render")
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/actions/setup-workspace/action.yaml.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/actions/setup-workspace/action.yaml.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3aafee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/actions/setup-workspace/action.yaml.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+name: "Setup Go Workspace"
+description: "Configure Go and prepare the workspace"
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - name: Set up Golang
+      uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+      with:
+        cache: false
+
+    - name: Install Just
+      uses: extractions/setup-just@v2
+
+    - name: Install Go modules
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        go mod tidy
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/workflows/compliance.yaml.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/workflows/compliance.yaml.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dfa70c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/workflows/compliance.yaml.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+name: Compliance Checks
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  lint:
+    name: Run linters
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+
+      - name: Setup workspace
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-workspace
+
+      - name: Install linters
+        run: |
+          pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install pre-commit==3.5.0
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: |
+          just tidy
+          go install golang.org/x/tools/cmd/goimports@latest
+          go install github.com/fzipp/gocyclo/cmd/gocyclo@latest
+
+      - name: Lint
+        run: pre-commit run --all-files
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/workflows/main.yaml.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/workflows/main.yaml.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db6a98e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.github/workflows/main.yaml.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+name: CICD
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    name: Run unit tests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+
+      - name: Run setup
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-workspace
+
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: |
+          go clean -testcache
+          go test -v -cover -race ./...
+
+  build:
+    name: Build
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: test
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+
+      - name: Run setup
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-workspace
+
+      - name: Build binary
+        run: |
+          go build ./cmd/api
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.gitignore.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.gitignore.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df9dea0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.gitignore.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Local development
+.vscode
+.idea
+.DS_Store
+node_modules
+
+# Testing
+coverage/
+*.test
+*.log
+*.out
+
+# Documentation
+site/
+
+# Go workspace
+go.work
+go.work.sum
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.pre-commit-config.yaml.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.pre-commit-config.yaml.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47114b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/.pre-commit-config.yaml.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+---
+fail_fast: false
+
+repos:
+  - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
+    rev: v6.0.0
+    hooks:
+      - id: trailing-whitespace
+      - id: end-of-file-fixer
+      - id: check-yaml
+      - id: check-added-large-files
+      - id: check-merge-conflict
+      - id: detect-private-key
+
+  # Go standards and linting
+  - repo: https://github.com/dnephin/pre-commit-golang
+    rev: v0.5.1
+    hooks:
+      - id: go-fmt
+      - id: go-vet
+      - id: go-imports
+      - id: go-cyclo
+      - id: go-unit-tests
+
+  - repo: https://github.com/codespell-project/codespell.git
+    rev: v2.4.1
+    hooks:
+      - id: codespell
+        args: [-w]
+        files: ^.*\.(md|py|jinja|yaml|yml|sh|feature)$
+
+  # Security
+  - repo: https://github.com/Yelp/detect-secrets
+    rev: v1.5.0
+    hooks:
+      - id: detect-secrets
+
+  # Ensure version sync
+  - repo: https://github.com/zricethezav/gitleaks
+    rev: v8.30.0
+    hooks:
+      - id: gitleaks
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/README.md.j2 b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/README.md.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06c5d71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/README.md.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# {{ .Name }}
+
+A Go HTTP service scaffolded with [Hackstack](https://github.com/jgfranco17/hackstack).
+
+**Author:** {{ .Author }}
+
+---
+
+## Getting started
+
+```bash
+# Install dependencies
+go mod tidy
+
+# Run the service
+just start
+
+# Run tests
+just test
+```
+
+## Configuration
+
+The service is configured via environment variables (prefix: `APP_`):
+
+| Variable   | Default     | Description  |
+|------------|-------------|--------------|
+| `APP_HOST` | `0.0.0.0`   | Bind address |
+| `APP_PORT` | `8080`      | Listen port  |
+
+## Endpoints
+
+| Method | Path      | Description   |
+|--------|-----------|---------------|
+| `GET`  | `/health` | Health check  |
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/cmd/api/main.go.j2 b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/cmd/api/main.go.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b29415
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/cmd/api/main.go.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/config"
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/logging"
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/service"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	logger := logging.New(os.Stderr, logrus.InfoLevel)
+
+	cfg, err := config.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Fatalf("Failed to load config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	server := service.New(cfg, logger)
+	if err := server.Start(); err != nil {
+		logger.Fatalf("Failed to start service: %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/go.mod.j2 b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/go.mod.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0040917
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/go.mod.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+module github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}
+
+go {{ .GoVersion }}
+
+require (
+	github.com/go-chi/chi/v5 v5.2.5
+	github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.4
+	github.com/spf13/viper v1.21.0
+	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1
+)
+
+require (
+	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 // indirect
+	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.9.0 // indirect
+	github.com/go-viper/mapstructure/v2 v2.4.0 // indirect
+	github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.2.4 // indirect
+	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
+	github.com/sagikazarmark/locafero v0.11.0 // indirect
+	github.com/sourcegraph/conc v0.3.1-0.20240121214520-5f936abd7ae8 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/afero v1.15.0 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/cast v1.10.0 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.10 // indirect
+	github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.6.0 // indirect
+	go.yaml.in/yaml/v3 v3.0.4 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.42.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/text v0.28.0 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
+)
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/config/config.go.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/config/config.go.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..694d7eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/config/config.go.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+)
+
+type ServiceSettings struct {
+	Host string `mapstructure:"host"`
+	Port int    `mapstructure:"port"`
+}
+
+// Load reads configuration from environment variables (prefix: APP_)
+// with defaults of 0.0.0.0:8080.
+func Load() (ServiceSettings, error) {
+	v := viper.New()
+	v.SetDefault("host", "0.0.0.0")
+	v.SetDefault("port", 8080)
+	v.SetEnvPrefix("APP")
+	v.AutomaticEnv()
+
+	var cfg ServiceSettings
+	if err := v.Unmarshal(&cfg); err != nil {
+		return ServiceSettings{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return cfg, nil
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/config/config_test.go.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/config/config_test.go.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..460c0d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/config/config_test.go.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestLoad_Defaults(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, err := Load()
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "0.0.0.0", cfg.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 8080, cfg.Port)
+}
+
+func TestLoad_EnvOverride(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("APP_HOST", "127.0.0.1")
+	t.Setenv("APP_PORT", "9090")
+
+	cfg, err := Load()
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "127.0.0.1", cfg.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 9090, cfg.Port)
+}
+
+func TestLoad_PartialOverride(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("APP_PORT", "3000")
+
+	cfg, err := Load()
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "0.0.0.0", cfg.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 3000, cfg.Port)
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/logging/logging.go.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/logging/logging.go.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28ed3e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/logging/logging.go.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package logging
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+)
+
+type contextLogKey string
+
+const contextKey contextLogKey = "logger"
+
+func New(stream io.Writer, level logrus.Level) *logrus.Logger {
+	logger := logrus.New()
+	logger.SetOutput(stream)
+	logger.SetLevel(level)
+
+	logger.SetFormatter(&logrus.TextFormatter{
+		QuoteEmptyFields:       true,
+		FullTimestamp:          true,
+		DisableSorting:         true,
+		DisableLevelTruncation: true,
+		TimestampFormat:        time.DateTime,
+	})
+	return logger
+}
+
+func AddToContext(ctx context.Context, logger *logrus.Logger) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, contextKey, logger)
+}
+
+func FromContext(ctx context.Context) *logrus.Logger {
+	if logger, ok := ctx.Value(contextKey).(*logrus.Logger); ok {
+		return logger
+	}
+	panic("no logger set in context")
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/logging/logging_test.go.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/logging/logging_test.go.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fddab10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/logging/logging_test.go.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package logging
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestApplyToContext(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	logger := New(&buf, logrus.TraceLevel)
+	ctx := AddToContext(context.Background(), logger)
+	assert.Equal(t, logger, FromContext(ctx))
+}
+
+func TestFromContext(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	logger := New(&buf, logrus.TraceLevel)
+	ctx := AddToContext(context.Background(), logger)
+	assert.Equal(t, logger, FromContext(ctx))
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/handlers/base.go.j2 b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/handlers/base.go.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a60ccf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/handlers/base.go.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package handlers
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/logging"
+)
+
+// GetHealth is a simple health check endpoint that returns a JSON
+// response with the status and timestamp.
+func GetHealth(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	type healthResponse struct {
+		Status    string `json:"status"`
+		Timestamp string `json:"timestamp"`
+	}
+
+	logger := logging.FromContext(r.Context())
+	logger.Info("Health check requested")
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, healthResponse{
+		Status:    "ok",
+		Timestamp: time.Now().Format(time.DateTime),
+	})
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/handlers/utils.go.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/handlers/utils.go.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d5aff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/handlers/utils.go.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package handlers
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+)
+
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, v any) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	if err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(v); err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "failed to encode response", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/service.go.j2 b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/service.go.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a09e73e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/internal/service/service.go.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package service
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5/middleware"
+	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/config"
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/logging"
+	"github.com/{{ .Username }}/{{ .Name }}/internal/service/handlers"
+)
+
+type Service struct {
+	router *chi.Mux
+	logger *logrus.Logger
+	config config.ServiceSettings
+}
+
+func New(cfg config.ServiceSettings, logger *logrus.Logger) *Service {
+	s := &Service{
+		router: chi.NewRouter(),
+		logger: logger,
+		config: cfg,
+	}
+	s.router.Use(middleware.RequestID)
+	s.router.Use(middleware.Recoverer)
+	s.router.Use(s.loggerMiddleware)
+	s.registerRoutes()
+	return s
+}
+
+func (s *Service) Start() error {
+	addr := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", s.config.Host, s.config.Port)
+	s.logger.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
+		"host": s.config.Host,
+		"port": s.config.Port,
+	}).Info("Server starting")
+	return http.ListenAndServe(addr, s.router)
+}
+
+func (s *Service) loggerMiddleware(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		ctx := logging.AddToContext(r.Context(), s.logger)
+		next.ServeHTTP(w, r.WithContext(ctx))
+	})
+}
+
+func (s *Service) registerRoutes() {
+	s.router.Route("/v1", func(r chi.Router) {
+		r.Get("/health", handlers.GetHealth)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/justfile.copy b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/justfile.copy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4692b55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/templating/resources/backend/justfile.copy
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Project scripts
+
+# Default recipe
+_default:
+    @just --list --unsorted
+
+# Run the service
+start:
+    @go run ./cmd/api
+
+# Execute tests
+test:
+    #!/usr/bin/env bash
+    echo "Running tests..."
+    go clean -testcache
+    go test -cover ./...
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 27cbd12..81bb705 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ module github.com/jgfranco17/hackstack
 
 go 1.24.2
 
-toolchain go1.24.3
-
 require (
 	github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles v1.0.0
 	github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea v1.3.10
@@ -11,6 +9,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.4
 	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.10.2
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1
+	golang.org/x/sync v0.12.0
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 )
 
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index d07983b..126c5af 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ github.com/xo/terminfo v0.0.0-20220910002029-abceb7e1c41e/go.mod h1:RbqR21r5mrJu
 go.yaml.in/yaml/v3 v3.0.4/go.mod h1:DhzuOOF2ATzADvBadXxruRBLzYTpT36CKvDb3+aBEFg=
 golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20231006140011-7918f672742d h1:jtJma62tbqLibJ5sFQz8bKtEM8rJBtfilJ2qTU199MI=
 golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20231006140011-7918f672742d/go.mod h1:ldy0pHrwJyGW56pPQzzkH36rKxoZW1tw7ZJpeKx+hdo=
+golang.org/x/sync v0.12.0 h1:MHc5BpPuC30uJk597Ri8TV3CNZcTLu6B6z4lJy+g6Jw=
+golang.org/x/sync v0.12.0/go.mod h1:1dzgHSNfp02xaA81J2MS99Qcpr2w7fw1gpm99rleRqA=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210809222454-d867a43fc93e/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220811171246-fbc7d0a398ab/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.6.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 22f46bb..601abce 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ hackstack *args:
 # Run all BDD tests
 test:
     @echo "Running unit tests!"
-    go clean -testcache
-    go test -cover ./...
+    @go clean -testcache
+    go test -cover -race ./...
 
 # Build the binary
 build: