fix template=

TEMPLATES.md

@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ Every template must follow this directory structure:
 
 ```
 template-name/
+├── template_info.env         # REQUIRED: Template metadata (at root level)
 ├── config/
 │   └── service.env           # REQUIRED: Default service configuration
-├── template_info.env         # REQUIRED: Template metadata
 ├── install.sh                # REQUIRED: Installation script
 ├── uninstall.sh              # REQUIRED: Uninstallation script
 ├── status.sh                 # REQUIRED: Check service status (needed for 'dropshell list' command)
@@ -140,15 +140,15 @@ IMAGE_TAG="latest"
 
 When Dropshell runs any template script (install.sh, start.sh, etc.), it:
 
-1. **First loads** all variables from `config/.template_info.env`
+1. **First loads** all variables from `template_info.env` (at root level)
 2. **Then loads** all variables from `config/service.env` (which can override template defaults)
 3. **Exports** all these variables to the environment
 4. **Executes** the requested script with these variables available
 
 This means:
 - Scripts can use any variable defined in either file directly (e.g., `$CONTAINER_NAME`, `$IMAGE_TAG`)
-- Variables in `service.env` override those in `.template_info.env` if they have the same name
-- Users customize deployments by editing `service.env`, never `.template_info.env`
+- Variables in `service.env` override those in `template_info.env` if they have the same name
+- Users customize deployments by editing `service.env`, never `template_info.env`
 
 ### 3. install.sh
 
@@ -432,17 +432,16 @@ Templates receive these variables at runtime:
 - `AGENT_PATH` - Path to the Dropshell agent directory
 - `CONFIG_PATH` - Path to the service configuration directory
 - `SCRIPT_DIR` - Directory containing the template scripts
-- All variables from `.template_info.env` and `service.env`
+- All variables from `template_info.env` and `service.env`
 
 ## Validation Requirements
 
 Templates must pass these validation checks:
 
-1. **Required files exist**: `config/.template_info.env`, `config/service.env`, `install.sh`, `uninstall.sh`
+1. **Required files exist**: `template_info.env`, `config/service.env`, `install.sh`, `uninstall.sh`
 2. **Scripts are executable**: All `.sh` files must have execute permissions
-3. **TEMPLATE variable matches**: The `TEMPLATE` variable in `.template_info.env` must match the directory name
-4. **Valid environment files**: Both `.env` files must be parseable
-5. **SSH_USER defined**: The `SSH_USER` variable MUST be present in `service.env`
+3. **Valid environment files**: Both `.env` files must be parseable
+4. **SSH_USER defined**: The `SSH_USER` variable MUST be present in `service.env`
 
 ## Best Practices
 
@@ -465,8 +464,8 @@ A minimal template for deploying an Nginx web server:
 
 ```
 nginx-server/
+├── template_info.env
 ├── config/
-│   ├── .template_info.env
 │   └── service.env
 ├── install.sh
 ├── uninstall.sh
@@ -475,9 +474,8 @@ nginx-server/
 └── logs.sh
 ```
 
-`.template_info.env`:
+`template_info.env`:
 ```bash
-TEMPLATE=nginx-server
 REQUIRES_DOCKER=true
 REQUIRES_DOCKER_ROOT=false
 IMAGE_REGISTRY="docker.io"
@@ -513,8 +511,8 @@ A more complex template for a database or application requiring data persistence
 
 ```
 postgres-db/
+├── template_info.env
 ├── config/
-│   ├── .template_info.env
 │   ├── service.env
 │   └── postgres.conf        # Additional config files
 ├── install.sh
@@ -529,9 +527,8 @@ postgres-db/
 └── README.txt
 ```
 
-`.template_info.env`:
+`template_info.env`:
 ```bash
-TEMPLATE=postgres-db
 REQUIRES_DOCKER=true
 REQUIRES_DOCKER_ROOT=true    # Needed for volume management
 IMAGE_REGISTRY="docker.io"
@@ -676,9 +673,8 @@ Aliases: `ds validate`, `ds lint`
 ### What Validate Checks
 
 1. **Structure Validation**
-   - Required files exist (`install.sh`, `uninstall.sh`, `config/service.env`, `config/.template_info.env`)
+   - Required files exist (`install.sh`, `uninstall.sh`, `config/service.env`, `template_info.env`)
    - Scripts are executable
-   - `TEMPLATE` variable matches directory name
 
 2. **Shell Script Linting (via Shellcheck)**
    - Runs [shellcheck](https://www.shellcheck.net/) on all `.sh` files

source/src/templates.cpp

@@ -518,9 +518,9 @@
 
         // 4. Generate template files inline (self-contained, no external dependencies)
 
-        // config/.template_info.env
-        std::string template_info_env = R"TMPL(# Template identifier - MUST match the directory name
-TEMPLATE=)TMPL" + template_name + R"TMPL(
+        // template_info.env
+        std::string template_info_env = R"TMPL(# Template metadata - DO NOT EDIT
+# This file is replaced when the template is updated.
 
 # Requirements
 REQUIRES_HOST_ROOT=false
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ IMAGE_TAG="alpine"
 # Volume definitions
 DATA_VOLUME="${CONTAINER_NAME}_data"
 )TMPL";
-        if (!write_template_file(new_template_path + "/config/" + filenames::template_info_env, template_info_env)) return false;
+        if (!write_template_file(new_template_path + "/" + filenames::template_info_env, template_info_env)) return false;
 
         // config/service.env
         std::string service_env = R"TMPL(# Service identification (REQUIRED)
@@ -664,13 +664,13 @@ This template was created by 'dropshell create-template'.
 QUICK START
 -----------
 1. Edit config/service.env to customize your deployment
-2. Edit config/.template_info.env if you need different Docker settings
+2. Edit template_info.env if you need different Docker settings
 3. Modify the scripts as needed for your use case
 4. Run 'dropshell validate <path>' to check for issues
 
 REQUIRED FILES
 --------------
-- config/.template_info.env  : Template metadata (don't change TEMPLATE=)
+- template_info.env          : Template metadata (do not edit)
 - config/service.env         : Service configuration (edit this!)
 - install.sh                 : Installation script
 - uninstall.sh              : Uninstallation script (preserves data)
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ For full documentation, see: dropshell help templates
         }        
 
         // ------------------------------------------------------------
-        // check TEMPLATE= line.
+        // check required variables in template_info.env
         ordered_env_vars all_env_vars;
         std::vector<std::string> env_files = {
             "config/" + filenames::service_env,