diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 6f00a21..b3e3f90 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ int die(const std::string & msg) {
     return 1;
 }
 
-bool parseargs(std::string arg2, std::string arg3, std::string & server_name, std::vector<ServiceInfo>& servicelist)
+bool parseargs(std::string arg2, std::string arg3, std::string & server_name, std::vector<LocalServiceInfo>& servicelist)
 {
     if (arg2.empty()) return false;
     server_name = arg2;
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
         for (const auto& command : commands) {
             if (cmd == command) {
                 std::string server_name;
-                std::vector<ServiceInfo> servicelist;
+                std::vector<LocalServiceInfo> servicelist;
                 if (!parseargs(safearg(argc, argv, 2), safearg(argc, argv, 3), server_name, servicelist)) {
                     std::cerr << "Error: " << command << " command requires server name and optionally service name" << std::endl;
                     return 1;
diff --git a/src/main_commands.cpp b/src/main_commands.cpp
index 602af93..a543072 100644
--- a/src/main_commands.cpp
+++ b/src/main_commands.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ int restore(const std::vector<std::string> &args, bool silent)
     std::string service_name = args[3];
     std::string backup_file = args[4];
 
-    ServiceInfo service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
+    auto service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
     if (service_info.local_service_path.empty()) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Service not found" << std::endl;
         return 1;
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ int backup(const std::vector<std::string> & args, bool silent) {
     std::string server_name = args[2];
     std::string service_name = args[3];
 
-    ServiceInfo service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
+    auto service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
     if (service_info.local_service_path.empty()) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Service not found" << std::endl;
         return 1;
diff --git a/src/server_env_manager.cpp b/src/server_env_manager.cpp
index d4c7760..6c27dc6 100644
--- a/src/server_env_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/server_env_manager.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ std::string server_env_manager::construct_standard_command_run_cmd(const std::st
     std::string script_path = remote_service_template_path + "/" + command + ".sh";
 
     std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
-    get_all_service_env_vars(service_name, env_vars);
+    get_all_service_env_vars(mServerName, service_name, env_vars);
 
     std::string argstr = "";
     for (const auto& arg : args) {
@@ -87,48 +87,6 @@ std::string server_env_manager::construct_standard_command_run_cmd(const std::st
     return run_cmd;
 }
 
-void server_env_manager::get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string &service_name, std::map<std::string, std::string> & all_env_vars) const
-{
-    all_env_vars.clear();
-
-    // add in some handy variables.
-    all_env_vars["CONFIG_PATH"] = remotepath::service_config(mServerName,service_name);
-    all_env_vars["SERVER"] = mServerName;
-    all_env_vars["SERVICE"] = service_name;
-
-
-    { // load service.env from the service on this machine.
-    std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
-    envmanager env_manager(localfile::service_env(mServerName,service_name));
-    env_manager.load();
-    env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
-    all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
-    }
-
-    { // load .template_info.env from the service on this machine.
-    std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
-    envmanager env_manager(localfile::template_info_env(mServerName,service_name));
-    env_manager.load();
-    env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
-    all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
-    }
-
-    { // load _default.env from the template on this machine - gets overridden by service.env
-    std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
-    ServiceInfo service_info = get_service_info(mServerName, service_name);
-    std::string defaultenvpath = service_info.local_template_path + "/_default.env";
-    if (std::filesystem::exists(defaultenvpath)) {
-        envmanager env_manager(defaultenvpath);
-        env_manager.load();
-        env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
-        all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
-        }
-    else 
-        std::cerr << "Warning: _default.env not found in template: " << defaultenvpath << std::endl;
-    }
-
-}
-
 
 bool server_env_manager::check_remote_dir_exists(const std::string &dir_path) const
 {
diff --git a/src/server_env_manager.hpp b/src/server_env_manager.hpp
index 1c80790..054fce5 100644
--- a/src/server_env_manager.hpp
+++ b/src/server_env_manager.hpp
@@ -76,14 +76,10 @@ class server_env_manager {
         std::string construct_ssh_cmd() const;
         std::string construct_standard_command_run_cmd(const std::string& service_name, const std::string& command, std::vector<std::string> args, bool silent) const;
 
-    private:
-        void get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string& service_name, std::map<std::string, std::string> & all_env_vars) const;
-
     private:
         std::string mServerName;
         std::map<std::string, std::string> mVariables;
         bool mValid;
-        //std::unique_ptr<envmanager> m_env_manager;
 };
 
 } // namespace dropshell
diff --git a/src/servers.cpp b/src/servers.cpp
index 88e8afb..36a3d0c 100644
--- a/src/servers.cpp
+++ b/src/servers.cpp
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ void get_all_used_commands(std::set<std::string> &commands)
     std::vector<ServerInfo> servers = get_configured_servers();
     for (const auto& server : servers) 
     {
-        std::vector<dropshell::ServiceInfo> services = dropshell::get_server_services_info(server.name);
+        auto services = dropshell::get_server_services_info(server.name);
         for (const auto& service : services) 
             commands.merge(dropshell::get_used_commands(server.name, service.service_name));
     }
diff --git a/src/service_runner.hpp b/src/service_runner.hpp
index e7d3e3c..87b61b7 100644
--- a/src/service_runner.hpp
+++ b/src/service_runner.hpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class service_runner {
     private:
         std::string mServer;
         server_env_manager mServerEnv;
-        ServiceInfo mServiceInfo;
+        LocalServiceInfo mServiceInfo;
         std::string mService;
         bool mValid;
 
diff --git a/src/services.cpp b/src/services.cpp
index 857acc1..94dee8d 100644
--- a/src/services.cpp
+++ b/src/services.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
 namespace dropshell {   
 
-std::vector<ServiceInfo> get_server_services_info(const std::string& server_name) {
-    std::vector<ServiceInfo> services;
+std::vector<LocalServiceInfo> get_server_services_info(const std::string& server_name) {
+    std::vector<LocalServiceInfo> services;
 
     if (server_name.empty())
         return services;
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ std::vector<ServiceInfo> get_server_services_info(const std::string& server_name
         if (fs::exists(server_dir)) {
             for (const auto& entry : fs::directory_iterator(server_dir)) {
                 if (fs::is_directory(entry)) {
-                    ServiceInfo service = get_service_info(server_name, entry.path().filename().string());
+                    auto service = get_service_info(server_name, entry.path().filename().string());
                     if (!service.template_name.empty()) {
                         services.push_back(service);
                     }
@@ -49,48 +49,36 @@ std::vector<ServiceInfo> get_server_services_info(const std::string& server_name
 }
 
 
-ServiceInfo get_service_info(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
+LocalServiceInfo get_service_info(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
 {
-    ServiceInfo service;
+    LocalServiceInfo service;
 
     if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-        return ServiceInfo();
+        return LocalServiceInfo();
 
     service.service_name = service_name;
 
     service.local_service_path = localpath::service(server_name, service_name);
     if (service.local_service_path.empty()) 
-        return ServiceInfo();
+        return LocalServiceInfo();
 
 
     // now set the template name and path.
-    std::string local_service_env_path = localfile::service_env(server_name, service_name);
-    envmanager env(local_service_env_path);
-    if (!env.load()) {
-        if (std::filesystem::exists(localpath::service(server_name, service_name)))
-            std::cerr << "Error: service malformed - service.env missing from " << local_service_env_path << std::endl;
-        else
-        {
-            template_info tinfo;
-            get_template_info(service_name, tinfo);
-            std::string template_name = service_name;
-            if (tinfo.local_template_path.empty())
-                template_name = "TEMPLATE";
-            std::cerr << "Error: you need to create that service first, with:  dropshell create-service " << server_name << " "<<template_name<<" " << service_name << std::endl;
-        }
-        return ServiceInfo();
-    }
-    service.template_name = env.get_variable("TEMPLATE");
-
-    if (service.template_name.empty()) {
-        std::cerr << "Error: TEMPLATE variable not defined in " << local_service_env_path << std::endl;
-        return ServiceInfo();
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> variables;
+    get_all_service_env_vars(server_name, service_name, variables);
+ 
+    // load the service.env file
+    auto it = variables.find("TEMPLATE");
+    if (it == variables.end()) {
+        std::cerr << "Error: TEMPLATE variable not defined in service " << service_name << " on server " << server_name << std::endl;
+        return LocalServiceInfo();
     }
+    service.template_name = it->second;
 
     template_info tinfo;
     if (!get_template_info(service.template_name, tinfo)) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Template '" << service.template_name << "' not found" << std::endl;
-        return ServiceInfo();
+        return LocalServiceInfo();
     }
 
     // find the template path   
@@ -106,7 +94,7 @@ std::set<std::string> get_used_commands(const std::string &server_name, const st
     if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
         return commands;
 
-    ServiceInfo service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
+    auto service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
     if (service_info.local_template_path.empty()) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Service not found: " << service_name << std::endl;
         return commands;
@@ -129,7 +117,7 @@ std::set<std::string> list_backups(const std::string &server_name, const std::st
         return backups;
 
     // need to find the template for the service.
-    ServiceInfo service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
+    auto service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
     if (service_info.local_template_path.empty()) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Service not found: " << service_name << std::endl;
         return backups;
@@ -210,4 +198,49 @@ bool create_service(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &template_
     return true;
 }
 
+
+
+void get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name, std::map<std::string, std::string> & all_env_vars)
+{
+    all_env_vars.clear();
+
+    // add in some handy variables.
+    all_env_vars["CONFIG_PATH"] = remotepath::service_config(server_name,service_name);
+    all_env_vars["SERVER"] = server_name;
+    all_env_vars["SERVICE"] = service_name;
+
+
+    { // load service.env from the service on this machine.
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
+    envmanager env_manager(localfile::service_env(server_name,service_name));
+    env_manager.load();
+    env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
+    all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
+    }
+
+    { // load .template_info.env from the service on this machine.
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
+    envmanager env_manager(localfile::template_info_env(server_name,service_name));
+    env_manager.load();
+    env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
+    all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
+    }
+
+    { // load _default.env from the template on this machine - gets overridden by service.env
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
+    auto service_info = get_service_info(server_name, service_name);
+    std::string defaultenvpath = service_info.local_template_path + "/_default.env";
+    if (std::filesystem::exists(defaultenvpath)) {
+        envmanager env_manager(defaultenvpath);
+        env_manager.load();
+        env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
+        all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
+        }
+    else 
+        std::cerr << "Warning: _default.env not found in template: " << defaultenvpath << std::endl;
+    }
+
+}
+
+
 } // namespace dropshell
diff --git a/src/services.hpp b/src/services.hpp
index 128a0e2..3f75ed5 100644
--- a/src/services.hpp
+++ b/src/services.hpp
@@ -4,20 +4,25 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <set>
+#include <map>
 
 namespace dropshell {
 
-    struct ServiceInfo {
+    struct LocalServiceInfo {
         std::string service_name;
         std::string template_name;
         std::string local_service_path;
         std::string local_template_path;
     };
     
-    std::vector<ServiceInfo> get_server_services_info(const std::string& server_name);
-    ServiceInfo get_service_info(const std::string& server_name, const std::string& service_name);
+    std::vector<LocalServiceInfo> get_server_services_info(const std::string& server_name);
+    LocalServiceInfo get_service_info(const std::string& server_name, const std::string& service_name);
     std::set<std::string> get_used_commands(const std::string& server_name, const std::string& service_name);
 
+    // get all env vars for a given service
+    void get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string& server_name, const std::string& service_name, std::map<std::string, std::string> & all_env_vars);
+
+
     // list all backups for a given service (across all servers)
     std::set<std::string> list_backups(const std::string& server_name, const std::string& service_name);
 
diff --git a/src/utils/directories.cpp b/src/utils/directories.cpp
index 113887d..1406dec 100644
--- a/src/utils/directories.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/directories.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ namespace remotepath {
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Utility functions
 
-std::string get_parent(std::string path)
+std::string get_parent(const std::string &path)
 {
     if (path.empty())
         return std::string();
diff --git a/src/utils/directories.hpp b/src/utils/directories.hpp
index ffa0034..1895b62 100644
--- a/src/utils/directories.hpp
+++ b/src/utils/directories.hpp
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ namespace dropshell {
 
     //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // utility functions
-    std::string get_parent(std::string path);
+    std::string get_parent(const std::string &path);
 
 } // namespace dropshell
 
diff --git a/templates/watchtower/example/.template_info.env b/templates/watchtower/example/.template_info.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8109ee4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/watchtower/example/.template_info.env
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Template to use - always required!
+TEMPLATE=watchtower
+