diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 411ec4df..e0bd2dd9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ tap-testdir*/
 !/SECURITY.md
 !/tap-snapshots/
 !/test/
+!/tsconfig.json
 !/workspace/
 /workspace/*
 !/workspace/test-workspace/
diff --git a/lib/config.js b/lib/config.js
index e7e41c8b..4bcc36d1 100644
--- a/lib/config.js
+++ b/lib/config.js
@@ -1,18 +1,21 @@
-const { relative, dirname, join, extname, posix, win32 } = require('path')
-const { defaults, pick, omit, uniq, isPlainObject } = require('lodash')
+const { relative, dirname, join, extname } = require('path')
+const { defaults, defaultsDeep, pick, omit, uniq, isPlainObject } = require('lodash')
 const ciVersions = require('./util/ci-versions.js')
 const parseDependabot = require('./util/dependabot.js')
 const git = require('./util/git.js')
 const gitignore = require('./util/gitignore.js')
 const { mergeWithCustomizers, customizers } = require('./util/merge.js')
 const { FILE_KEYS, parseConfig: parseFiles, getAddedFiles, mergeFiles } = require('./util/files.js')
+const template = require('./util/template.js')
+const getCmdPath = require('./util/get-cmd-path.js')
+const importOrRequire = require('./util/import-or-require.js')
+const { makePosix, deglob, posixDir, posixGlob } = require('./util/path.js')
+const { name: NAME, version: LATEST_VERSION } = require('../package.json')
 
 const CONFIG_KEY = 'templateOSS'
-const getPkgConfig = (pkg) => pkg[CONFIG_KEY] || {}
-
-const { name: NAME, version: LATEST_VERSION } = require('../package.json')
 const MERGE_KEYS = [...FILE_KEYS, 'defaultContent', 'content']
 const DEFAULT_CONTENT = require.resolve(NAME)
+const getPkgConfig = (pkg) => pkg[CONFIG_KEY] || {}
 
 const merge = mergeWithCustomizers(
   customizers.mergeArrays('branches', 'distPaths', 'allowPaths', 'ignorePaths'),
@@ -23,43 +26,6 @@ const merge = mergeWithCustomizers(
   }
 )
 
-const makePosix = (v) => v.split(win32.sep).join(posix.sep)
-const deglob = (v) => makePosix(v).replace(/[/*]+$/, '')
-const posixDir = (v) => `${v === '.' ? '' : deglob(v).replace(/\/$/, '')}${posix.sep}`
-const posixGlob = (str) => `${posixDir(str)}**`
-
-const getCmdPath = (key, { pkgConfig, rootConfig, isRoot, pkg, rootPkg }) => {
-  const result = (local, isRelative) => {
-    let root = local
-    const isLocal = local.startsWith('.') || local.startsWith('/')
-
-    if (isLocal) {
-      if (isRelative) {
-        // Make a path relative from a workspace to the root if we are in a workspace
-        local = makePosix(join(relative(pkg.path, rootPkg.path), local))
-      }
-      local = `node ${local}`
-      root = `node ${root}`
-    }
-
-    return {
-      isLocal,
-      local,
-      root,
-    }
-  }
-
-  if (pkgConfig[key]) {
-    return result(pkgConfig[key])
-  }
-
-  if (rootConfig[key]) {
-    return result(rootConfig[key], !isRoot)
-  }
-
-  return result(key)
-}
-
 const mergeConfigs = (...configs) => {
   const mergedConfig = merge(...configs.map(c => pick(c, MERGE_KEYS)))
   return defaults(mergedConfig, {
@@ -72,37 +38,33 @@ const mergeConfigs = (...configs) => {
   })
 }
 
-const readContentPath = (path) => {
+const readContentPath = async (path) => {
   if (!path) {
     return {}
   }
 
-  let content = {}
   const index = extname(path) === '.js' ? path : join(path, 'index.js')
   const dir = dirname(index)
-
-  try {
-    content = require(index)
-  } catch {
-    // its ok if this fails since the content dir
-    // might only be to provide other files. the
-    // index.js is optional
-  }
+  const content = await importOrRequire(index)
 
   return { content, dir }
 }
 
-const getConfig = (path, rawConfig) => {
-  const config = omit(readContentPath(path).content, FILE_KEYS)
+const getConfig = async (path, rawConfig) => {
+  const { content } = await readContentPath(path)
+  const config = omit(content, FILE_KEYS)
   return merge(config, rawConfig ? omit(rawConfig, FILE_KEYS) : {})
 }
 
-const getFiles = (path, rawConfig) => {
-  const { content, dir } = readContentPath(path)
+const getFiles = async (path, rawConfig, templateSettings) => {
+  const { content, dir } = await readContentPath(path)
   if (!dir) {
     return []
   }
-  return [parseFiles(pick(content, FILE_KEYS), dir, pick(rawConfig, FILE_KEYS)), dir]
+  return [
+    parseFiles(pick(content, FILE_KEYS), dir, pick(rawConfig, FILE_KEYS), templateSettings),
+    dir,
+  ]
 }
 
 const getFullConfig = async ({
@@ -127,39 +89,15 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
   // These config items are merged betweent the root and child workspaces and only come from
   // the package.json because they can be used to read configs from other the content directories
   const mergedConfig = mergeConfigs(rootPkg.config, pkg.config)
-
-  const defaultConfig = getConfig(DEFAULT_CONTENT)
-  const [defaultFiles, defaultDir] = getFiles(DEFAULT_CONTENT, mergedConfig)
+  const defaultConfig = await getConfig(DEFAULT_CONTENT)
   const useDefault = mergedConfig.defaultContent && defaultConfig
 
-  const rootConfig = getConfig(rootPkg.config.content, rootPkg.config)
-  const [rootFiles, rootDir] = getFiles(rootPkg.config.content, mergedConfig)
+  const rootConfig = await getConfig(rootPkg.config.content, rootPkg.config)
 
   // The content config only gets set from the package we are in, it doesn't inherit
   // anything from the root
   const rootPkgConfig = merge(useDefault, rootConfig)
-  const pkgConfig = merge(useDefault, getConfig(pkg.config.content, pkg.config))
-  const [pkgFiles, pkgDir] = getFiles(mergedConfig.content, mergedConfig)
-
-  // Files get merged in from the default content (that template-oss provides) as well
-  // as any content paths provided from the root or the workspace
-  const fileDirs = uniq([useDefault && defaultDir, rootDir, pkgDir].filter(Boolean))
-  const files = mergeFiles(useDefault && defaultFiles, rootFiles, pkgFiles)
-  const repoFiles = isRoot ? files.rootRepo : files.workspaceRepo
-  const moduleFiles = isRoot ? files.rootModule : files.workspaceModule
-
-  const allowRootDirs = [
-    // Allways allow module files in root or workspaces
-    ...getAddedFiles(moduleFiles),
-    ...isRoot ? [
-      // in the root allow all repo files
-      ...getAddedFiles(repoFiles),
-      // and allow all workspace repo level files in the root
-      ...pkgs
-        .filter(p => p.path !== rootPkg.path && p.config.workspaceRepo !== false)
-        .flatMap(() => getAddedFiles(files.workspaceRepo)),
-    ] : [],
-  ]
+  const pkgConfig = merge(useDefault, await getConfig(pkg.config.content, pkg.config))
 
   const npmPath = getCmdPath('npm', { pkgConfig, rootConfig, isRoot, pkg, rootPkg })
   const npxPath = getCmdPath('npx', { pkgConfig, rootConfig, isRoot, pkg, rootPkg })
@@ -185,6 +123,8 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
     ? pkgConfig.releaseBranch.replace(/\*/g, pkgConfig.backport)
     : defaultBranch
 
+  const esm = pkg.pkgJson?.type === 'module' || !!pkgConfig.typescript || !!pkgConfig.esm
+
   // all derived keys
   const derived = {
     isRoot,
@@ -209,18 +149,11 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
     releaseBranch,
     publishTag,
     dependabot: parseDependabot(pkgConfig, defaultConfig, gitBranches.branches),
-    // repo
+    // paths
     repoDir: rootPkg.path,
-    repoFiles,
-    applyRepo: !!repoFiles,
-    // module
     moduleDir: pkg.path,
-    moduleFiles,
-    applyModule: !!moduleFiles,
-    // package
     pkgName: pkg.pkgJson.name,
     pkgNameFs: pkg.pkgJson.name.replace(/\//g, '-').replace(/@/g, ''),
-    // paths
     pkgPath,
     pkgDir: posixDir(pkgPath),
     pkgGlob: posixGlob(pkgPath),
@@ -228,6 +161,10 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
     allFlags: isMono ? '-ws -iwr --if-present' : '',
     workspacePaths,
     workspaceGlobs: workspacePaths.map(posixGlob),
+    // type
+    esm,
+    cjsExt: esm ? 'cjs' : 'js',
+    deleteJsExt: esm ? 'js' : 'cjs',
     // booleans to control application of updates
     isForce,
     isDogFood,
@@ -243,20 +180,6 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
     lockfile: rootPkgConfig.lockfile,
     // ci versions / engines
     ciVersions: ciVersions.get(pkg.pkgJson.engines?.node, pkgConfig),
-    // gitignore
-    ignorePaths: [
-      ...gitignore.sort([
-        ...gitignore.allowRootDir(allowRootDirs),
-        ...isRoot && pkgConfig.lockfile ? ['!/package-lock.json'] : [],
-        ...(pkgConfig.allowPaths || []).map((p) => `!${p}`),
-        ...(pkgConfig.ignorePaths || []),
-      ]),
-      // these cant be sorted since they rely on order
-      // to allow a previously ignored directoy
-      ...isRoot
-        ? gitignore.allowDir(wsPkgs.map((p) => makePosix(relative(rootPkg.path, p.path))))
-        : [],
-    ],
     // needs update if we are dogfooding this repo, with force argv, or its
     // behind the current version
     needsUpdate: isForce || isDogFood || !isLatest,
@@ -264,15 +187,22 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
     __NAME__: NAME,
     __CONFIG_KEY__: CONFIG_KEY,
     __VERSION__: LATEST_VERSION,
-    __PARTIAL_DIRS__: fileDirs,
   }
 
-  if (!pkgConfig.eslint) {
-    derived.ignorePaths = derived.ignorePaths.filter(p => !p.includes('eslint'))
-    if (Array.isArray(pkgConfig.requiredPackages?.devDependencies)) {
-      pkgConfig.requiredPackages.devDependencies =
-        pkgConfig.requiredPackages.devDependencies.filter(p => !p.includes('eslint'))
-    }
+  if (!pkgConfig.eslint && Array.isArray(pkgConfig.requiredPackages?.devDependencies)) {
+    pkgConfig.requiredPackages.devDependencies =
+      pkgConfig.requiredPackages.devDependencies.filter(p => !p.includes('eslint'))
+  }
+
+  if (pkgConfig.typescript) {
+    defaultsDeep(pkgConfig, { allowPaths: [], requiredPackages: { devDependencies: [] } })
+    pkgConfig.distPaths = null
+    pkgConfig.allowPaths.push('/src/')
+    pkgConfig.requiredPackages.devDependencies.push(
+      'typescript',
+      'tshy',
+      '@typescript-eslint/parser'
+    )
   }
 
   const gitUrl = await git.getUrl(rootPkg.path)
@@ -284,10 +214,55 @@ const getFullConfig = async ({
     }
   }
 
-  return {
-    ...pkgConfig,
-    ...derived,
-  }
+  const fullConfig = { ...pkgConfig, ...derived }
+
+  // files, come at the end since file names can be based on config
+  const [defaultFiles, defaultDir] = await getFiles(DEFAULT_CONTENT, mergedConfig, fullConfig)
+  const [rootFiles, rootDir] = await getFiles(rootPkg.config.content, mergedConfig, fullConfig)
+  const [pkgFiles, pkgDir] = await getFiles(mergedConfig.content, mergedConfig, fullConfig)
+
+  // Files get merged in from the default content (that template-oss provides) as well
+  // as any content paths provided from the root or the workspace
+  const fileDirs = uniq([useDefault && defaultDir, rootDir, pkgDir].filter(Boolean))
+  const files = mergeFiles(useDefault && defaultFiles, rootFiles, pkgFiles)
+  const repoFiles = isRoot ? files.rootRepo : files.workspaceRepo
+  const moduleFiles = isRoot ? files.rootModule : files.workspaceModule
+
+  Object.assign(fullConfig, {
+    repoFiles,
+    moduleFiles,
+    applyRepo: !!repoFiles,
+    applyModule: !!moduleFiles,
+    __PARTIAL_DIRS__: fileDirs,
+    // gitignore, these use the full config so need to come at the very end
+    ignorePaths: [
+      ...gitignore.sort([
+        ...gitignore.allowRootDir([
+          // Allways allow module files in root or workspaces
+          ...getAddedFiles(moduleFiles).map(s => template(s, fullConfig)),
+          ...isRoot ? [
+            // in the root allow all repo files
+            ...getAddedFiles(repoFiles).map(s => template(s, fullConfig)),
+            // and allow all workspace repo level files in the root
+            ...pkgs
+              .filter(p => p.path !== rootPkg.path && p.config.workspaceRepo !== false)
+              .flatMap(() => getAddedFiles(files.workspaceRepo)),
+          ] : [],
+        ]),
+        ...isRoot && pkgConfig.lockfile ? ['!/package-lock.json'] : [],
+        ...(pkgConfig.allowPaths || []).map((p) => `!${p}`),
+        ...(pkgConfig.distPaths || []).map((p) => `!/${p}`),
+        ...(pkgConfig.ignorePaths || []),
+      ]),
+      // these cant be sorted since they rely on order
+      // to allow a previously ignored directoy
+      ...isRoot
+        ? gitignore.allowDir(wsPkgs.map((p) => makePosix(relative(rootPkg.path, p.path))))
+        : [],
+    ].filter(p => !pkgConfig.eslint ? !p.includes('eslint') : true),
+  })
+
+  return fullConfig
 }
 
 module.exports = getFullConfig
diff --git a/lib/content/eslintrc-js.hbs b/lib/content/eslintrc-js.hbs
index 96996354..bb38c366 100644
--- a/lib/content/eslintrc-js.hbs
+++ b/lib/content/eslintrc-js.hbs
@@ -13,7 +13,18 @@ module.exports = {
     {{#each workspaceGlobs}}
     '{{ . }}',
     {{/each}}
+    {{#if typescript}}
+    'dist/',
+    {{/if}}
   ],
+  {{#if typescript}}
+  parser: '@typescript-eslint/parser',
+  settings: {
+    'import/resolver': {
+      typescript: {},
+    },
+  },
+  {{/if}}
   extends: [
     '@npmcli',
     ...localConfigs,
diff --git a/lib/content/index.js b/lib/content/index.js
index bccb3711..5dda526f 100644
--- a/lib/content/index.js
+++ b/lib/content/index.js
@@ -15,16 +15,17 @@ const sharedRootAdd = (name) => ({
   '.release-please-manifest.json': {
     file: 'release-please-manifest-json.hbs',
     filter: isPublic,
-    parser: (p) => class extends p.JsonMerge {
-      comment = null
-    },
+    parser: (p) => p.JsonMergeNoComment,
   },
   'release-please-config.json': {
     file: 'release-please-config-json.hbs',
     filter: isPublic,
-    parser: (p) => class extends p.JsonMerge {
-      comment = null
-    },
+    parser: (p) => p.JsonMergeNoComment,
+  },
+  'tsconfig.json': {
+    file: 'tsconfig-json.hbs',
+    filter: (p) => p.config.typescript,
+    parser: (p) => p.JsonMergeNoComment,
   },
   // this lint commits which is only necessary for releases
   '.github/workflows/pull-request.yml': {
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ const sharedRootRm = () => ({
 // Changes applied to the root of the repo
 const rootRepo = {
   add: {
-    '.commitlintrc.js': 'commitlintrc-js.hbs',
+    '.commitlintrc.{{ cjsExt }}': 'commitlintrc-js.hbs',
     '.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml': 'bug-yml.hbs',
     '.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml': 'config-yml.hbs',
     '.github/CODEOWNERS': 'CODEOWNERS.hbs',
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ const rootRepo = {
     ...sharedRootAdd(),
   },
   rm: {
+    '.commitlintrc.{{ deleteJsExt }}': true,
     '.github/workflows/release-test.yml': true,
     '.github/workflows/release-please.yml': true,
     ...sharedRootRm(),
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ const rootRepo = {
 // dir. so we might want to combine these
 const rootModule = {
   add: {
-    '.eslintrc.js': {
+    '.eslintrc.{{ cjsExt }}': {
       file: 'eslintrc-js.hbs',
       filter: (p) => p.config.eslint,
     },
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ const rootModule = {
     'package.json': 'package-json.hbs',
   },
   rm: [
-    '.eslintrc.!(js|local.*)',
+    '.eslintrc.!({{ cjsExt }}|local.*)',
   ],
 }
 
@@ -114,7 +116,7 @@ const workspaceRepo = {
 // Changes for each workspace but applied to the relative workspace dir
 const workspaceModule = {
   add: {
-    '.eslintrc.js': {
+    '.eslintrc.{{ cjsExt }}': {
       file: 'eslintrc-js.hbs',
       filter: (p) => p.config.eslint,
     },
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ const workspaceModule = {
   },
   rm: [
     '.npmrc',
-    '.eslintrc.!(js|local.*)',
+    '.eslintrc.!({{ cjsExt }}|local.*)',
     'SECURITY.md',
   ],
 }
@@ -144,8 +146,6 @@ module.exports = {
     'lib/',
   ],
   allowPaths: [
-    '/bin/',
-    '/lib/',
     '/.eslintrc.local.*',
     '**/.gitignore',
     '/docs/',
@@ -166,6 +166,8 @@ module.exports = {
   codeowner: '@npm/cli-team',
   eslint: true,
   publish: false,
+  typescript: false,
+  esm: false,
   updateNpm: true,
   dependabot: 'increase-if-necessary',
   unwantedPackages: [
diff --git a/lib/content/package-json.hbs b/lib/content/package-json.hbs
index 28630c51..5282f19f 100644
--- a/lib/content/package-json.hbs
+++ b/lib/content/package-json.hbs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
   "author": "GitHub Inc.",
-  "files": {{{ json distPaths }}},
+  "files": {{#if typescript}}{{{ del }}}{{else}}{{{ json distPaths }}}{{/if}},
+  "type": {{#if esm}}"module"{{else}}{{{ del }}}{{/if}},
   "scripts": {
     "lint": "{{#if eslint}}eslint \"**/*.{js,cjs,ts,mjs,jsx,tsx}\"{{else}}echo linting disabled{{/if}}",
     "postlint": "template-oss-check",
@@ -13,6 +14,9 @@
     "test-all": "{{ localNpmPath }} run test {{ allFlags }}",
     "lint-all": "{{ localNpmPath }} run lint {{ allFlags }}",
     {{/if}}
+    {{#if typescript}}
+    "prepare": "tshy",
+    {{/if}}
     "template-copy": {{{ del }}},
     "lint:fix": {{{ del }}},
     "preversion": {{{ del }}},
diff --git a/lib/content/tsconfig-json.hbs b/lib/content/tsconfig-json.hbs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..42776f85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/content/tsconfig-json.hbs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "compilerOptions": {
+    "jsx": "react",
+    "declaration": true,
+    "declarationMap": true,
+    "inlineSources": true,
+    "esModuleInterop": true,
+    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
+    "moduleResolution": "nodenext",
+    "resolveJsonModule": true,
+    "skipLibCheck": true,
+    "sourceMap": true,
+    "strict": true,
+    "target": "es2022",
+    "module": "nodenext"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/util/files.js b/lib/util/files.js
index 3b2b5723..713c01e0 100644
--- a/lib/util/files.js
+++ b/lib/util/files.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const { join } = require('path')
-const { defaultsDeep, omit } = require('lodash')
+const { defaultsDeep, omit, isPlainObject } = require('lodash')
 const deepMapValues = require('just-deep-map-values')
 const { glob } = require('glob')
 const { mergeWithCustomizers, customizers } = require('./merge.js')
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ const FILE_KEYS = ['rootRepo', 'rootModule', 'workspaceRepo', 'workspaceModule']
 
 const globify = pattern => pattern.split('\\').join('/')
 
+const deepMapKeys = (obj, fn) => Object.entries(obj).reduce((acc, [key, value]) => {
+  acc[fn(key)] = isPlainObject(value) ? deepMapKeys(value, fn) : value
+  return acc
+}, {})
+
 const mergeFiles = mergeWithCustomizers((value, srcValue, key, target, source, stack) => {
   // This will merge all files except if the src file has overwrite:false. Then
   // the files will be turned into an array so they can be applied on top of
@@ -35,7 +40,7 @@ const fileEntries = (dir, files, options, { allowMultipleSources = true } = {})
       continue
     }
 
-    // target paths need to be joinsed with dir and templated
+    // target paths need to be joined with dir and templated
     const target = join(dir, template(key, options))
 
     if (Array.isArray(source)) {
@@ -66,7 +71,7 @@ const getParsers = (dir, files, options, parseOptions) => {
     const clean = typeof shouldClean === 'function' ? shouldClean(options) : false
 
     if (parser) {
-    // allow files to extend base parsers or create new ones
+      // allow files to extend base parsers or create new ones
       return new (parser(Parser.Parsers))(target, file, options, { clean })
     }
 
@@ -105,23 +110,27 @@ const parseEach = async (dir, files, options, parseOptions, fn) => {
   return res.filter(Boolean)
 }
 
-const parseConfig = (files, dir, overrides) => {
-  const normalizeFiles = (v) => deepMapValues(v, (value, key) => {
-    if (key === RM_KEY && Array.isArray(value)) {
-      return value.reduce((acc, k) => {
-        acc[k] = true
-        return acc
-      }, {})
-    }
-    if (typeof value === 'string') {
-      const file = join(dir, value)
-      return key === 'file' ? file : { file }
-    }
-    if (value === true && FILE_KEYS.includes(key)) {
-      return {}
-    }
-    return value
-  })
+const parseConfig = (files, dir, overrides, templateSettings) => {
+  const normalizeFiles = (v) => {
+    v = deepMapKeys(v, (s) => template(s, templateSettings))
+    return deepMapValues(v, (value, key) => {
+      if (key === RM_KEY && Array.isArray(value)) {
+        return value.reduce((acc, k) => {
+        // template files nows since they need to be normalized before merging
+          acc[template(k, templateSettings)] = true
+          return acc
+        }, {})
+      }
+      if (typeof value === 'string') {
+        const file = join(dir, value)
+        return key === 'file' ? file : { file }
+      }
+      if (value === true && FILE_KEYS.includes(key)) {
+        return {}
+      }
+      return value
+    })
+  }
 
   const merged = mergeFiles(normalizeFiles(files), normalizeFiles(overrides))
   const withDefaults = defaultsDeep(merged, FILE_KEYS.reduce((acc, k) => {
diff --git a/lib/util/get-cmd-path.js b/lib/util/get-cmd-path.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c311044
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/util/get-cmd-path.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+const { join, relative } = require('path')
+const { makePosix } = require('./path.js')
+
+const getCmdPath = (key, { pkgConfig, rootConfig, isRoot, pkg, rootPkg }) => {
+  const result = (local, isRelative) => {
+    let root = local
+    const isLocal = local.startsWith('.') || local.startsWith('/')
+
+    if (isLocal) {
+      if (isRelative) {
+        // Make a path relative from a workspace to the root if we are in a workspace
+        local = makePosix(join(relative(pkg.path, rootPkg.path), local))
+      }
+      local = `node ${local}`
+      root = `node ${root}`
+    }
+
+    return {
+      isLocal,
+      local,
+      root,
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (pkgConfig[key]) {
+    return result(pkgConfig[key])
+  }
+
+  if (rootConfig[key]) {
+    return result(rootConfig[key], !isRoot)
+  }
+
+  return result(key)
+}
+
+module.exports = getCmdPath
diff --git a/lib/util/import-or-require.js b/lib/util/import-or-require.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8fc7ef97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/util/import-or-require.js
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// This fixes weird behavior I was seeing where calls to require(path) would
+// fail the first time and then fetch via dynamic import which is correct, but
+// then subsequent requires for the same path would return an empty object. Not
+// sure if a bug or I'm doing something wrong but since the require/imports here
+// are short lived, it is safe to create our own cache and use that.
+const { pathToFileURL } = require('url')
+
+const importOrRequireCache = new Map()
+
+const importOrRequire = async (path) => {
+  if (importOrRequireCache.has(path)) {
+    return importOrRequireCache.get(path)
+  }
+  let content = {}
+  try {
+    content = require(path)
+  } catch {
+    try {
+      content = await import(pathToFileURL(path)).then(r => r.default)
+    } catch {
+      // its ok if this fails since the content dir might only be to provide
+      // other files. the index.js is optional
+    }
+  }
+  importOrRequireCache.set(path, content)
+  return content
+}
+
+module.exports = importOrRequire
diff --git a/lib/util/parser.js b/lib/util/parser.js
index 3ca63e9e..27f498b7 100644
--- a/lib/util/parser.js
+++ b/lib/util/parser.js
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class Gitignore extends Base {
 }
 
 class Js extends Base {
-  static types = ['*.js']
+  static types = ['*.js', '*.cjs']
   comment = (c) => `/* ${c} */`
 }
 
@@ -306,6 +306,10 @@ class JsonMerge extends Json {
   merge = (t, s) => merge(t, s)
 }
 
+class JsonMergeNoComment extends JsonMerge {
+  comment = null
+}
+
 class PackageJson extends JsonMerge {
   static types = ['package.json']
 
@@ -346,6 +350,7 @@ const Parsers = {
   YmlMerge,
   Json,
   JsonMerge,
+  JsonMergeNoComment,
   PackageJson,
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/util/path.js b/lib/util/path.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e0582f59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/util/path.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+const { posix, win32 } = require('path')
+
+const makePosix = (v) => v.split(win32.sep).join(posix.sep)
+const deglob = (v) => makePosix(v).replace(/[/*]+$/, '')
+const posixDir = (v) => `${v === '.' ? '' : deglob(v).replace(/\/$/, '')}${posix.sep}`
+const posixGlob = (str) => `${posixDir(str)}**`
+
+module.exports = {
+  makePosix,
+  deglob,
+  posixDir,
+  posixGlob,
+}
diff --git a/lib/util/template.js b/lib/util/template.js
index 1eb67ed7..d035b3db 100644
--- a/lib/util/template.js
+++ b/lib/util/template.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ const makePartials = (dir, isBase) => {
   Handlebars.registerPartial(partials)
 }
 
-const setupHandlebars = (baseDir, ...otherDirs) => {
+const setupHandlebars = (dirs) => {
   Handlebars.registerHelper('obj', ({ hash }) => Object.fromEntries(safeValues(hash)))
   Handlebars.registerHelper('join', (arr, sep) => arr.join(typeof sep === 'string' ? sep : ', '))
   Handlebars.registerHelper('pluck', (arr, key) => arr.map(a => a[key]))
@@ -40,14 +40,17 @@ const setupHandlebars = (baseDir, ...otherDirs) => {
   Handlebars.registerHelper('json', (c) => JSON.stringify(c))
   Handlebars.registerHelper('del', () => JSON.stringify(DELETE))
 
-  makePartials(baseDir, true)
-  for (const dir of otherDirs) {
-    makePartials(dir)
+  if (Array.isArray(dirs)) {
+    const [baseDir, ...otherDirs] = dirs
+    makePartials(baseDir, true)
+    for (const dir of otherDirs) {
+      makePartials(dir)
+    }
   }
 }
 
-const template = (str, { config, ...options }) => {
-  setupHandlebars(...config.__PARTIAL_DIRS__)
+const template = (str, { config = {}, ...options }) => {
+  setupHandlebars(config.__PARTIAL_DIRS__)
 
   const t = Handlebars.compile(str, { strict: true })
 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/apply/source-snapshots.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/apply/source-snapshots.js.test.cjs
index 49199804..901b2f94 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/apply/source-snapshots.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/apply/source-snapshots.js.test.cjs
@@ -1550,6 +1550,7 @@ tap-testdir*/
 !/SECURITY.md
 !/tap-snapshots/
 !/test/
+!/tsconfig.json
 
 .npmrc
 ========================================
@@ -3624,6 +3625,7 @@ tap-testdir*/
 !/SECURITY.md
 !/tap-snapshots/
 !/test/
+!/tsconfig.json
 !/workspaces/
 /workspaces/*
 !/workspaces/a/
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/check/snapshots.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/check/snapshots.js.test.cjs
index d52c6cb2..245c3bcd 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/check/snapshots.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/check/snapshots.js.test.cjs
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ To correct it: move files to not match one of the following patterns:
   !/SECURITY.md
   !/tap-snapshots/
   !/test/
+  !/tsconfig.json
 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 `
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ To correct it: move files to not match one of the following patterns:
   !/SECURITY.md
   !/tap-snapshots/
   !/test/
+  !/tsconfig.json
   !/workspaces/
   /workspaces/*
   !/workspaces/a/
diff --git a/test/apply/esm.js b/test/apply/esm.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3afc80ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/apply/esm.js
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+const t = require('tap')
+const setup = require('../setup.js')
+
+t.test('basic', async (t) => {
+  const s = await setup(t, {
+    package: {
+      type: 'module',
+      templateOSS: {
+        content: 'content_dir',
+      },
+    },
+    testdir: {
+      content_dir: {
+        'file.js': 'var x = 1;',
+        'index.js': 'export default { rootRepo:{add:{"file.js":"file.js"}} }',
+      },
+    },
+  })
+  await s.apply()
+
+  const file = await s.readFile('file.js')
+  t.match(file, 'var x = 1;')
+})
diff --git a/test/apply/index.js b/test/apply/index.js
index f813b36a..3be5f2a5 100644
--- a/test/apply/index.js
+++ b/test/apply/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const t = require('tap')
-const fs = require('fs')
 const { join } = require('path')
 const setup = require('../setup.js')
 
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ t.test('turn off root files', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.commitlintrc.js')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.yml')))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.js'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.eslintrc.yml'))
 })
 
 t.test('turn off root rm only', async (t) => {
@@ -49,10 +48,10 @@ t.test('turn off root rm only', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.commitlintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.yml')))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.eslintrc.yml'))
 })
 
 t.test('turn off root add only', async (t) => {
@@ -77,10 +76,10 @@ t.test('turn off root add only', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.commitlintrc.js')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.yml')))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.js'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.eslintrc.yml'))
 })
 
 t.test('turn off specific files', async (t) => {
@@ -115,10 +114,10 @@ t.test('turn off specific files', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.commitlintrc.js')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.yml')))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.js'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release-test.yml'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.eslintrc.yml'))
 })
 
 t.test('root can set workspace files', async (t) => {
@@ -143,8 +142,8 @@ t.test('root can set workspace files', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join(s.workspaces.a, '.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join(s.workspaces.a, '.npmrc')))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists(s.workspaces.a, '.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists(s.workspaces.a, '.npmrc'))
 })
 
 t.test('workspace config can override root', async (t) => {
@@ -176,8 +175,8 @@ t.test('workspace config can override root', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join(s.workspaces.a, '.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join(s.workspaces.a, '.npmrc')))
+  t.ok(await s.exists(s.workspaces.a, '.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists(s.workspaces.a, '.npmrc'))
 })
 
 t.test('workspaces can override content', async (t) => {
@@ -205,9 +204,9 @@ t.test('workspaces can override content', async (t) => {
     },
   })
   await s.apply()
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(s.join('.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join(s.workspaces.a, '.eslintrc.js')))
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(s.join('x.js')))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists(s.workspaces.a, '.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('x.js'))
 })
 
 t.test('content can override partials', async (t) => {
@@ -339,8 +338,7 @@ t.test('private workspace', async (t) => {
   t.ok(rpConfig.packages['workspaces/b'])
   t.notOk(rpConfig.packages['workspaces/a'])
 
-  const rp = s.join('.github', 'workflows')
-  t.ok(fs.existsSync(join(rp, 'release.yml')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(join(rp, 'release-please-b.yml')))
-  t.notOk(fs.existsSync(join(rp, 'release-please-a.yml')))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release.yml'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release-please-b.yml'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'release-please-a.yml'))
 })
diff --git a/test/apply/release-config.js b/test/apply/release-config.js
index 94e6b75b..270f6d32 100644
--- a/test/apply/release-config.js
+++ b/test/apply/release-config.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const t = require('tap')
-const { existsSync } = require('fs')
 const setup = require('../setup.js')
 
 t.test('root only', async (t) => {
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@ t.test('root only', async (t) => {
       await s.apply()
 
       const releaseConfig = await s.readJson('release-please-config.json').catch(() => ({}))
-      const pr = existsSync(s.join('.github', 'workflows', 'pull-request.yml'))
+      const pr = await s.exists('.github', 'workflows', 'pull-request.yml')
 
       t.strictSame(releaseConfig.plugins, expected.plugins ? ['node-workspace'] : undefined)
       t.equal(pr, expected.pr)
diff --git a/test/apply/typescript.js b/test/apply/typescript.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..63aae412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/apply/typescript.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+const t = require('tap')
+const setup = require('../setup.js')
+
+t.test('basic', async (t) => {
+  const s = await setup(t, {
+    ok: true,
+    package: {
+      templateOSS: {
+        typescript: true,
+      },
+    },
+    testdir: {
+      '.eslintrc.js': 'delete this',
+      '.commitlintrc.js': 'delete this',
+    },
+  })
+
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.js'))
+
+  await s.apply()
+  const checks = await s.check()
+  const pkg = await s.readJson('package.json')
+  const eslint = await s.readFile('.eslintrc.cjs')
+
+  t.strictSame(checks[0].body, ['typescript', 'tshy', '@typescript-eslint/parser'])
+  t.equal(pkg.scripts.prepare, 'tshy')
+  t.equal(pkg.type, 'module')
+  t.match(eslint, 'dist/')
+  t.match(eslint, '@typescript-eslint/parser')
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.eslintrc.js'))
+  t.notOk(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.js'))
+  t.ok(await s.exists('.commitlintrc.cjs'))
+})
+
+t.test('no default content', async (t) => {
+  const s = await setup(t, {
+    ok: true,
+    package: {
+      templateOSS: {
+        typescript: true,
+        defaultContent: false,
+        content: 'content_dir',
+      },
+    },
+    testdir: {
+      content_dir: {
+        'file.js': 'var x = 1;',
+        'index.js': 'module.exports={rootModule:{add:{"file.js":"file.js"}}}',
+      },
+    },
+  })
+  await s.apply()
+  const checks = await s.check()
+
+  t.strictSame(checks[0].body, ['typescript', 'tshy', '@typescript-eslint/parser'])
+})
diff --git a/test/setup.js b/test/setup.js
index 2f9f8387..33305b6f 100644
--- a/test/setup.js
+++ b/test/setup.js
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ const setupRoot = async (t, root, mocks) => {
     readdir,
     readJson: async (f) => JSON.parse(await rootFs.readFile(f)),
     writeJson: (p, d) => rootFs.writeFile(p, JSON.stringify(d, null, 2)),
+    exists: (...p) => fs.access(rootPath(...p)).then(() => true).catch(() => false),
     join: rootPath,
     apply: () => apply(root),
     check: () => check(root),