diff --git a/src/scripts/template.py b/src/scripts/template.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..e08596da7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scripts/template.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env python3
+import os
+from datetime import datetime
+import sys
+
+
+if len(sys.argv) == 1:
+    print(f"Usage: {sys.argv[0]} progname key1=def1 ...")
+    print("version 24-jan-2012")
+    print("Write template NEMO program based on keywords and default values")
+    print("Output will be in a file progname.c, which cannot be overwritten")
+    exit(0)
+
+prog = sys.argv[1]
+if ("." in prog):
+    name = prog
+else:
+    name = f"{prog}.c"
+
+date = datetime.now().strftime("%d-%b-%Y")
+
+if os.path.exists(name):
+    print(f"File {name} already exists, will not overwrite it.")
+    exit(0)
+
+with open(name, "w") as f:
+    f.write("/*\n")
+    f.write(" *  TEMPLATE: created by NEMO \n")
+    f.write(" */\n\n")
+    f.write("#include <nemo.h>\n\n")
+    f.write("string defv[] = {\n")
+
+    for arg in sys.argv[2:]:
+        key, value = arg.split("=")
+        f.write(f'    "{arg}\\n    some help",\n')
+
+    f.write(f'    "VERSION=0.0\\n       {date} XYZ",\n')
+    f.write("    NULL,\n")
+    f.write("};\n\n")
+    f.write("string usage=\"TEMPLATE program usage -- fill in yourself\";\n\n")
+    f.write("void nemo_main()\n")
+    f.write("{\n")
+    f.write("    /* your code goes here */\n")
+    f.write("    /* e.g.   string s = getparam(\"s\");  */\n")
+    f.write("    /* e.g.   int    i = getiparam(\"i\"); */\n")
+    f.write("    /* e.g.   real   r = getrparam(\"r\"); */\n")
+    f.write("    /* e.g.   double d = getdparam(\"d\"); */\n")
+    f.write("    /* followed by lots of lovely calculations */\n")
+    f.write("    warning(\"New template NEMO program\");\n")
+    f.write("    /*\n")
+
+    for arg in sys.argv[2:]:
+        key, _ = arg.split("=")
+        f.write(f"    string {key} = getparam(\"{key}\");\n")
+
+    f.write("     */\n")
+    f.write("    /*\n")
+    f.write("     *  other useful things:\n")
+    f.write("     *    if (hasvalue(\"xxx\") && !hasvalue(\"yyy\"))\n")
+    f.write("     *        error(\"need value for yyy\");\n")
+    f.write("     */\n")
+    f.write("}\n")
+
+print("All done, {name} created. You can compile it using the command")
+print("        bake {prog}")
+print("  or:   mknemo {prog}")
+print("When done, don't forget to create a template man page:")
+print(f"        $NEMO/src/scripts/mkman {prog} > $NEMO/man/man1/{prog}.1")
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