diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 96bdada..6d2cfec 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -323,6 +323,19 @@ dependencies = [
  "unicase",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "espanso-render"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "anyhow",
+ "chrono",
+ "enum-as-inner",
+ "lazy_static",
+ "log",
+ "regex",
+ "thiserror",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "espanso-ui"
 version = "0.1.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 56b579a..a8e3bce 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ members = [
   "espanso-config",
   "espanso-match",
   "espanso-clipboard",
+  "espanso-render",
 ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso-render/Cargo.toml b/espanso-render/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..825eec2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso-render/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[package]
+name = "espanso-render"
+version = "0.1.0"
+authors = ["Federico Terzi <federico-terzi@users.noreply.github.com>"]
+edition = "2018"
+
+[dependencies]
+log = "0.4.14"
+anyhow = "1.0.38"
+thiserror = "1.0.23"
+regex = "1.4.3"
+lazy_static = "1.4.0"
+chrono = "0.4.19"
+enum-as-inner = "0.3.3"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso-render/src/extension/mod.rs b/espanso-render/src/extension/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb433fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso-render/src/extension/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+pub mod date;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso-render/src/lib.rs b/espanso-render/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ae454f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso-render/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#[macro_use]
+extern crate lazy_static;
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use enum_as_inner::EnumAsInner;
+
+mod renderer;
+pub mod extension;
+
+pub trait Renderer {
+  fn render(&self, template: &Template, context: &Context, options: &RenderOptions)
+    -> RenderResult;
+}
+
+pub fn create(extensions: Vec<Box<dyn Extension>>) -> impl Renderer {
+  renderer::DefaultRenderer::new(extensions)
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum RenderResult {
+  Success(String),
+  Aborted,
+  Error(anyhow::Error),
+}
+
+pub struct Context<'a> {
+  pub global_vars: Vec<&'a Variable>,
+  pub templates: Vec<&'a Template>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Default for Context<'a> {
+  fn default() -> Self {
+    Self {
+      global_vars: Vec::new(),
+      templates: Vec::new(),
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct RenderOptions {
+  casing_style: CasingStyle,
+}
+
+impl Default for RenderOptions {
+  fn default() -> Self {
+    Self {
+      casing_style: CasingStyle::None,
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum CasingStyle {
+  None,
+  Capitalize,
+  Uppercase,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct Template {
+  ids: Vec<String>,
+  body: String,
+  vars: Vec<Variable>,
+}
+
+impl Default for Template {
+  fn default() -> Self {
+    Self {
+      ids: Vec::new(),
+      body: "".to_string(),
+      vars: Vec::new(),
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct Variable {
+  name: String,
+  var_type: String,
+  params: Params,
+}
+
+impl Default for Variable {
+  fn default() -> Self {
+    Self {
+      name: "".to_string(),
+      var_type: "".to_string(),
+      params: Params::new(),
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+pub type Params = HashMap<String, Value>;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Value {
+  Null,
+  Bool(bool),
+  Number(Number),
+  String(String),
+  Array(Vec<Value>),
+  Object(HashMap<String, Value>),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Number {
+  Integer(i64),
+  Float(f64),
+}
+
+pub trait Extension {
+  fn name(&self) -> &str;
+  fn calculate(&self, context: &Context, scope: &Scope, params: &Params) -> ExtensionResult;
+}
+
+pub type Scope<'a> = HashMap<&'a str, ExtensionOutput>;
+
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum ExtensionOutput {
+  Single(String),
+  Multiple(HashMap<String, String>),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, EnumAsInner)]
+pub enum ExtensionResult {
+  Success(ExtensionOutput),
+  Aborted,
+  Error(anyhow::Error),
+}
diff --git a/espanso-render/src/renderer/mod.rs b/espanso-render/src/renderer/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4fd152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso-render/src/renderer/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,473 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of esp name: (), var_type: (), params: ()anso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
+
+use crate::{
+  CasingStyle, Context, Extension, ExtensionOutput, ExtensionResult, RenderOptions, RenderResult,
+  Renderer, Scope, Template, Value, Variable
+};
+use log::{error, warn};
+use regex::{Captures, Regex};
+use thiserror::Error;
+use util::get_body_variable_names;
+
+mod util;
+
+lazy_static! {
+  pub(crate) static ref VAR_REGEX: Regex =
+    Regex::new(r"\{\{\s*((?P<name>\w+)(\.(?P<subname>(\w+)))?)\s*\}\}").unwrap();
+}
+
+pub(crate) struct DefaultRenderer {
+  extensions: HashMap<String, Box<dyn Extension>>,
+}
+
+impl DefaultRenderer {
+  pub fn new(extensions: Vec<Box<dyn Extension>>) -> Self {
+    let extensions = extensions
+      .into_iter()
+      .map(|ext| (ext.name().to_string(), ext))
+      .collect();
+    Self { extensions }
+  }
+}
+
+impl Renderer for DefaultRenderer {
+  fn render(
+    &self,
+    template: &Template,
+    context: &Context,
+    options: &RenderOptions,
+  ) -> RenderResult {
+    let body = if VAR_REGEX.is_match(&template.body) {
+      // In order to define a variable evaluation order, we first need to find
+      // the global variables that are being used but for which an explicit order
+      // is not defined.
+      let body_variable_names = get_body_variable_names(&template.body);
+      let local_variable_names: HashSet<&str> =
+        template.vars.iter().map(|var| var.name.as_str()).collect();
+      let missing_global_variable_names: HashSet<&str> = body_variable_names
+        .difference(&local_variable_names)
+        .copied()
+        .collect();
+      let missing_global_variables: Vec<&Variable> = context
+        .global_vars
+        .iter()
+        .copied()
+        .filter(|global_var| missing_global_variable_names.contains(&*global_var.name))
+        .collect();
+
+      // Convert "global" variable type aliases when needed
+      let local_variables: Vec<&Variable> =
+        if template.vars.iter().any(|var| var.var_type == "global") {
+          let global_vars: HashMap<&str, &Variable> = context
+            .global_vars
+            .iter()
+            .map(|var| (&*var.name, *var))
+            .collect();
+          template
+            .vars
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|var| {
+              if var.var_type == "global" {
+                global_vars.get(&*var.name).copied()
+              } else {
+                Some(var)
+              }
+            })
+            .collect()
+        } else {
+          template.vars.iter().map(|var| var).collect()
+        };
+
+      // The implicit global variables will be evaluated first, followed by the local vars
+      let mut variables: Vec<&Variable> = Vec::new();
+      variables.extend(missing_global_variables);
+      variables.extend(local_variables.iter());
+
+      // Compute the variable outputs
+      let mut scope = Scope::new();
+      for variable in variables {
+        if variable.var_type == "match" {
+          // Recursive call
+          // Call render recursively
+          if let Some(sub_template) = get_matching_template(variable, context.templates.as_slice())
+          {
+            match self.render(sub_template, context, options) {
+              RenderResult::Success(output) => {
+                scope.insert(&variable.name, ExtensionOutput::Single(output));
+              }
+              result => return result,
+            }
+          } else {
+            error!("unable to find sub-match: {}", variable.name);
+            return RenderResult::Error(RendererError::MissingSubMatch.into());
+          }
+        } else if let Some(extension) = self.extensions.get(&variable.var_type) {
+          match extension.calculate(context, &scope, &variable.params) {
+            ExtensionResult::Success(output) => {
+              scope.insert(&variable.name, output);
+            }
+            ExtensionResult::Aborted => {
+              warn!(
+                "rendering was aborted by extension: {}, on var: {}",
+                variable.var_type, variable.name
+              );
+              return RenderResult::Aborted;
+            }
+            ExtensionResult::Error(err) => {
+              warn!(
+                "extension '{}' on var: '{}' reported an error: {}",
+                variable.var_type, variable.name, err
+              );
+              return RenderResult::Error(err);
+            }
+          }
+        } else {
+          error!(
+            "no extension found for variable type: {}",
+            variable.var_type
+          );
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Replace the variables
+      let mut replacing_error = None;
+      let output = VAR_REGEX
+        .replace_all(&template.body, |caps: &Captures| {
+          let var_name = caps.name("name").unwrap().as_str();
+          let var_subname = caps.name("subname");
+          match scope.get(var_name) {
+            Some(output) => match output {
+              ExtensionOutput::Single(output) => output,
+              ExtensionOutput::Multiple(results) => match var_subname {
+                Some(var_subname) => {
+                  let var_subname = var_subname.as_str();
+                  results.get(var_subname).map_or("", |value| &*value)
+                }
+                None => {
+                  error!(
+                    "nested name missing from multi-value variable: {}",
+                    var_name
+                  );
+                  replacing_error = Some(RendererError::MissingVariable(format!("nested name missing from multi-value variable: {}", var_name)));
+                  ""
+                }
+              },
+            },
+            None => {
+              replacing_error = Some(RendererError::MissingVariable(format!("variable {} is missing", var_name)));
+              ""
+            },
+          }
+        })
+        .to_string();
+      
+      if let Some(error) = replacing_error {
+        return RenderResult::Error(error.into());
+      }
+
+      output
+    } else {
+      template.body.clone()
+    };
+
+    // Process the casing style
+    let body_with_casing = match options.casing_style {
+      CasingStyle::None => body,
+      CasingStyle::Uppercase => body.to_uppercase(),
+      CasingStyle::Capitalize => {
+        // Capitalize the first letter
+        let mut v: Vec<char> = body.chars().collect();
+        v[0] = v[0].to_uppercase().next().unwrap();
+        v.into_iter().collect()
+      }
+    };
+
+    RenderResult::Success(body_with_casing)
+  }
+}
+
+fn get_matching_template<'a>(
+  variable: &Variable,
+  templates: &'a [&Template],
+) -> Option<&'a Template> {
+  // Find matching template
+  let id = variable.params.get("trigger")?;
+  if let Value::String(id) = id {
+    templates
+      .iter()
+      .find(|template| template.ids.contains(id))
+      .copied()
+  } else {
+    None
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Error, Debug)]
+pub enum RendererError {
+  #[error("missing variable: `{0}`")]
+  MissingVariable(String),
+
+  #[error("missing sub match")]
+  MissingSubMatch,
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+  use super::*;
+  use crate::Params;
+  use std::iter::FromIterator;
+
+  struct MockExtension {}
+
+  impl Extension for MockExtension {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+      "mock"
+    }
+
+    fn calculate(
+      &self,
+      _context: &Context,
+      scope: &Scope,
+      params: &crate::Params,
+    ) -> ExtensionResult {
+      if let Some(value) = params.get("echo") {
+        if let Value::String(string) = value {
+          return ExtensionResult::Success(ExtensionOutput::Single(string.clone()));
+        }
+      }
+      // If the "read" param is present, echo the value of the corresponding result in the scope
+      if let Some(value) = params.get("read") {
+        if let Value::String(string) = value {
+          if let Some(ExtensionOutput::Single(value)) = scope.get(string.as_str()) {
+            return ExtensionResult::Success(ExtensionOutput::Single(value.to_string()));
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      if params.get("abort").is_some() {
+        return ExtensionResult::Aborted;
+      }
+      if params.get("error").is_some() {
+        return ExtensionResult::Error(RendererError::MissingVariable("missing".to_string()).into())
+      }
+      ExtensionResult::Aborted
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn get_renderer() -> impl Renderer {
+    DefaultRenderer::new(vec![Box::new(MockExtension {})])
+  }
+
+  pub fn template_for_str(str: &str) -> Template {
+    Template {
+      ids: vec!["id".to_string()],
+      body: str.to_string(),
+      vars: Vec::new(), 
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn template(body: &str, vars: &[(&str, &str)]) -> Template {
+    let vars = vars.iter().map(|(name, value)| {
+      Variable {
+        name: (*name).to_string(),
+        var_type: "mock".to_string(),
+        params: Params::from_iter(vec![("echo".to_string(), Value::String((*value).to_string()))].into_iter())
+      }
+    }).collect();
+    Template {
+      ids: vec!["id".to_string()],
+      body: body.to_string(),
+      vars, 
+    }
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn no_variable_no_styling() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let res = renderer.render(&template_for_str("plain body"), &Default::default(), &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "plain body"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn no_variable_capitalize() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let res = renderer.render(&template_for_str("plain body"), &Default::default(), &RenderOptions {
+      casing_style: CasingStyle::Capitalize,
+    });
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "Plain body"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn no_variable_uppercase() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let res = renderer.render(&template_for_str("plain body"), &Default::default(), &RenderOptions {
+      casing_style: CasingStyle::Uppercase,
+    });
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "PLAIN BODY"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn basic_variable() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = template("hello {{var}}", &[("var", "world")]);
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Default::default(), &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "hello world"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn missing_variable() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = template_for_str("hello {{var}}");
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Default::default(), &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Error(_)));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn global_variable() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = template("hello {{var}}", &[]);
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Context {
+      global_vars: vec![
+        &Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "mock".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("echo".to_string(), Value::String("world".to_string()))])
+        }
+      ],
+      ..Default::default()
+    }, &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "hello world"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn global_variable_explicit_ordering() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = Template {
+      body: "hello {{var}} {{local}}".to_string(), 
+      vars: vec![
+        Variable {
+          name: "local".to_string(),
+          var_type: "mock".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("echo".to_string(), Value::String("Bob".to_string()))].into_iter())
+        },
+        Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "global".to_string(),
+          ..Default::default()
+        }
+      ],
+      ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Context {
+      global_vars: vec![
+        &Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "mock".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("read".to_string(), Value::String("local".to_string()))])
+        }
+      ],
+      ..Default::default()
+    }, &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "hello Bob Bob"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn nested_match() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = Template {
+      body: "hello {{var}}".to_string(), 
+      vars: vec![
+        Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "match".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("trigger".to_string(), Value::String("nested".to_string()))].into_iter())
+        },
+      ],
+      ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let nested_template = Template {
+      ids: vec!["nested".to_string()],
+      body: "world".to_string(), 
+      ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Context {
+      templates: vec![&nested_template],
+      ..Default::default()
+    }, &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Success(str) if str == "hello world"));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn missing_nested_match() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = Template {
+      body: "hello {{var}}".to_string(), 
+      vars: vec![
+        Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "match".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("trigger".to_string(), Value::String("nested".to_string()))].into_iter())
+        },
+      ],
+      ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Context {
+      ..Default::default()
+    }, &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Error(_)));
+  }
+  
+  #[test]
+  fn extension_aborting_propagates() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = Template {
+      body: "hello {{var}}".to_string(),
+      vars: vec![
+        Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "mock".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("abort".to_string(), Value::Null)].into_iter()),
+        }
+      ],
+      ..Default::default() 
+    };
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Default::default(), &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Aborted));
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn extension_error_propagates() {
+    let renderer = get_renderer();
+    let template = Template {
+      body: "hello {{var}}".to_string(),
+      vars: vec![
+        Variable {
+          name: "var".to_string(),
+          var_type: "mock".to_string(),
+          params: Params::from_iter(vec![("error".to_string(), Value::Null)].into_iter()),
+        }
+      ],
+      ..Default::default() 
+    };
+    let res = renderer.render(&template, &Default::default(), &Default::default());
+    assert!(matches!(res, RenderResult::Error(_)));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/espanso-render/src/renderer/util.rs b/espanso-render/src/renderer/util.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42aa41f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso-render/src/renderer/util.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use std::collections::HashSet;
+use super::VAR_REGEX;
+
+pub(crate) fn get_body_variable_names(body: &str) -> HashSet<&str> {
+  let mut variables = HashSet::new();
+  for caps in VAR_REGEX.captures_iter(&body) {
+    let var_name = caps.name("name").unwrap().as_str();
+    variables.insert(var_name);
+  }
+  variables
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+  use super::*;
+  use std::iter::FromIterator;
+
+  #[test]
+  fn get_body_variable_names_no_vars() {
+    assert_eq!(
+      get_body_variable_names("no variables"),
+      HashSet::from_iter(vec![]),
+    );
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn get_body_variable_names_multiple_vars() {
+    assert_eq!(
+      get_body_variable_names("hello {{world}} name {{greet}}"),
+      HashSet::from_iter(vec!["world", "greet"]),
+    );
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file