diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 0c3389b..b7256e4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
-### Gradle ###
-.gradle
+# Gradle
+.gradle/
 build/
 !gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar
 !**/src/main/**/build/
 !**/src/test/**/build/
+.kotlin/
 
-### Hytale ###
+# Server testing directory
 run/
 
-### IntelliJ IDEA ###
+# IntelliJ IDEA
 .idea/
 *.iws
 *.iml
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ out/
 !**/src/main/**/out/
 !**/src/test/**/out/
 
-### Eclipse ###
+# Eclipse
 .apt_generated
 .classpath
 .factorypath
@@ -29,15 +30,32 @@ bin/
 !**/src/main/**/bin/
 !**/src/test/**/bin/
 
-### NetBeans ###
+# NetBeans
 /nbproject/private/
 /nbbuild/
 /dist/
 /nbdist/
 /.nb-gradle/
 
-### VS Code ###
+# VS Code
 .vscode/
 
-### Mac OS ###
-.DS_Store
\ No newline at end of file
+# Mac OS
+.DS_Store
+
+# Windows
+Thumbs.db
+desktop.ini
+
+# Logs
+*.log
+
+# Temporary files
+*.tmp
+*.bak
+*.swp
+*~
+
+# Template specific
+libs/HytaleServer.jar
+buildSrc/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b0f1fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+plugins {
+    id("java-library")
+    id("com.gradleup.shadow") version "9.3.1"
+}
+
+group = findProperty("pluginGroup") as String? ?: "com.example"
+version = findProperty("pluginVersion") as String? ?: "1.0.0"
+description = findProperty("pluginDescription") as String? ?: "A Hytale plugin template"
+
+repositories {
+    mavenLocal()
+    mavenCentral()
+}
+
+dependencies {
+    // Hytale Server API (provided by server at runtime)
+    compileOnly(files("libs/HytaleServer.jar"))
+    
+    // Common dependencies (will be bundled in JAR)
+    implementation("com.google.code.gson:gson:2.10.1")
+    implementation("org.jetbrains:annotations:24.1.0")
+    
+    // Test dependencies
+    testImplementation("org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter:5.10.0")
+    testRuntimeOnly("org.junit.platform:junit-platform-launcher")
+}
+
+tasks {
+    // Configure Java compilation
+    compileJava {
+        options.encoding = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
+        options.release = 25
+    }
+    
+    // Configure resource processing
+    processResources {
+        filteringCharset = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
+        
+        // Replace placeholders in manifest.json
+        val props = mapOf(
+            "group" to project.group,
+            "version" to project.version,
+            "description" to project.description
+        )
+        inputs.properties(props)
+        
+        filesMatching("manifest.json") {
+            expand(props)
+        }
+    }
+    
+    // Configure ShadowJar (bundle dependencies)
+    shadowJar {
+        archiveBaseName.set(rootProject.name)
+        archiveClassifier.set("")
+        
+        // Relocate dependencies to avoid conflicts
+        relocate("com.google.gson", "com.yourplugin.libs.gson")
+        
+        // Minimize JAR size (removes unused classes)
+        minimize()
+    }
+    
+    // Configure tests
+    test {
+        useJUnitPlatform()
+    }
+    
+    // Make build depend on shadowJar
+    build {
+        dependsOn(shadowJar)
+    }
+}
+
+// Configure Java toolchain
+java {
+    toolchain {
+        languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(25))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libs/.gitkeep b/libs/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/example/templateplugin/TemplatePlugin.java b/src/main/java/com/example/templateplugin/TemplatePlugin.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0506619
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/example/templateplugin/TemplatePlugin.java
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package com.example.templateplugin;
+
+import com.hypixel.hytale.server.core.plugin.JavaPlugin;
+import com.hypixel.hytale.server.core.plugin.JavaPluginInit;
+
+import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
+import java.util.logging.Level;
+
+/**
+ * Main plugin class.
+ *
+ * TODO: Implement your plugin logic here.
+ *
+ * @author YourName
+ * @version 1.0.0
+ */
+public class TemplatePlugin extends JavaPlugin {
+
+    private static TemplatePlugin instance;
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor - Called when plugin is loaded.
+     */
+    public TemplatePlugin(@Nonnull JavaPluginInit init) {
+        super(init);
+        instance = this;
+        getLogger().at(Level.INFO).log("[TemplatePlugin] Plugin loaded!");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get plugin instance.
+     */
+    public static TemplatePlugin getInstance() {
+        return instance;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called when plugin is set up.
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected void setup() {
+        getLogger().at(Level.INFO).log("[TemplatePlugin] Plugin setup!");
+
+        // TODO: Initialize your plugin here
+        // - Load configuration
+        // - Register event listeners
+        // - Register commands
+        // - Start services
+        registerEvents();
+        registerCommands();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called when plugin is enabled.
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected void start() {
+        getLogger().at(Level.INFO).log("[TemplatePlugin] Plugin enabled!");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called when plugin is disabled.
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void shutdown() {
+        getLogger().at(Level.INFO).log("[TemplatePlugin] Plugin disabled!");
+
+        // TODO: Cleanup your plugin here
+        // - Save data
+        // - Stop services
+        // - Close connections
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Register your commands here.
+     */
+    private void registerEvents() {
+
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Register your commands here.
+     */
+    private void registerCommands() {
+
+    }
+
+}