diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 60e1d7f27..4b29df7c0 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ Per-hive (host + in-container):
 Wire types + socket plumbing:
 
 - **`hive-types/`** — leaf newtypes, chiefly the validated `Ident`.
+- **`hive-template/`** — the one template language (minijinja, strict undefined): `render`, `variables`.
 - **`hive-sh4re/`** — shared payload types (`Message`, …).
 - **`hive-host-sock/`** (hivectl ↔ c0re), **`hive-priv-sock/`** (c0re ↔
   priv), **`hive-core-agent-sock/`** (harness ↔ c0re, `/run/hive/mcp.sock`)
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 8013bd1ab..44c2964d7 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2106,6 +2106,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "uuid",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "hive-template"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "minijinja",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "hive-types"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -3176,6 +3185,12 @@ version = "2.8.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "cf8baf1c55e62ffcace7a9f06f4bd9cd3f0c4beb022d3b367256b91b87513d98"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "memo-map"
+version = "0.3.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5449c8c750f1a07ea702bbd212bd999fceece9b3d1508b17023b3e174583124b"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "mime"
 version = "0.3.18"
@@ -3198,6 +3213,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "unicase",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "minijinja"
+version = "2.24.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "86886cf6dbf4e614b19c9a1eec9775f021869d7eadde0fc73921a81b90c9b4c9"
+dependencies = [
+ "memo-map",
+ "serde",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "miniz_oxide"
 version = "0.9.1"
@@ -5254,6 +5279,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "async-nats",
  "futures-util",
  "hive-log",
+ "hive-template",
  "opentelemetry",
  "opentelemetry_sdk",
  "serde",
@@ -5338,6 +5364,7 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "swarm-wire"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "hive-template",
  "hive-types",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 7c00b1ce7..a243805e5 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ members = [
   "hive-sh4re",
   "hive-sock-client",
   "hive-subagent-mcp",
+  "hive-template",
   "hive-types",
   "hivectl",
   "swarm-agent-verify",
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ hive-host-sock = { path = "hive-host-sock" }
 hive-priv-sock = { path = "hive-priv-sock" }
 hive-runtime = { path = "hive-runtime" }
 hive-sock-client = { path = "hive-sock-client" }
+hive-template = { path = "hive-template" }
 hive-types = { path = "hive-types" }
 swarm-agent-verify = { path = "swarm-agent-verify" }
 swarm-authelia-bridge-sock = { path = "swarm-authelia-bridge-sock" }
diff --git a/docs/2-handbook/swarm/ui.md b/docs/2-handbook/swarm/ui.md
index 5dfc43b41..7c15d8d3a 100644
--- a/docs/2-handbook/swarm/ui.md
+++ b/docs/2-handbook/swarm/ui.md
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ the ends. Pick a node to edit it in the panel beside the canvas:
 - a **match** lists conditions, each an event field and the value it must equal;
 - a **todo** says who gets it (the agents an event field names, or one agent, picked from the agents the swarm has),
   whether it sets or clears a todo, the todo's key, and its text. The key and the
-  text can use `{field}` placeholders;
+  text are Jinja templates over the event's fields, such as `{{ repo }}#{{ number }}`;
 - a **request_reviewer** names the forge login the router asks to review the
   pull request. It ends a branch, like a todo, and the row of kinds above the
   canvas only offers it when the controller does.
diff --git a/docs/4-implementation/swarm/notify-router.md b/docs/4-implementation/swarm/notify-router.md
index 2c9945576..780d123d0 100644
--- a/docs/4-implementation/swarm/notify-router.md
+++ b/docs/4-implementation/swarm/notify-router.md
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ switched off, and the custom flows. Only the controller writes it, through
 compare-and-set. The controller answers 400 unless every flow passes the tree
 check above and reads only what exists: a source event from `issues`,
 `issue_assign`, `pull_request`, `pull_request_assign`, `pull_request_sync` or one of the
-three `pull_request_review_*` events, `workflow_run_failure` or `workflow_run_cancelled`, and condition and recipient fields from the event's field list. The same goes for the `{field}`
-placeholders in a todo's key and text. A `PUT` must carry the `revision` it read, `0` for no
+three `pull_request_review_*` events, `workflow_run_failure` or `workflow_run_cancelled`, and condition and recipient fields from the event's field list. The same goes for the `{{ field }}`
+variables in a todo's key and text, which are Jinja templates (see [`hive-template`](../../../hive-template/README.md)). A `PUT` must carry the `revision` it read, `0` for no
 document, and gets 409 when the stored revision is another. Swarm UI's
 [notification router card on `/swarm`](../../2-handbook/swarm/ui.md#notification-flows) shows the document and
 switches built-ins.
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ accepts:
 
 - `source_events`: `[{name, description}]`, the source events.
 - `fields`: `[{name, description, values, values_from?, closed}]`, the condition
-  and recipient fields, and the `{field}` placeholders. `values` lists what the
+  and recipient fields, and the `{{ field }}` template variables. `values` lists what the
   field holds, as far as the controller knows, as `{name, description}` pairs, such as the `issue` and
   `PR` of `kind`.
 - `node_kinds`: `[{kind, description, fields}]` for `source`, `match`, `todo`
@@ -197,10 +197,10 @@ anything else, such as a push to a branch with no PR, names no PR and the
 router ignores it. The `author` field is the account that opened the issue or
 PR, so a flow can send to it:
 
-| node   | setting                                                       |
-| ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| source | `workflow_run_failure`                                        |
-| todo   | `to` = field `author`, key `forge:{repo}#{number}:ci`, upsert |
+| node   | setting                                                               |
+| ------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| source | `workflow_run_failure`                                                |
+| todo   | `to` = field `author`, key `forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:ci`, upsert |
 
 A clear of one key, such as `ci-cleared`'s, leaves the agent in the issue's
 holders, because it may still hold the assignment todo that `closed` must find.
@@ -225,7 +225,10 @@ leaves it out, and runs the rest.
 | a document it can't read               | the flows it ran before |
 | a read that fails                      | the flows it ran before |
 
-"Can't read" means not JSON, not a flows document, or a `version` other than 1.
+"Can't read" means not JSON, not a flows document, or a `version` other than 1 or 2.
+A version 1 document, whose todo keys and texts used `{field}` placeholders, reads
+as version 2 with each one converted to `{{ field }}`; the next save writes version 2,
+and a router that predates version 2 keeps its flows until you upgrade it.
 Before the router has read any document, "before" means the built-ins, so a bad
 document never leaves it with no flows. The controller refuses to overwrite a
 document of a version it doesn't know.
diff --git a/hive-template/Cargo.toml b/hive-template/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e54e2c52e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hive-template/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+[package]
+name = "hive-template"
+edition.workspace = true
+version.workspace = true
+readme = "README.md"
+
+[lints]
+workspace = true
+
+[dependencies]
+minijinja = { version = "2", default-features = false, features = [
+  "builtins",
+  "serde",
+] }
+serde.workspace = true
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+serde_json.workspace = true
diff --git a/hive-template/README.md b/hive-template/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f56111250
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hive-template/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# hive-template
+
+The one template language the hyperhive workspace renders with: Jinja, through
+[`minijinja`](https://crates.io/crates/minijinja). A value is `{{ name }}`, a
+block is `{% if cond %}...{% endif %}`, and a lone `{` or `}` stays plain text.
+
+- **`render(template, &context)`**: the text, or a message when the template
+  does not parse or names a variable the context lacks. An unknown variable is
+  an error, never an empty string.
+- **`variables(template)`**: the variables the template reads, so a caller can
+  refuse an unknown field when the template is saved instead of when it renders.
+
+Used by the notification router's flow templates (`swarm-notify-router`,
+`swarm-wire`).
diff --git a/hive-template/src/lib.rs b/hive-template/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3faaab9f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hive-template/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+//! The one template language the workspace renders with: Jinja, through
+//! `minijinja`, with an unknown variable an error rather than an empty string.
+//!
+//! A template is `{{ name }}` for a value and `{% if cond %}...{% endif %}` for
+//! a block; a lone `{` or `}` is plain text. Callers pass their context as any
+//! `Serialize` value and get back the text or a message naming what is wrong.
+
+use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+
+use minijinja::{Environment, UndefinedBehavior};
+use serde::Serialize;
+
+/// An environment that refuses a name the context does not hold, and keeps the
+/// template's trailing newline.
+fn environment() -> Environment<'static> {
+    let mut env = Environment::new();
+    env.set_undefined_behavior(UndefinedBehavior::Strict);
+    env.set_keep_trailing_newline(true);
+    env
+}
+
+/// `template` rendered against `context`.
+///
+/// # Errors
+///
+/// The template does not parse, or it names a variable `context` does not hold.
+pub fn render(template: &str, context: &impl Serialize) -> Result<String, String> {
+    environment()
+        .render_str(template, context)
+        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())
+}
+
+/// The variables `template` reads that it does not define itself, such as `repo`
+/// for `{{ repo }}`. Lets a caller refuse a template that names an unknown field
+/// before any event renders it.
+///
+/// # Errors
+///
+/// The template does not parse.
+pub fn variables(template: &str) -> Result<BTreeSet<String>, String> {
+    let env = environment();
+    let parsed = env.template_from_str(template).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    Ok(parsed.undeclared_variables(false).into_iter().collect())
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use serde_json::json;
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_value_and_a_block_render() {
+        let ctx = json!({ "repo": "o/r", "role": "agent" });
+        let out = render(
+            "{{ repo }}{% if role == \"agent\" %} (agent){% endif %}\n",
+            &ctx,
+        );
+        assert_eq!(out.as_deref(), Ok("o/r (agent)\n"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn single_braces_are_plain_text() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            render("{not a name} and { open", &json!({})).as_deref(),
+            Ok("{not a name} and { open")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_unknown_variable_is_an_error() {
+        assert!(render("{{ numbr }}", &json!({ "number": "7" })).is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn variables_lists_what_the_template_reads_not_what_it_defines() {
+        let found = variables("{{ repo }}#{{ number }}{% set x = 1 %}{{ x }}").expect("parses");
+        assert_eq!(
+            found.into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            ["number", "repo"].map(String::from)
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_template_that_does_not_parse_is_refused() {
+        assert!(variables("{{ repo ").is_err());
+        assert!(render("{% if %}", &json!({})).is_err());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/notify_flows.rs b/swarm-controller/src/notify_flows.rs
index f003782c1..e0ddbaacb 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/notify_flows.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/notify_flows.rs
@@ -375,24 +375,24 @@ mod tests {
         store
             .put(
                 notify_flows::KEY,
-                br#"{"version":2,"flows":[]}"#.to_vec().into(),
+                br#"{"version":3,"flows":[]}"#.to_vec().into(),
             )
             .await
             .expect("seed");
         let got = get_flows(State(state.clone()))
             .await
-            .expect_err("version 2");
+            .expect_err("version 3");
         assert_eq!(got.status, Some(StatusCode::CONFLICT), "{got:?}");
         let refused = put_flows(State(state.clone()), Ok(body(0, &[], vec![])))
             .await
-            .expect_err("version 2 is kept");
+            .expect_err("version 3 is kept");
         assert_eq!(refused.status, Some(StatusCode::CONFLICT), "{refused:?}");
         let kept = store
             .get(notify_flows::KEY)
             .await
             .expect("read")
             .expect("stored");
-        assert_eq!(&kept[..], br#"{"version":2,"flows":[]}"#);
+        assert_eq!(&kept[..], br#"{"version":3,"flows":[]}"#);
 
         // Control: garbage that names no version is replaced by a save.
         let garbage = store
@@ -454,11 +454,11 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut typo = custom("typo");
         if let NodeKind::Todo(sink) = &mut typo.nodes[1].kind {
-            sink.key = "forge:{repo}#{numbr}:triage".to_owned();
+            sink.key = "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ numbr }}:triage".to_owned();
         }
         let refused = put_flows(State(state.clone()), Ok(body(0, &[], vec![typo])))
             .await
-            .expect_err("{numbr} is no field");
+            .expect_err("numbr is no field");
         assert_eq!(refused.status, Some(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST), "{refused:?}");
         // Control: the same flow spelled right is stored.
         let _ = put_flows(State(state), Ok(body(0, &[], vec![custom("typo")])))
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/notify_router_api.rs b/swarm-controller/src/notify_router_api.rs
index 2922df9e0..7f33ad2d3 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/notify_router_api.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/notify_router_api.rs
@@ -377,11 +377,11 @@ mod tests {
         store
             .put(
                 notify_flows::KEY,
-                br#"{"version":2,"flows":[]}"#.to_vec().into(),
+                br#"{"version":3,"flows":[]}"#.to_vec().into(),
             )
             .await
             .expect("seed");
-        let unreadable = get_dry_run(State(state)).await.expect_err("version 2");
+        let unreadable = get_dry_run(State(state)).await.expect_err("version 3");
         assert_eq!(unreadable.status, Some(StatusCode::CONFLICT));
     }
 
diff --git a/swarm-notify-router/Cargo.toml b/swarm-notify-router/Cargo.toml
index 57fcef82a..daa2672bd 100644
--- a/swarm-notify-router/Cargo.toml
+++ b/swarm-notify-router/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ async-nats = { workspace = true, features = ["kv"] }
 # StreamExt / TryStreamExt on the pulled batch and the subject listing.
 futures-util.workspace = true
 hive-log.workspace = true
+# The flow templates a todo node renders.
+hive-template.workspace = true
 # The metrics the router exports (`metrics`), pushed through the OTLP exporter
 # `swarm-secret-client`'s `meter_provider` builds.
 opentelemetry.workspace = true
diff --git a/swarm-notify-router/src/flow.rs b/swarm-notify-router/src/flow.rs
index 9cd4bb3af..4b7e91f08 100644
--- a/swarm-notify-router/src/flow.rs
+++ b/swarm-notify-router/src/flow.rs
@@ -175,28 +175,20 @@ fn holds(condition: &Condition, fields: &Fields) -> bool {
     }
 }
 
-/// `template` with each `{field}` replaced by that field's value, a list
-/// joined with `, `. A name that is no field is an error naming it.
+/// `template`, a Jinja template, rendered over the event's fields; a list field
+/// reads as its items joined with `, `. A name that is no field is an error.
 pub fn expand(template: &str, fields: &Fields) -> Result<String, String> {
-    let mut out = String::with_capacity(template.len());
-    let mut rest = template;
-    while let Some(open) = rest.find('{') {
-        out.push_str(&rest[..open]);
-        let after = &rest[open + 1..];
-        let Some(close) = after.find('}') else {
-            out.push_str(&rest[open..]);
-            return Ok(out);
-        };
-        let name = &after[..close];
-        match fields.get(name) {
-            Some(Value::Text(v)) => out.push_str(v),
-            Some(Value::List(items)) => out.push_str(&items.join(", ")),
-            None => return Err(format!("{{{name}}} is no event field")),
-        }
-        rest = &after[close + 1..];
-    }
-    out.push_str(rest);
-    Ok(out)
+    let context: BTreeMap<&str, String> = fields
+        .iter()
+        .map(|(name, value)| {
+            let text = match value {
+                Value::Text(v) => v.clone(),
+                Value::List(items) => items.join(", "),
+            };
+            (*name, text)
+        })
+        .collect();
+    hive_template::render(template, &context)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -387,9 +379,9 @@ mod tests {
         f.nodes[2].kind = NodeKind::Todo(TodoSink {
             to: Recipients::Agent("triage".to_owned()),
             op: Op::Upsert,
-            key: "forge:{repo}#{number}:triage".to_owned(),
+            key: "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:triage".to_owned(),
             prefix: false,
-            text: "triage {repo}#{number}".to_owned(),
+            text: "triage {{ repo }}#{{ number }}".to_owned(),
         });
         let got = evaluate(
             &f,
@@ -502,13 +494,10 @@ mod tests {
     fn a_placeholder_expands_to_its_field_and_an_unknown_one_is_an_error() {
         let fields = event("assigned", &["a", "b"], &[], &[]);
         assert_eq!(
-            expand("{repo}#{number} {assignees_added} {", &fields),
+            expand("{{ repo }}#{{ number }} {{ assignees_added }} {", &fields),
             Ok("hyperhive/hyperhive#7 a, b {".to_owned())
         );
-        assert_eq!(
-            expand("x {nope}", &fields),
-            Err("{nope} is no event field".to_owned())
-        );
+        assert!(expand("x {{ nope }}", &fields).is_err());
     }
 
     /// A sink naming a placeholder the event lacks sends nothing, rather
@@ -519,7 +508,7 @@ mod tests {
         f.nodes[2].kind = NodeKind::Todo(TodoSink {
             to: Recipients::Agent("triage".to_owned()),
             op: Op::Upsert,
-            key: "forge:{repo}#{numbr}:triage".to_owned(),
+            key: "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ numbr }}:triage".to_owned(),
             prefix: false,
             text: "t".to_owned(),
         });
@@ -527,7 +516,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(evaluate(&f, "issue_assign", &fields).is_empty());
         // Control: spelled right, the same flow emits.
         if let NodeKind::Todo(s) = &mut f.nodes[2].kind {
-            s.key = "forge:{repo}#{number}:triage".to_owned();
+            s.key = "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:triage".to_owned();
         }
         assert_eq!(evaluate(&f, "issue_assign", &fields).len(), 1);
     }
diff --git a/swarm-notify-router/src/stored.rs b/swarm-notify-router/src/stored.rs
index ec8bbc386..904354a43 100644
--- a/swarm-notify-router/src/stored.rs
+++ b/swarm-notify-router/src/stored.rs
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ mod tests {
         );
         for bad in [
             junk(2, b"not json"),
-            junk(3, br#"{"version":2,"flows":[]}"#),
+            junk(3, br#"{"version":3,"flows":[]}"#),
             junk(4, br#"{"flows":[{"id":"x"}]}"#),
             Read::Failed("timeout".to_owned()),
         ] {
diff --git a/swarm-wire/Cargo.toml b/swarm-wire/Cargo.toml
index cfb3a5a4c..4b5345861 100644
--- a/swarm-wire/Cargo.toml
+++ b/swarm-wire/Cargo.toml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ edition.workspace = true
 schema = ["dep:utoipa"]
 
 [dependencies]
+hive-template.workspace = true
 hive-types.workspace = true
 serde.workspace = true
 serde_json.workspace = true
diff --git a/swarm-wire/src/notify_flows.rs b/swarm-wire/src/notify_flows.rs
index 40c451371..b64840fba 100644
--- a/swarm-wire/src/notify_flows.rs
+++ b/swarm-wire/src/notify_flows.rs
@@ -27,8 +27,14 @@ pub const BUCKET: &str = "notify-flows";
 /// The one key in [`BUCKET`].
 pub const KEY: &str = "all";
 
-/// The document layout this build reads and writes.
-pub const VERSION: u32 = 1;
+/// The document layout this build reads and writes. Version 1 wrote a todo's
+/// key and text with `{field}` placeholders; version 2 writes them as Jinja
+/// templates (`{{ field }}`). [`Document::decode`] converts a version 1
+/// document, and the next save writes version 2.
+pub const VERSION: u32 = 2;
+
+/// The layout [`Document::decode`] still reads and converts.
+const LEGACY_VERSION: u32 = 1;
 
 /// The most nodes one flow may have.
 pub const MAX_NODES: usize = 64;
@@ -85,7 +91,7 @@ pub const SOURCE_EVENTS: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
 ];
 
 /// The fields of an event a condition or a recipient can name, with what each
-/// holds. A todo's key and text read them as `{field}` placeholders.
+/// holds. A todo's key and text read them as `{{ field }}` in a template.
 pub const FIELDS: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
     ("event", "The event type, one of the source events"),
     ("action", "What happened, such as opened, closed, assigned"),
@@ -237,12 +243,12 @@ pub struct TodoSink {
     pub to: Recipients,
     #[cfg_attr(feature = "schema", schema(value_type = String))]
     pub op: Op,
-    /// The todo key, with `{field}` placeholders.
+    /// The todo key, a template over the event's [`FIELDS`].
     pub key: String,
     /// For a clear: `key` is a prefix.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub prefix: bool,
-    /// The todo text, with `{field}` placeholders. Empty for a clear.
+    /// The todo text, a template over the event's [`FIELDS`]. Empty for a clear.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub text: String,
 }
@@ -261,7 +267,7 @@ pub enum Recipients {
 /// Why [`Document::decode`] could not read a document.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum DecodeError {
-    /// A version other than [`VERSION`], such as a newer build's.
+    /// A version this build does not read, such as a newer build's.
     UnknownVersion(String),
     /// Not JSON, or not the shape of a [`Document`].
     Malformed(String),
@@ -271,7 +277,10 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for DecodeError {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
         match self {
             Self::UnknownVersion(v) => {
-                write!(f, "version {v}, and this build reads version {VERSION}")
+                write!(
+                    f,
+                    "version {v}, and this build reads versions {LEGACY_VERSION} and {VERSION}"
+                )
             }
             Self::Malformed(why) => f.write_str(why),
         }
@@ -284,14 +293,18 @@ impl Document {
     /// # Errors
     ///
     /// Not the expected shape, or a [`Document::version`] this build does not
-    /// know. The reader keeps what it had.
+    /// know. The reader keeps what it had. A version 1 document is
+    /// converted to [`VERSION`].
     pub fn decode(bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<Self, DecodeError> {
-        let value: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(bytes)
+        let mut value: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(bytes)
             .map_err(|e| DecodeError::Malformed(format!("not JSON: {e}")))?;
         if let Some(found) = value.get("version")
             && found != VERSION
         {
-            return Err(DecodeError::UnknownVersion(found.to_string()));
+            if found != LEGACY_VERSION {
+                return Err(DecodeError::UnknownVersion(found.to_string()));
+            }
+            migrate_legacy(&mut value);
         }
         serde_json::from_value(value)
             .map_err(|e| DecodeError::Malformed(format!("not a flows document: {e}")))
@@ -573,11 +586,11 @@ pub fn schema() -> Schema {
                 fields: vec![
                     to,
                     op,
-                    kind_field("key", "The todo key, with {field} placeholders", true),
+                    kind_field("key", "The todo key, a template: {{ field }}", true),
                     kind_field("prefix", "For a clear: key is a prefix", false),
                     kind_field(
                         "text",
-                        "The todo text, with {field} placeholders; required for an upsert, empty for a clear",
+                        "The todo text, a template: {{ field }}; required for an upsert, empty for a clear",
                         false,
                     ),
                 ],
@@ -596,19 +609,44 @@ pub fn schema() -> Schema {
     }
 }
 
-/// The `{name}` placeholders in `template`, in order. A `{` with no `}` after
-/// it is plain text.
-#[must_use]
-pub fn placeholders(template: &str) -> Vec<&str> {
-    let mut names = Vec::new();
+/// A version 1 document with its todo templates rewritten as version 2 ones and
+/// its version set to [`VERSION`].
+fn migrate_legacy(document: &mut serde_json::Value) {
+    document["version"] = VERSION.into();
+    let nodes = document["flows"]
+        .as_array_mut()
+        .into_iter()
+        .flatten()
+        .flat_map(|flow| flow["nodes"].as_array_mut().into_iter().flatten());
+    for node in nodes.filter(|n| n["kind"] == "todo") {
+        for field in ["key", "text"] {
+            if let Some(template) = node[field].as_str() {
+                node[field] = jinja_of_legacy(template).into();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A version 1 template as a Jinja one: each `{name}` becomes `{{ name }}`. A `{`
+/// with no `}` after it was plain text, and is kept so by writing it as a string.
+fn jinja_of_legacy(template: &str) -> String {
+    let mut out = String::with_capacity(template.len());
     let mut rest = template;
     while let Some(open) = rest.find('{') {
+        out.push_str(&rest[..open]);
         let after = &rest[open + 1..];
-        let Some(close) = after.find('}') else { break };
-        names.push(&after[..close]);
+        let Some(close) = after.find('}') else {
+            out.push_str("{{ \"{\" }}");
+            rest = after;
+            continue;
+        };
+        out.push_str("{{ ");
+        out.push_str(&after[..close]);
+        out.push_str(" }}");
         rest = &after[close + 1..];
     }
-    names
+    out.push_str(rest);
+    out
 }
 
 impl Flow {
@@ -769,8 +807,10 @@ impl TodoSink {
             return Err(format!("text is longer than {MAX_TEXT} bytes"));
         }
         for (what, template) in [("key", &self.key), ("text", &self.text)] {
-            if let Some(bad) = placeholders(template).into_iter().find(|n| !is_field(n)) {
-                return Err(format!("{what} has {{{bad}}}, which is no event field"));
+            let read = hive_template::variables(template)
+                .map_err(|why| format!("{what} is not a valid template: {why}"))?;
+            if let Some(bad) = read.iter().find(|n| !is_field(n)) {
+                return Err(format!("{what} reads {bad}, which is no event field"));
             }
         }
         match self.op {
@@ -800,7 +840,7 @@ impl TodoSink {
 ///   replaces the old one.
 #[must_use]
 pub fn builtins() -> Vec<Flow> {
-    let assignment_key = "forge:{repo}#{number}:assignment";
+    let assignment_key = "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:assignment";
     let mut flows = vec![
         chain(
             "assigned",
@@ -811,7 +851,7 @@ pub fn builtins() -> Vec<Flow> {
                 op: Op::Upsert,
                 key: assignment_key.to_owned(),
                 prefix: false,
-                text: "you are assigned to {kind} {repo}#{number}: {title} ({url})".to_owned(),
+                text: "you are assigned to {{ kind }} {{ repo }}#{{ number }}: {{ title }} ({{ url }})".to_owned(),
             },
         ),
         chain(
@@ -823,7 +863,7 @@ pub fn builtins() -> Vec<Flow> {
                 op: Op::Upsert,
                 key: assignment_key.to_owned(),
                 prefix: false,
-                text: "you are not assigned to {kind} {repo}#{number} anymore: {title} ({url})"
+                text: "you are not assigned to {{ kind }} {{ repo }}#{{ number }} anymore: {{ title }} ({{ url }})"
                     .to_owned(),
             },
         ),
@@ -837,7 +877,7 @@ pub fn builtins() -> Vec<Flow> {
 /// The flows that tell a PR's author about its CI: the todo for a failed run,
 /// the same key rewritten for a cancelled one, and the clear a push makes.
 fn ci_flows() -> Vec<Flow> {
-    let ci_key = "forge:{repo}#{number}:ci";
+    let ci_key = "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:ci";
     let to_author = |op, text: &str| TodoSink {
         to: Recipients::Field("author".to_owned()),
         op,
@@ -852,7 +892,7 @@ fn ci_flows() -> Vec<Flow> {
             "failure",
             to_author(
                 Op::Upsert,
-                "CI failed on {kind} {repo}#{number}: {title} ({url})",
+                "CI failed on {{ kind }} {{ repo }}#{{ number }}: {{ title }} ({{ url }})",
             ),
         ),
         chain(
@@ -861,7 +901,7 @@ fn ci_flows() -> Vec<Flow> {
             "cancelled",
             to_author(
                 Op::Upsert,
-                "CI was cancelled on {kind} {repo}#{number}: {title} ({url})",
+                "CI was cancelled on {{ kind }} {{ repo }}#{{ number }}: {{ title }} ({{ url }})",
             ),
         ),
         chain(
@@ -882,7 +922,7 @@ fn closed() -> Flow {
         TodoSink {
             to: Recipients::Field("todo_holders".to_owned()),
             op: Op::Clear,
-            key: "forge:{repo}#{number}:".to_owned(),
+            key: "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:".to_owned(),
             prefix: true,
             text: String::new(),
         },
@@ -892,9 +932,10 @@ fn closed() -> Flow {
         kind: NodeKind::Todo(TodoSink {
             to: Recipients::Field("todo_holders".to_owned()),
             op: Op::Upsert,
-            key: "forge:{repo}#{number}:closed".to_owned(),
+            key: "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:closed".to_owned(),
             prefix: false,
-            text: "{kind} {repo}#{number} was closed: {title} ({url})".to_owned(),
+            text: "{{ kind }} {{ repo }}#{{ number }} was closed: {{ title }} ({{ url }})"
+                .to_owned(),
         }),
     });
     flow.edges.push(Edge {
@@ -1022,9 +1063,9 @@ mod tests {
         f.nodes[2].kind = NodeKind::Todo(TodoSink {
             to: Recipients::Agent("triage".to_owned()),
             op: Op::Upsert,
-            key: "forge:{repo}#{number}:triage".to_owned(),
+            key: "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:triage".to_owned(),
             prefix: false,
-            text: "triage {repo}#{number}".to_owned(),
+            text: "triage {{ repo }}#{{ number }}".to_owned(),
         });
         f
     }
@@ -1371,19 +1412,47 @@ mod tests {
             f.validate()
         };
         assert_eq!(
-            with("forge:{repo}#{number}:triage", "{title} {url}"),
+            with(
+                "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:triage",
+                "{{ title }} {{ url }}"
+            ),
             Ok(())
         );
         assert!(
-            with("forge:{repo}#{numbr}:triage", "t")
+            with("forge:{{ repo }}#{{ numbr }}:triage", "t")
                 .unwrap_err()
                 .contains("numbr")
         );
-        assert!(with("k", "see {ulr}").unwrap_err().contains("ulr"));
-        assert!(with("k{}", "t").is_err(), "an empty name");
-        // An unclosed brace is text.
+        assert!(with("k", "see {{ ulr }}").unwrap_err().contains("ulr"));
+        assert!(with("k{{ }}", "t").is_err(), "an empty name");
+        assert!(with("k{{ repo", "t").is_err(), "an unclosed tag");
+        // A lone brace is text.
         assert_eq!(with("k", "set {x"), Ok(()));
-        assert_eq!(placeholders("a{b}c{d} {e"), ["b", "d"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_version_1_document_reads_with_its_templates_converted() {
+        let v1 = serde_json::json!({
+            "version": 1,
+            "disabled_builtins": [],
+            "flows": [{
+                "id": "c", "name": "c", "enabled": true,
+                "nodes": [
+                    {"id": "source", "kind": "source", "events": ["issues"]},
+                    {"id": "t", "kind": "todo", "to": {"agent": "triage"}, "op": "upsert",
+                     "key": "forge:{repo}#{number}:x", "text": "{title} {url} set {x"},
+                ],
+                "edges": [{"from": "source", "to": "t"}],
+            }],
+        });
+        let doc = Document::decode(v1.to_string().as_bytes()).expect("reads");
+        assert_eq!(doc.version, VERSION);
+        let NodeKind::Todo(sink) = &doc.flows[0].nodes[1].kind else {
+            panic!("a todo node");
+        };
+        assert_eq!(sink.key, "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:x");
+        assert_eq!(sink.text, "{{ title }} {{ url }} set {{ \"{\" }}x");
+        assert_eq!(doc.check(), Ok(()));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1434,7 +1503,7 @@ mod tests {
         let many = (0..=MAX_FLOWS).map(|i| custom(&format!("f{i}"))).collect();
         assert!(doc(&[], many).check().is_err(), "flow count");
         let mut old = doc(&[], vec![]);
-        old.version = 2;
+        old.version = 3;
         assert!(old.check().is_err(), "version");
     }
 
@@ -1492,8 +1561,8 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(Document::decode(&bytes), Ok(doc));
         assert_eq!(Document::decode(b"{}"), Ok(Document::default()));
         assert_eq!(
-            Document::decode(br#"{"version":2}"#),
-            Err(DecodeError::UnknownVersion("2".to_owned()))
+            Document::decode(br#"{"version":3}"#),
+            Err(DecodeError::UnknownVersion("3".to_owned()))
         );
         assert!(Document::decode(b"nope").is_err());
         assert!(Document::decode(br#"{"flows":[{"id":"x"}]}"#).is_err());
@@ -1510,7 +1579,7 @@ mod tests {
                 "kind": "todo",
                 "to": { "field": "todo_holders" },
                 "op": "clear",
-                "key": "forge:{repo}#{number}:",
+                "key": "forge:{{ repo }}#{{ number }}:",
                 "prefix": true,
                 "text": "",
             })