diff --git a/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.d.ts b/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.d.ts
index a30d5bd..ef72da5 100644
--- a/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.d.ts
+++ b/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.d.ts
@@ -7,14 +7,19 @@ export interface ScafTemplateContructorOptions {
 export declare class ScafTemplate {
     name: string;
     description: string;
-    templateObject: Smartfile[];
-    requiredVariables: any[];
-    constructor();
+    templateSmartfileArray: Smartfile[];
+    requiredVariables: string[];
+    suppliedVariables: any;
+    missingVariables: string[];
     /**
      * read a template from a directory
      */
-    readTemplateFromDir(dirArg: string): Promise<void>;
-    writeWithVariables(variablesArg: any): Promise<void>;
+    readTemplateFromDir(dirPathArg: string): Promise<void>;
+    /**
+     * supply the variables to render the teplate with
+     * @param variablesArg
+     */
+    supplyVariables(variablesArg: any): Promise<void>;
     /**
      * finds all variables in a Template
      */
diff --git a/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.js b/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.js
index 6e36949..0ac7450 100644
--- a/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.js
+++ b/dist/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.js
@@ -10,18 +10,27 @@ var __awaiter = (this && this.__awaiter) || function (thisArg, _arguments, P, ge
 Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
 const plugins = require("./smartscaf.plugins");
 class ScafTemplate {
-    constructor() { }
+    constructor() {
+        this.missingVariables = [];
+    }
     /**
      * read a template from a directory
      */
-    readTemplateFromDir(dirArg) {
+    readTemplateFromDir(dirPathArg) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            this.templateObject = yield plugins.smartfile.fs.fileTreeToObject(dirArg, '**/*');
+            let dirPath = plugins.path.resolve(dirPathArg);
+            this.templateSmartfileArray = yield plugins.smartfile.fs.fileTreeToObject(dirPath, '**/*');
+            this._findVariablesInTemplate();
         });
     }
-    writeWithVariables(variablesArg) {
+    /**
+     * supply the variables to render the teplate with
+     * @param variablesArg
+     */
+    supplyVariables(variablesArg) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            yield this._checkSuppliedVariables(variablesArg);
+            this.suppliedVariables = variablesArg;
+            this.missingVariables = yield this._checkSuppliedVariables(variablesArg);
         });
     }
     /**
@@ -29,6 +38,8 @@ class ScafTemplate {
      */
     _findVariablesInTemplate() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+            for (let localSmartfile of this.templateSmartfileArray) {
+            }
         });
     }
     /**
@@ -36,8 +47,15 @@ class ScafTemplate {
      */
     _checkSuppliedVariables(variablesArg) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+            let missingVars = [];
+            for (let templateSmartFile of this.templateSmartfileArray) {
+                console.log(templateSmartFile);
+                let localMissingVars = yield plugins.smarthbs.checkVarsSatisfaction(templateSmartFile.contents.toString(), variablesArg);
+                missingVars = plugins.lodash.concat(missingVars, localMissingVars);
+            }
+            return missingVars;
         });
     }
 }
 exports.ScafTemplate = ScafTemplate;
-//# sourceMappingURL=data:application/json;base64,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
\ No newline at end of file
+//# sourceMappingURL=data:application/json;base64,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
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dist/smartscaf.plugins.d.ts b/dist/smartscaf.plugins.d.ts
index ac896dc..6c8e75e 100644
--- a/dist/smartscaf.plugins.d.ts
+++ b/dist/smartscaf.plugins.d.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+import 'typings-global';
+import * as lodash from 'lodash';
+import * as path from 'path';
 import * as smartfile from 'smartfile';
 import * as smarthbs from 'smarthbs';
 import * as smartq from 'smartq';
-export { smartfile, smarthbs, smartq };
+export { lodash, path, smartfile, smarthbs, smartq };
diff --git a/dist/smartscaf.plugins.js b/dist/smartscaf.plugins.js
index aa5acac..64b41e2 100644
--- a/dist/smartscaf.plugins.js
+++ b/dist/smartscaf.plugins.js
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 "use strict";
 Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
+require("typings-global");
+const lodash = require("lodash");
+exports.lodash = lodash;
+const path = require("path");
+exports.path = path;
 const smartfile = require("smartfile");
 exports.smartfile = smartfile;
 const smarthbs = require("smarthbs");
 exports.smarthbs = smarthbs;
 const smartq = require("smartq");
 exports.smartq = smartq;
-//# sourceMappingURL=data:application/json;base64,eyJ2ZXJzaW9uIjozLCJmaWxlIjoic21hcnRzY2FmLnBsdWdpbnMuanMiLCJzb3VyY2VSb290IjoiIiwic291cmNlcyI6WyIuLi90cy9zbWFydHNjYWYucGx1Z2lucy50cyJdLCJuYW1lcyI6W10sIm1hcHBpbmdzIjoiOztBQUFBLHVDQUFzQztBQUtwQyw4QkFBUztBQUpYLHFDQUFvQztBQUtsQyw0QkFBUTtBQUpWLGlDQUFnQztBQUs5Qix3QkFBTSJ9
\ No newline at end of file
+//# sourceMappingURL=data:application/json;base64,eyJ2ZXJzaW9uIjozLCJmaWxlIjoic21hcnRzY2FmLnBsdWdpbnMuanMiLCJzb3VyY2VSb290IjoiIiwic291cmNlcyI6WyIuLi90cy9zbWFydHNjYWYucGx1Z2lucy50cyJdLCJuYW1lcyI6W10sIm1hcHBpbmdzIjoiOztBQUFBLDBCQUF1QjtBQUN2QixpQ0FBZ0M7QUFPOUIsd0JBQU07QUFOUiw2QkFBNEI7QUFPMUIsb0JBQUk7QUFOTix1Q0FBc0M7QUFPcEMsOEJBQVM7QUFOWCxxQ0FBb0M7QUFPbEMsNEJBQVE7QUFOVixpQ0FBZ0M7QUFPOUIsd0JBQU0ifQ==
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 8ffe408..15ba7fe 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@
     "tapbundle": "^1.0.10"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "smartfile": "^4.1.10",
-    "smarthbs": "^1.0.8",
-    "smartq": "^1.1.1"
+    "@types/lodash": "^4.14.63",
+    "lodash": "^4.17.4",
+    "smartfile": "^4.2.9",
+    "smarthbs": "^1.0.11",
+    "smartq": "^1.1.1",
+    "typings-global": "^1.0.16"
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/test.ts b/test/test.ts
index 1af5813..404e515 100644
--- a/test/test.ts
+++ b/test/test.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,13 @@ tap.test('should create new Smartscaf instance', async () => {
 })
 
 tap.test('Smartscaf instance -> should read a template directory', async () => {
-  testScafTemplate.readTemplateFromDir('./test/test_template')
+  await testScafTemplate.readTemplateFromDir('./test/test_template')
+  expect(testScafTemplate.templateSmartfileArray.length).to.equal(3)
+})
+
+tap.test('smartfile -> should accept variables', async () => {
+  await testScafTemplate.supplyVariables({})
+  console.log(testScafTemplate.missingVariables)
 })
 
 tap.start()
diff --git a/test/test_template/template1.md b/test/test_template/template1.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9ff40c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_template/template1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# this is a {{templateVar1}}
+# this is a {{templateVar2}}
+# this is a {{templateVar3}}
diff --git a/test/test_template/template2.md b/test/test_template/template2.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9ff40c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_template/template2.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# this is a {{templateVar1}}
+# this is a {{templateVar2}}
+# this is a {{templateVar3}}
diff --git a/test/test_template/template3.md b/test/test_template/template3.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa14a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_template/template3.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# some {{wow}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ts/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.ts b/ts/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.ts
index 8bed4ba..281e362 100644
--- a/ts/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.ts
+++ b/ts/smartscaf.classes.smartscaf.ts
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ export class ScafTemplate {
   templateSmartfileArray: Smartfile[]
   requiredVariables: string[]
   suppliedVariables: any
+  missingVariables: string[] = []
 
   /**
    * read a template from a directory
    */
-  async readTemplateFromDir (dirArg: string) {
-    this.templateSmartfileArray = await plugins.smartfile.fs.fileTreeToObject(dirArg, '**/*')
+  async readTemplateFromDir (dirPathArg: string) {
+    let dirPath = plugins.path.resolve(dirPathArg)
+    this.templateSmartfileArray = await plugins.smartfile.fs.fileTreeToObject(dirPath, '**/*')
     this._findVariablesInTemplate()
   }
 
@@ -29,22 +31,33 @@ export class ScafTemplate {
    * @param variablesArg
    */
   async supplyVariables (variablesArg) {
-    await this._checkSuppliedVariables(variablesArg)
+    this.suppliedVariables = variablesArg
+    this.missingVariables = await this._checkSuppliedVariables(variablesArg)
   }
 
   /**
    * finds all variables in a Template
    */
-  private async _findVariablesInTemplate () {
+  private async _findVariablesInTemplate() {
     for (let localSmartfile of this.templateSmartfileArray) {
-      
+
     }
   }
 
   /**
    * checks if supplied Variables satisfy the template
    */
-  private async _checkSuppliedVariables (variablesArg) {
+  private async _checkSuppliedVariables(variablesArg) {
+    let missingVars: string[] = []
+    for (let templateSmartFile of this.templateSmartfileArray) {
+      console.log(templateSmartFile)
+      let localMissingVars = await plugins.smarthbs.checkVarsSatisfaction(
+        templateSmartFile.contents.toString(),
+        variablesArg
+      )
+      missingVars = plugins.lodash.concat(missingVars, localMissingVars)
+    }
     
+    return missingVars
   }
 }
diff --git a/ts/smartscaf.plugins.ts b/ts/smartscaf.plugins.ts
index c59565a..3499274 100644
--- a/ts/smartscaf.plugins.ts
+++ b/ts/smartscaf.plugins.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+import 'typings-global'
+import * as lodash from 'lodash'
+import * as path from 'path'
 import * as smartfile from 'smartfile'
 import * as smarthbs from 'smarthbs'
 import * as smartq from 'smartq'
 
 export {
+  lodash,
+  path,
   smartfile,
   smarthbs,
   smartq
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 74b41dc..8c6eb81 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@
   version "4.0.32"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/handlebars/-/handlebars-4.0.32.tgz#637e8d945a9354aab47df7125005490fe9f8e592"
 
+"@types/lodash@^4.14.63":
+  version "4.14.63"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/lodash/-/lodash-4.14.63.tgz#5ac475f55bfdc62bc88c4239dbc482f2f3bead93"
+
 "@types/node@*":
-  version "7.0.14"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/node/-/node-7.0.14.tgz#1470fa002a113316ac9d9ad163fc738c7a0de2a4"
+  version "7.0.15"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/node/-/node-7.0.15.tgz#628429289604c5f7e56c13f3a0422f3e59df1a17"
 
 "@types/promises-a-plus@*":
   version "0.0.27"
@@ -223,7 +227,7 @@ graceful-fs@^4.1.2, graceful-fs@^4.1.6:
   version "4.1.11"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/graceful-fs/-/graceful-fs-4.1.11.tgz#0e8bdfe4d1ddb8854d64e04ea7c00e2a026e5658"
 
-handlebars@^4.0.6:
+handlebars@^4.0.7:
   version "4.0.7"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/handlebars/-/handlebars-4.0.7.tgz#e97325aeb8ea0b9e12b9c4dd73c4c312ad0ede59"
   dependencies:
@@ -306,6 +310,10 @@ left-pad@^1.1.3:
   version "1.1.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/left-pad/-/left-pad-1.1.3.tgz#612f61c033f3a9e08e939f1caebeea41b6f3199a"
 
+lodash@^4.17.4:
+  version "4.17.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash/-/lodash-4.17.4.tgz#78203a4d1c328ae1d86dca6460e369b57f4055ae"
+
 longest@^1.0.1:
   version "1.0.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/longest/-/longest-1.0.1.tgz#30a0b2da38f73770e8294a0d22e6625ed77d0097"
@@ -447,9 +455,9 @@ smartdelay@^1.0.1:
   dependencies:
     typings-global "^1.0.14"
 
-smartfile@^4.1.10, smartfile@^4.1.8:
-  version "4.2.1"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/smartfile/-/smartfile-4.2.1.tgz#2ec85f803f771a1ddff377a438ae87aab25f3e6e"
+smartfile@^4.2.9:
+  version "4.2.9"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/smartfile/-/smartfile-4.2.9.tgz#afcd1160049cbe26a86e42e842c86e8b748e69e7"
   dependencies:
     "@types/fs-extra" "2.x.x"
     "@types/vinyl" "^2.0.0"
@@ -464,15 +472,17 @@ smartfile@^4.1.10, smartfile@^4.1.8:
     vinyl "^2.0.2"
     vinyl-file "^3.0.0"
 
-smarthbs@^1.0.8:
-  version "1.0.8"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/smarthbs/-/smarthbs-1.0.8.tgz#9ff4fc2fc0643c83a80a270d3c8ea160d47f5a5d"
+smarthbs@^1.0.11:
+  version "1.0.11"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/smarthbs/-/smarthbs-1.0.11.tgz#bb6a0c279fa6a22c4dffc2cc1a08e68e581251a3"
   dependencies:
     "@types/handlebars" "^4.0.32"
-    handlebars "^4.0.6"
-    smartfile "^4.1.8"
+    "@types/lodash" "^4.14.63"
+    handlebars "^4.0.7"
+    lodash "^4.17.4"
+    smartfile "^4.2.9"
     smartq "^1.1.1"
-    typings-global "^1.0.14"
+    typings-global "^1.0.16"
 
 smartpath@^3.2.8:
   version "3.2.8"