diff --git a/bin/build_examples.sh b/bin/build_examples.sh
index ab64871..8cf281e 100755
--- a/bin/build_examples.sh
+++ b/bin/build_examples.sh
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ cd ..
 echo "~~~ Build All Exampes ~~~"
 bin/bld_core.sh show_ctx
 
-bin/bld_core.sh unit old_style_custom_layer examples/old_style_custom_layer.c
-bin/bld_core.sh unit node_errors            examples/node_errors/node_errors.c
-bin/bld_core.sh unit parse_check            examples/parse_check.c
+bin/bld_core.sh unit datadesk_like examples/datadesk_like_template.c
+bin/bld_core.sh unit node_errors   examples/node_errors/node_errors.c
+bin/bld_core.sh unit parse_check   examples/parse_check.c
 
 echo
 
diff --git a/examples/datadesk_like_template.c b/examples/datadesk_like_template.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a95b966
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/datadesk_like_template.c
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/* 
+** Example: datadesk-like-template
+**
+ ** This example is setup as a copy-pastable template for creating metadesk
+** based metaprograms that have the same structure as datadesk.
+**
+** Datadesk was a precursor language to metadesk. This example is mostly meant
+** to help datadesk users understand metadesk and migrate onto it.
+** 
+** A "datadesk-like" metaprogram is passed the input metacode files on the
+** command line. These files are parsed. Then a set of three user-defined
+ ** functions that form the "custom layer" are called. The "custom layer"
+ ** defines all the additional analysis and code generation.
+**
+*/
+
+//~ Includes and globals //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+#include "md.h"
+#include "md.c"
+
+static MD_Arena *arena = 0;
+
+
+//~ Declare user defined functions (the datadesk "custom layer") //////////////
+
+// Called when the program starts.
+static void Initialize(void);
+// Called for every top-level node that is parsed from passed files.
+static void TopLevel(MD_Node *node);
+// Runs before the program ends.
+static void CleanUp(void);
+
+
+//~ main //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+int main(int argument_count, char **arguments)
+{
+    // simple single-threaded one-run memory management setup
+    arena = MD_ArenaAlloc(1ull << 40);
+    
+    // parse all files passed to the command line
+    MD_Node *list = MD_MakeList(arena);
+    for(int i = 1; i < argument_count; i += 1)
+    {
+        MD_Node *root = MD_ParseWholeFile(arena, MD_S8CString(arguments[i])).node;
+        MD_PushNewReference(arena, list, root);
+    }
+    
+    // calls to the "custom layer"
+    Initialize();
+    for(MD_EachNode(ref, list->first_child))
+    {
+        MD_Node *root = MD_NodeFromReference(ref);
+        for(MD_EachNode(node, root->first_child))
+        {
+            TopLevel(node);
+        }
+    }
+    CleanUp();
+    
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
+//~ The "custom layer" definitions ////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+
+static void
+Initialize(void)
+{
+    /*TODO*/
+}
+
+static void
+TopLevel(MD_Node *node)
+{
+    /*TODO*/
+}
+
+static void
+CleanUp(void)
+{
+    /*TODO*/
+}
+
diff --git a/examples/old_style_custom_layer.c b/examples/old_style_custom_layer.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 1e710ae..0000000
--- a/examples/old_style_custom_layer.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-// Sample code for old Data Desk style custom layer, adapted to Metadesk.
-
-#include "md.h"
-#include "md.c"
-
-static MD_Arena *arena = 0;
-
-static void
-Initialize(void)
-{
-    // Called when the program starts.
-}
-
-static void
-TopLevel(MD_Node *node)
-{
-    // Called for every top-level node that is parsed from passed files.
-}
-
-static void
-CleanUp(void)
-{
-    // Runs before the program ends.
-}
-
-int main(int argument_count, char **arguments)
-{
-    arena = MD_ArenaAlloc(1ull << 40);
-    
-    // NOTE(rjf): Parse all the files passed in via command line.
-    MD_Node *list = MD_MakeList(arena);
-    for(int i = 1; i < argument_count; i += 1)
-    {
-        MD_Node *root = MD_ParseWholeFile(arena, MD_S8CString(arguments[i])).node;
-        MD_PushNewReference(arena, list, root);
-    }
-    
-    // NOTE(rjf): Call "custom layer" back.
-    Initialize();
-    for(MD_EachNode(ref, list->first_child))
-    {
-        MD_Node *root = MD_NodeFromReference(ref);
-        for(MD_EachNode(node, root->first_child))
-        {
-            TopLevel(node);
-        }
-    }
-    CleanUp();
-    
-    return 0;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/intro_notes.txt b/intro_notes.txt
index 92bbb7e..8233ce6 100644
--- a/intro_notes.txt
+++ b/intro_notes.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Examples:
 [ ] Metadesk reprinter
 [ ] Example of helpers: string helpers, linked lists, map type
                         printing errors, cmd line, file iter
-[ ] Datadesk-like setup
+[x] Datadesk-like setup
 [ ] Example type metadata
 [ ] Example of simple expression parser
 [ ] Example of C-like expression parser (with value and type expressions)
diff --git a/project.4coder b/project.4coder
index ff6bf90..45781af 100644
--- a/project.4coder
+++ b/project.4coder
@@ -67,10 +67,21 @@ command_list =
           { "bin/run_tests.sh", .os = "mac" },
         },
     },
+    {
+        .name = "build_examples",
+        .out = "*compilation*",
+        .footer_panel = true,
+        .save_dirty_files = true,
+        .cursor_at_end = false,
+        .cmd =
+        {
+          { "git_bash bin\\build_examples.sh", .os = "win" },
+          { "bin/build_tests.sh", .os = "linux" },
+          { "bin/build_tests.sh", .os = "mac" },
+        },
+    },
 };
 
 fkey_command[1] = "build_tests";
 fkey_command[2] = "run_tests";
-
-fkey_command[8] = "build";
-fkey_command[9] = "build_with_clang";
+fkey_command[3] = "build_examples";
\ No newline at end of file