Alternative to `cargo new` templates: examples as build-target templates

epage:

So your proposal is for there to be crates that exist but aren't part of the package or workspace that get bundled in the package? I feel like that could be confusing.

I mean, is it any different to tests, benchmarks, or examples as-is? docs.rs will include snippets of code from examples in documentation, but examples aren't themselves published to crates.io, so there is definitely precedent here.

epage:

Please re-read my original post. Making cargo new additive is a major part of this idea.

Sorry I think I worded that badly, what I meant was for an MVP on templates we don't need to consider the additive functionality yet, that can be added after there's a mechanism for templates. Whereas, I don't think you can make cargo new additive without templates (aside from just creating empty files I guess?)