Fix JSON crew template rendering

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/run_crew.py

@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
 
 import click
 from crewai_core.constants import CREWAI_TRAINED_AGENTS_FILE_ENV
-from crewai_core.project import (
-    ProjectDefinitionError,
-    configured_project_definition,
-    get_crewai_project_type,
-    read_toml,
-)
 from packaging import version
 
 from crewai_cli.utils import (
@@ -102,11 +96,28 @@ def _full_crewai_install_error() -> click.ClickException:
     return click.ClickException(_FULL_CREWAI_INSTALL_MESSAGE)
 
 
+def read_toml(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    from crewai_core.project import read_toml as _read_toml
+
+    return _read_toml(*args, **kwargs)
+
+
+def get_crewai_project_type(pyproject_data: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
+    from crewai_core.project import get_crewai_project_type as _get_crewai_project_type
+
+    return _get_crewai_project_type(pyproject_data)
+
+
 def configured_project_json_crew(
     pyproject_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     project_root: Path | None = None,
 ) -> Path | None:
     """Return the configured JSON crew definition for crew projects."""
+    from crewai_core.project import (
+        ProjectDefinitionError,
+        configured_project_definition,
+    )
+
     root = project_root or Path.cwd()
     if pyproject_data is None and not (root / "pyproject.toml").is_file():
         return None

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+.env
+__pycache__/
+.DS_Store
+report.md

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# {{name}}
+
+A crewAI project using JSON-first configuration.
+
+## Running
+
+```bash
+crewai run
+```
+
+## Project Structure
+
+- `agents/` - Agent definitions (JSONC)
+- `crew.jsonc` - Crew definition with tasks and configuration
+- `tools/` - Custom tools (Python)
+- `knowledge/` - Knowledge files for agents
+
+> **Note:** `custom:<name>` tool references execute `tools/<name>.py` as local
+> Python code when the crew loads. Only run crew projects from sources you
+> trust.

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/agent.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+{
+  // Agent's role title — appears in prompts and logs.
+  // You can use {placeholder} inputs in role, goal, or backstory.
+  // Example: "role": "Senior {industry} Researcher"
+  "role": {{role_json}},
+
+  // Optional custom Agent subclass
+  // "type": {"python": "my_project.agents.CustomAgent"},
+
+  // The agent's primary objective
+  "goal": {{goal_json}},
+
+  // Background story that shapes the agent's personality and approach
+  "backstory": {{backstory_json}},
+
+  // LLM model in provider/model format
+  // Examples: "openai/gpt-4o", "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6", "ollama/llama3.3"
+  // For custom endpoints or deployment-based providers, replace with:
+  // "llm": {"model": "llama3", "provider": "ollama", "base_url": "http://localhost:11434"},
+  // "llm": {"deployment_name": "my-deployment", "provider": "azure", "api_version": "2024-10-21"},
+  "llm": {{llm_json}},
+
+  // Override LLM used specifically for tool/function calling
+  // "function_calling_llm": "openai/gpt-5.4-mini",
+
+  // Tools available to this agent
+  // Built-in: "SerperDevTool", "ScrapeWebsiteTool", "FileReadTool", etc.
+  // Custom: "custom:my_tool" loads from tools/my_tool.py
+  "tools": {{tools_json}},
+
+  // Optional agent-level guardrail — validates this agent's final output.
+  // String guardrails are checked by an LLM and can reject/retry output.
+  // Python refs must point to module-level functions/classes in trusted code.
+  // "guardrail": "Only answer with information supported by retrieved evidence.",
+  // "step_callback": {"python": "my_project.callbacks.on_agent_step"},
+  // "guardrail_max_retries": 2,
+
+  // Advanced agent options:
+  // Docs: https://docs.crewai.com/concepts/agents
+  // "reasoning": true,
+  // "max_reasoning_attempts": 3,
+  // "planning_config": {
+  //   "reasoning_effort": "medium",
+  //   "llm": {"model": "deepseek-chat", "provider": "deepseek"}
+  // },
+  // "multimodal": false,
+  // "allow_code_execution": false,
+  // "code_execution_mode": "safe",
+  // "knowledge_sources": [],
+  // "knowledge_config": {},
+  // "inject_date": true,
+  // "date_format": "%Y-%m-%d",
+  // "security_config": {},
+
+  // Agent behavior settings
+  "settings": {
+{{settings_block}}
+  }
+}

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/agent_settings.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+    // Show detailed execution logs
+    "verbose": false,
+
+    // Allow this agent to delegate tasks to other agents in the crew
+    "allow_delegation": {{allow_delegation}}{{delegation_comma}}
+
+    // Maximum reasoning iterations per task (prevents infinite loops)
+    // "max_iter": 25,
+
+    // Maximum tokens for agent's response generation
+    // "max_tokens": null,
+
+    // Maximum execution time in seconds
+    // "max_execution_time": null,
+
+    // Maximum LLM requests per minute (rate limiting)
+    // "max_rpm": null,
+
+    // Enable agent-level memory (persists across tasks)
+    // "memory": false,
+
+    // Cache tool results to avoid duplicate calls
+    // "cache": true,
+
+    // Auto-summarize context when it exceeds the LLM's context window
+    // "respect_context_window": true,
+
+    // Maximum retries on execution errors
+    // "max_retry_limit": 2,
+
+    // Enable step-by-step planning before task execution
+    {{planning_line}}
+
+    // Include system prompt in LLM calls
+    // "use_system_prompt": true

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/crew.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+{
+  // Display name for this crew
+  "name": {{name_json}},
+
+  // Agents to include — each must have a matching agents/<name>.jsonc file
+  "agents": {{agent_names_json}},
+
+  // Task definitions — executed in order for sequential process
+  "tasks": [
+{{tasks_fragments}}
+  ],
+
+  // Execution process
+  // "sequential" — tasks run in order, each receiving prior task outputs
+  // "hierarchical" — a manager agent delegates tasks (requires manager_llm)
+  "process": {{process_json}},
+
+  // Enable verbose logging during execution
+  "verbose": true,
+
+  // Enable crew memory — persists context and learnings across tasks
+  "memory": {{memory}},
+
+  // Automatically plan the execution strategy before running tasks
+  // "planning": false,
+
+  // LLM for the planning step (used when planning is true)
+  // "planning_llm": "openai/gpt-4o",
+
+  // LLM for the manager agent (required when process is "hierarchical")
+  // "manager_llm": "openai/gpt-4o",
+
+  // Crew-level LLM fields also accept object form for custom endpoints
+  // "chat_llm": {"model": "llama3", "provider": "ollama", "base_url": "http://localhost:11434"},
+
+  // Advanced crew options:
+  // Docs: https://docs.crewai.com/concepts/crews
+  // For hierarchical crews, manager_agent can reference an agents/<name>.jsonc file
+  // that is not included in the "agents" list.
+  // "manager_agent": "{{manager_agent_name}}",
+  // "before_kickoff_callbacks": [{"python": "my_project.callbacks.before_kickoff"}],
+  // "after_kickoff_callbacks": [{"python": "my_project.callbacks.after_kickoff"}],
+  // "function_calling_llm": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
+  // "max_rpm": null,
+  // "cache": true,
+  // "knowledge_sources": [],
+  // "embedder": {},
+  // "output_log_file": "crew.log",
+  // "stream": false,
+  // "tracing": false,
+  // "security_config": {},
+
+  // Optional runtime input defaults.
+  // Use {placeholder} in agent or task text, for example:
+  // "description": "Research {topic} and write a brief"
+  // `crewai run` prompts for any placeholders missing from this object.
+  "inputs": {{inputs_json}}
+}

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/knowledge/user_preference.txt

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Add your knowledge files here

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/pyproject.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[project]
+name = "{{folder_name}}"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "{{name}} using crewAI"
+authors = [{ name = "Your Name", email = "you@example.com" }]
+requires-python = ">=3.10,<3.14"
+dependencies = [
+    "{{crewai_tools_dependency}}"
+]
+
+[build-system]
+requires = ["hatchling"]
+build-backend = "hatchling.build"
+
+[tool.hatch.build.targets.wheel]
+only-include = ["agents", "crew.jsonc", "tools", "knowledge", "skills"]
+
+[tool.crewai]
+type = "crew"
+definition = "crew.jsonc"

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/templates/json_crew/task.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+    {
+      // Task identifier
+      "name": {{name_json}},
+
+      // What the task should accomplish
+      // Use {placeholder} inputs here; crewai run prompts for missing values
+      "description": {{description_json}},
+
+      // Clear definition of what the output should look like
+      "expected_output": {{expected_output_json}},
+
+      // Optional task guardrail(s) validate output before completion
+      // Use "guardrail" for one rule or "guardrails" for many
+      // Failed guardrails retry up to guardrail_max_retries times
+      // "guardrail": "Every factual claim needs context support.",
+      // "guardrails": [
+      //   "Every factual claim must be supported by context.",
+      //   "The answer must match the expected output format."
+      // ],
+      // "guardrail_max_retries": 2,
+
+      // Advanced task options:
+      // Docs: https://docs.crewai.com/concepts/tasks
+      // "type": "ConditionalTask",
+      // "condition": { "python": "my_project.conditions.should_run" },
+      // "output_json": { "python": "my_project.models.ReportOutput" },
+      // "output_pydantic": null,
+      // "response_model": null,
+      // "converter_cls": { "python": "my_project.converters.CustomConverter" },
+      // "markdown": false,
+      // "input_files": { "brief": "data/brief.txt" },
+      // "security_config": {},
+
+      // Which agent handles this task
+      "agent": {{agent_json}}{{agent_comma}}{{context_block}}{{output_file_block}}
+
+      // "tools": [],
+      // "human_input": false,
+      // "async_execution": false
+    }

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/utils.py

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from collections.abc import Mapping
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
+import re
 import shutil
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -35,13 +37,15 @@
     "load_env_vars",
     "parse_toml",
     "read_toml",
+    "render_template",
     "tree_copy",
     "tree_find_and_replace",
     "write_env_file",
 ]
 
 
 console = Console()
+_TEMPLATE_TOKEN_RE = re.compile(r"{{([a-zA-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_]*)}}")
 
 
 def is_dmn_mode_enabled() -> bool:
@@ -69,14 +73,14 @@ def copy_template(
     src: Path, dst: Path, name: str, class_name: str, folder_name: str
 ) -> None:
     """Copy a file from src to dst."""
-    with open(src, "r") as file:
-        content = file.read()
-
-    content = content.replace("{{name}}", name)
-    content = content.replace("{{crew_name}}", class_name)
-    content = content.replace("{{folder_name}}", folder_name)
-    content = content.replace(
-        "{{crewai_tools_dependency}}", get_crewai_tools_dependency()
+    content = render_template(
+        src,
+        {
+            "name": name,
+            "crew_name": class_name,
+            "folder_name": folder_name,
+            "crewai_tools_dependency": get_crewai_tools_dependency(),
+        },
     )
 
     with open(dst, "w") as file:
@@ -85,6 +89,15 @@ def copy_template(
     click.secho(f"  - Created {dst}", fg="green")
 
 
+def render_template(src: Path, replacements: Mapping[str, str]) -> str:
+    """Render a template file using ``{{placeholder}}`` replacements."""
+    content = src.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    return _TEMPLATE_TOKEN_RE.sub(
+        lambda match: replacements.get(match.group(1), match.group(0)),
+        content,
+    )
+
+
 def fetch_and_json_env_file(env_file_path: str = ".env") -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Fetch the environment variables from a .env file and return them as a dictionary."""
     try: