diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index efb8a107..795b997c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -17,10 +17,8 @@ config/environments/test.js: config.status--test
 
 check-local: config/environments/test.js
 	./run_tests.sh ${RUNTESTFLAGS} \
-    test/unit/cartodb/req2params.test.js \
-    test/acceptance/cache_validator.js \
-    test/acceptance/server.js \
-    test/acceptance/multilayer.js
+    test/unit/cartodb/*.js \
+    test/acceptance/*.js 
 
 check-submodules:
 	PATH="$$PATH:$(srcdir)/node_modules/.bin/"; \
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index ad62d401..aa794ca7 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 1.6.0 -- 20YY-MM-DD
 -------------------
 
-* Update cartodb-redis dependency to "~0.3.0"
-* Add 'user_from_host' directive to generalize username extraction (#100)
+New features:
+
+ * Add 'user_from_host' directive to generalize username extraction (#100)
+ * Implement signed template maps (#98)
+
+Other changes:
+
+ * Update cartodb-redis dependency to "~0.3.0"
+ * Update redis-server dependency to "2.4.0+"
 
 1.5.2 -- 2013-12-05
 -------------------
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 676236ef..139d57cc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Requirements
  - node-0.8.x+
  - PostgreSQL-8.3+
  - PostGIS-1.5.0+
- - Redis 2.2.0+ (http://www.redis.io)
+ - Redis 2.4.0+ (http://www.redis.io)
  - Mapnik 2.0 or 2.1 
 
  [for cache control]
diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index c25aa090..753f8083 100755
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -18,13 +18,15 @@ if (ENV != 'development' && ENV != 'production' && ENV != 'staging' ){
 
 var _ = require('underscore')
     , Step       = require('step')
-	, CartodbWindshaft = require('./lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft');
-
+    ;
 // set environment specific variables
 global.settings     = require(__dirname + '/config/settings');
 global.environment  = require(__dirname + '/config/environments/' + ENV);
 _.extend(global.settings, global.environment);
 
+// Include cartodb_windshaft only _after_ the "global" variable is set
+// See https://github.com/Vizzuality/Windshaft-cartodb/issues/28
+var CartodbWindshaft = require('./lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft');
 var Windshaft = require('windshaft');
 var serverOptions = require('./lib/cartodb/server_options');
 
diff --git a/lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft.js b/lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft.js
index b436194a..29737d1d 100644
--- a/lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft.js
+++ b/lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft.js
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 var _ = require('underscore')
     , Step       = require('step')
     , Windshaft = require('windshaft')
+    , redisPool = new require('redis-mpool')(global.environment.redis)
+    // TODO: instanciate cartoData with redisPool
+    , cartoData  = require('cartodb-redis')(global.environment.redis)
+    , SignedMaps = require('./signed_maps.js')
+    , TemplateMaps = require('./template_maps.js')
     , Cache = require('./cache_validator');
 
 var CartodbWindshaft = function(serverOptions) {
@@ -23,6 +28,9 @@ var CartodbWindshaft = function(serverOptions) {
         callback(err, req);
     }
 
+    serverOptions.signedMaps = new SignedMaps(redisPool);
+    var templateMaps = new TemplateMaps(redisPool, serverOptions.signedMaps);
+
     // boot
     var ws = new Windshaft.Server(serverOptions);
 
@@ -95,6 +103,376 @@ var CartodbWindshaft = function(serverOptions) {
             }
         );
     });
+
+    // ---- Template maps interface starts @{
+
+    ws.userByReq = function(req) {
+        return serverOptions.userByReq(req);
+    }
+
+    var template_baseurl = serverOptions.base_url_notable + '/template';
+
+    // Add a template
+    ws.post(template_baseurl, function(req, res) {
+      ws.doCORS(res);
+      var that = this;
+      var response = {};
+      var cdbuser = ws.userByReq(req);
+      Step(
+        function checkPerms(){
+            serverOptions.authorizedByAPIKey(req, this);
+        },
+        function addTemplate(err, authenticated) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if (authenticated !== 1) {
+            err = new Error("Only authenticated user can create templated maps");
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          if ( ! req.headers['content-type'] || req.headers['content-type'].split(';')[0] != 'application/json' )
+            throw new Error('template POST data must be of type application/json');
+          var cfg = req.body;
+          templateMaps.addTemplate(cdbuser, cfg, this);
+        },
+        function prepareResponse(err, tpl_id){
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          // NOTE: might omit "cdbuser" if == dbowner ...
+          return { template_id: cdbuser + '@' + tpl_id };
+        },
+        function finish(err, response){
+            if (err){
+                response = { error: ''+err };
+                var statusCode = 400;
+                if ( ! _.isUndefined(err.http_status) ) {
+                  statusCode = err.http_status;
+                }
+                ws.sendError(res, response, statusCode, 'POST TEMPLATE', err.message);
+            } else {
+              res.send(response, 200);
+            }
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    // Update a template
+    ws.put(template_baseurl + '/:template_id', function(req, res) {
+      ws.doCORS(res);
+      var that = this;
+      var response = {};
+      var cdbuser = ws.userByReq(req);
+      var template;
+      var tpl_id;
+      Step(
+        function checkPerms(){
+            serverOptions.authorizedByAPIKey(req, this);
+        },
+        function updateTemplate(err, authenticated) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if (authenticated !== 1) {
+            err = new Error("Only authenticated user can list templated maps");
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          if ( ! req.headers['content-type'] || req.headers['content-type'].split(';')[0] != 'application/json' )
+            throw new Error('template PUT data must be of type application/json');
+          template = req.body;
+          tpl_id = req.params.template_id.split('@');
+          if ( tpl_id.length > 1 ) {
+            if ( tpl_id[0] != cdbuser ) {
+              err = new Error("Invalid template id '"
+                + req.params.template_id + "' for user '" + cdbuser + "'");
+              err.http_status = 404;
+              throw err;
+            }
+            tpl_id = tpl_id[1];
+          }
+          templateMaps.updTemplate(cdbuser, tpl_id, template, this);
+        },
+        function prepareResponse(err){
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          return { template_id: cdbuser + '@' + tpl_id };
+        },
+        function finish(err, response){
+            if (err){
+                var statusCode = 400;
+                response = { error: ''+err };
+                if ( ! _.isUndefined(err.http_status) ) {
+                  statusCode = err.http_status;
+                }
+                ws.sendError(res, response, statusCode, 'PUT TEMPLATE', err.message);
+            } else {
+              res.send(response, 200);
+            }
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    // Get a specific template
+    ws.get(template_baseurl + '/:template_id', function(req, res) {
+      ws.doCORS(res);
+      var that = this;
+      var response = {};
+      var cdbuser = ws.userByReq(req);
+      var template;
+      var tpl_id;
+      Step(
+        function checkPerms(){
+            serverOptions.authorizedByAPIKey(req, this);
+        },
+        function updateTemplate(err, authenticated) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if (authenticated !== 1) {
+            err = new Error("Only authenticated users can get template maps");
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          tpl_id = req.params.template_id.split('@');
+          if ( tpl_id.length > 1 ) {
+            if ( tpl_id[0] != cdbuser ) {
+              var err = new Error("Cannot get template id '"
+                + req.params.template_id + "' for user '" + cdbuser + "'");
+              err.http_status = 404;
+              throw err;
+            }
+            tpl_id = tpl_id[1];
+          }
+          templateMaps.getTemplate(cdbuser, tpl_id, this);
+        },
+        function prepareResponse(err, tpl_val){
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if ( ! tpl_val ) {
+            err = new Error("Cannot find template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + cdbuser + "'");
+            err.http_status = 404;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          // auth_id was added by ourselves,
+          // so we remove it before returning to the user
+          delete tpl_val.auth_id;
+          return { template: tpl_val };
+        },
+        function finish(err, response){
+            if (err){
+                var statusCode = 400;
+                response = { error: ''+err };
+                if ( ! _.isUndefined(err.http_status) ) {
+                  statusCode = err.http_status;
+                }
+                ws.sendError(res, response, statusCode, 'GET TEMPLATE', err.message);
+            } else {
+              res.send(response, 200);
+            }
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    // Delete a specific template
+    ws.delete(template_baseurl + '/:template_id', function(req, res) {
+      ws.doCORS(res);
+      var that = this;
+      var response = {};
+      var cdbuser = ws.userByReq(req);
+      var template;
+      var tpl_id;
+      Step(
+        function checkPerms(){
+            serverOptions.authorizedByAPIKey(req, this);
+        },
+        function updateTemplate(err, authenticated) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if (authenticated !== 1) {
+            err = new Error("Only authenticated users can delete template maps");
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          tpl_id = req.params.template_id.split('@');
+          if ( tpl_id.length > 1 ) {
+            if ( tpl_id[0] != cdbuser ) {
+              var err = new Error("Cannot find template id '"
+                + req.params.template_id + "' for user '" + cdbuser + "'");
+              err.http_status = 404;
+              throw err;
+            }
+            tpl_id = tpl_id[1];
+          }
+          templateMaps.delTemplate(cdbuser, tpl_id, this);
+        },
+        function prepareResponse(err, tpl_val){
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          return { status: 'ok' };
+        },
+        function finish(err, response){
+            if (err){
+                var statusCode = 400;
+                response = { error: ''+err };
+                if ( ! _.isUndefined(err.http_status) ) {
+                  statusCode = err.http_status;
+                }
+                ws.sendError(res, response, statusCode, 'DELETE TEMPLATE', err.message);
+            } else {
+              res.send('', 204);
+            }
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    // Get a list of owned templates 
+    ws.get(template_baseurl, function(req, res) {
+      ws.doCORS(res);
+      var that = this;
+      var response = {};
+      var cdbuser = ws.userByReq(req);
+      Step(
+        function checkPerms(){
+            serverOptions.authorizedByAPIKey(req, this);
+        },
+        function listTemplates(err, authenticated) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if (authenticated !== 1) {
+            err = new Error("Only authenticated user can list templated maps");
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          templateMaps.listTemplates(cdbuser, this);
+        },
+        function prepareResponse(err, tpl_ids){
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          // NOTE: might omit "cbduser" if == dbowner ...
+          var ids = _.map(tpl_ids, function(id) { return cdbuser + '@' + id; })
+          return { template_ids: ids };
+        },
+        function finish(err, response){
+            var statusCode = 200;
+            if (err){
+                response = { error: ''+err };
+                if ( ! _.isUndefined(err.http_status) ) {
+                  statusCode = err.http_status;
+                }
+                ws.sendError(res, response, statusCode, 'GET TEMPLATE LIST', err.message);
+            } else {
+              res.send(response, statusCode);
+            }
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    ws.setDBParams = function(cdbuser, params, callback) {
+      Step(
+        function setAuth() {
+          serverOptions.setDBAuth(cdbuser, params, this);
+        },
+        function setConn(err) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          serverOptions.setDBConn(cdbuser, params, this);
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          callback(err);
+        }
+      );
+    };
+
+    // Instantiate a template
+    ws.post(template_baseurl + '/:template_id', function(req, res) {
+      ws.doCORS(res);
+      var that = this;
+      var response = {};
+      var template;
+      var signedMaps = serverOptions.signedMaps;
+      var layergroup;
+      var layergroupid;
+      var fakereq; // used for call to createLayergroup
+      var cdbuser = ws.userByReq(req);
+      // Format of template_id: [<template_owner>]@<template_id>
+      var tpl_id = req.params.template_id.split('@');
+      if ( tpl_id.length > 1 ) {
+        if ( tpl_id[0] ) cdbuser = tpl_id[0];
+        tpl_id = tpl_id[1];
+      }
+      var auth_token = req.query.auth_token;
+      Step(
+        function getTemplate(){
+          templateMaps.getTemplate(cdbuser, tpl_id, this);
+        },
+        function checkAuthorized(err, data) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          if ( ! data ) {
+            err = new Error("Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + cdbuser + "' not found");
+            err.http_status = 404;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          template = data;
+          var cert = templateMaps.getTemplateCertificate(template);
+          var authorized = false;
+          try {
+            // authorizedByCert will throw if unauthorized
+            authorized = signedMaps.authorizedByCert(cert, auth_token);
+          } catch (err) {
+            // we catch to add http_status
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          if ( ! authorized ) {
+            err = new Error('Unauthorized template instanciation');
+            err.http_status = 401;
+            throw err;
+          }
+          if ( ! req.headers['content-type'] || req.headers['content-type'].split(';')[0] != 'application/json' )
+            throw new Error('template POST data must be of type application/json, it is instead ');
+          var template_params = req.body;
+          return templateMaps.instance(template, template_params);
+        },
+        function prepareParams(err, instance){
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          layergroup = instance;
+          fakereq = { query: {}, params: {}, headers: _.clone(req.headers) };
+          ws.setDBParams(cdbuser, fakereq.params, this);
+        },
+        function createLayergroup(err) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          ws.createLayergroup(layergroup, fakereq, this);
+        },
+        function signLayergroup(err, resp) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          response = resp;
+          var signer = cdbuser;
+          var map_id = response.layergroupid.split(':')[0]; // dropping last_updated 
+          var crt_id = template.auth_id; // check ?
+          if ( ! crt_id ) {
+            var errmsg = "Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + cdbuser + "' has no signature";
+            // Is this really illegal ?
+            // Maybe we could just return an unsigned layergroupid
+            // in this case...
+            err = new Error(errmsg);
+            err.http_status = 403; // Forbidden, we refuse to respond to this
+            throw err;
+          }
+          signedMaps.signMap(signer, map_id, crt_id, this);
+        },
+        function prepareResponse(err) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          //console.log("Response from createLayergroup: "); console.dir(response);
+          // Add the signature part to the token!
+          response.layergroupid = cdbuser + '@' + response.layergroupid;
+          return response;
+        },
+        function finish(err, response){
+            if (err){
+                var statusCode = 400;
+                response = { error: ''+err };
+                if ( ! _.isUndefined(err.http_status) ) {
+                  statusCode = err.http_status;
+                }
+                ws.sendError(res, response, statusCode, 'POST INSTANCE TEMPLATE', err.message);
+            } else {
+              res.send(response, 200);
+            }
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+
+    // ---- Template maps interface ends @}
+
     return ws;
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/cartodb/server_options.js b/lib/cartodb/server_options.js
index 21a995da..f728cb1a 100644
--- a/lib/cartodb/server_options.js
+++ b/lib/cartodb/server_options.js
@@ -371,7 +371,71 @@ module.exports = function(){
           callback(err); 
         }
       );
-    }
+    };
+
+    // Set db connection parameters to those for the given username
+    //
+    // @param dbowner cartodb username of database owner,
+    //                mapped to a database username
+    //                via CartodbRedis metadata records
+    //
+    // @param params the parameters to set connection options into
+    //               added params are: "dbname", "dbhost"
+    //
+    // @param callback function(err) 
+    //
+    me.setDBConn = function(dbowner, params, callback) {
+      Step(
+        function getDatabaseHost(){
+            cartoData.getUserDBHost(dbowner, this);
+        },
+        function getDatabase(err, data){
+            if(err) throw err;
+            if ( data ) _.extend(params, {dbhost:data});
+            cartoData.getUserDBName(dbowner, this);
+        },
+        function getGeometryType(err, data){
+            if (err) throw err;
+            if ( data ) _.extend(params, {dbname:data});
+            return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          callback(err); 
+        }
+      );
+    };
+
+
+    // Check if a request is authorized by a signer
+    //
+    // Any existing signature for the given request will verified
+    // for authorization to this specific request (may require auth_token)
+    // See https://github.com/CartoDB/Windshaft-cartodb/wiki/Signed-maps
+    //
+    // @param req express request object
+    // @param callback function(err, signed_by) signed_by will be
+    //                 null if the request is not signed by anyone
+    //                 or will be a string cartodb username otherwise.
+    //                 
+    me.authorizedBySigner = function(req, callback)
+    {
+      if ( ! req.params.token || ! req.params.signer ) {
+        //console.log("No signature provided"); // debugging
+        callback(null, null); // no signer requested
+        return;
+      }
+
+      var signer = req.params.signer;
+      var layergroup_id = req.params.token;
+      var auth_token = req.params.auth_token;
+
+console.log("Checking authorization from signer " + signer + " for resource " + layergroup_id + " with auth_token " + auth_token);
+
+      me.signedMaps.isAuthorized(signer, layergroup_id, auth_token,
+        function(err, authorized) {
+          callback(err, authorized ? signer : null);
+        });
+    };
 
     // Check if a request is authorized by api_key
     //
@@ -422,15 +486,32 @@ module.exports = function(){
                 if (err) throw err;
 
                 // if not authorized by api_key, continue 
-                if (authorized !== 1) return null;
+                if (authorized !== 1)  {
+                  // not authorized by api_key, 
+                  // check if authorized by signer
+                  that.authorizedBySigner(req, this);
+                  return;
+                }
 
                 // authorized by api key, login as the given username and stop
                 that.setDBAuth(user, req.params, function(err) {
                   callback(err, true); // authorized (or error)
                 });
             },
-            // TODO: check if authorized by layergroup signature
-            //       should only be done for GET /layergroup
+            function checkSignAuthorized(err, signed_by){
+                if (err) throw err;
+
+                if ( ! signed_by ) {
+                  // request not authorized by signer, continue
+                  // to check map privacy
+                  return null;
+                }
+
+                // Authorized by "signed_by" !
+                that.setDBAuth(signed_by, req.params, function(err) {
+                  callback(err, true); // authorized (or error)
+                });
+            },
             function getDatabase(err){
                 if (err) throw err;
                 // NOTE: only used to get to table privacy
@@ -483,14 +564,12 @@ module.exports = function(){
         }
 
         // Whitelist query parameters and attach format
-        var good_query = ['sql', 'geom_type', 'cache_buster', 'cache_policy', 'callback', 'interactivity', 'map_key', 'api_key', 'style', 'style_version', 'style_convert', 'config' ];
+        var good_query = ['sql', 'geom_type', 'cache_buster', 'cache_policy', 'callback', 'interactivity', 'map_key', 'api_key', 'auth_token', 'style', 'style_version', 'style_convert', 'config' ];
         var bad_query  = _.difference(_.keys(req.query), good_query);
 
         _.each(bad_query, function(key){ delete req.query[key]; });
         req.params =  _.extend({}, req.params); // shuffle things as request is a strange array/object
 
-        var signer = null;
-
         if ( req.params.token ) {
           //console.log("Request parameters include token " + req.params.token);
           var tksplit = req.params.token.split(':');
@@ -498,9 +577,10 @@ module.exports = function(){
           if ( tksplit.length > 1 ) req.params.cache_buster= tksplit[1];
           tksplit = req.params.token.split('@');
           if ( tksplit.length > 1 ) {
-            // signer name defaults to the domain user
-            req.params.signer = tksplit[0] || req.headers.host.split('.')[0];
+            req.params.signer = req.headers.host.split('.')[0];
+            if ( tksplit[0] ) req.params.signer = tksplit[0];
             req.params.token = tksplit[1];
+            //console.log("Request for token " + req.params.token + " with signature from " + req.params.signer);
           }
         }
 
@@ -546,24 +626,14 @@ module.exports = function(){
                 if(data === "0") throw new Error("Sorry, you are unauthorized (permission denied)");
                 return data;
             },
-            function getDatabaseHost(err, data){
-                if(err) throw err;
-
-                cartoData.getUserDBHost(user, this);
-            },
             function getDatabase(err, data){
-                if (req.profiler) req.profiler.done('cartoData.getDatabaseHost');
                 if(err) throw err;
-                if ( data ) _.extend(req.params, {dbhost:data});
-
-                cartoData.getUserDBName(user, this);
+                that.setDBConn(user, req.params, this);
             },
-            function getGeometryType(err, data){
+            function getGeometryType(err){
                 if (req.profiler) req.profiler.done('cartoData.getDatabase');
                 if (err) throw err;
-                _.extend(req.params, {dbname:data});
-
-                cartoData.getTableGeometryType(data, req.params.table, this);
+                cartoData.getTableGeometryType(req.params.dbname, req.params.table, this);
             },
             function finishSetup(err, data){
                 if (req.profiler) req.profiler.done('cartoData.getGeometryType');
diff --git a/lib/cartodb/signed_maps.js b/lib/cartodb/signed_maps.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a62432f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/cartodb/signed_maps.js
@@ -0,0 +1,339 @@
+var crypto    = require('crypto');
+var Step      = require('step');
+var _         = require('underscore');
+
+
+// Class handling map signatures and user certificates
+//
+// See https://github.com/CartoDB/Windshaft-cartodb/wiki/Signed-maps
+//
+// @param redis_pool an instance of a "redis-mpool"
+//        See https://github.com/CartoDB/node-redis-mpool
+//        Needs version 0.x.x of the API.
+//
+function SignedMaps(redis_pool) {
+  this.redis_pool = redis_pool;
+
+  // Database containing signatures
+  // TODO: allow configuring ?
+  // NOTE: currently it is the same as
+  //       the one containing layergroups
+  this.db_signatures = 0;
+
+  //
+  // Map signatures in redis are reference to signature certificates
+  // We have the following datastores:
+  //
+  //  1. User certificates: set of per-user authorization certificates
+  //  2. Map signatures: set of per-map certificate references 
+  //  3. Certificate applications: set of per-certificate signed maps
+
+  // User certificates (HASH:crt_id->crt_val)
+  this.key_map_crt = "map_crt|<%= signer %>";
+
+  // Map signatures (SET:crt_id)
+  this.key_map_sig = "map_sig|<%= signer %>|<%= map_id %>";
+  
+  // Certificates applications (SET:map_id)
+  //
+  // Everytime a map is signed, the map identifier (layergroup_id)
+  // is added to this set. The purpose of this set is to drop
+  // all map signatures when a certificate is removed
+  //
+  this.key_crt_sig = "crt_sig|<%= signer %>|<%= crt_id %>";
+
+};
+
+var o = SignedMaps.prototype;
+
+//--------------- PRIVATE METHODS --------------------------------
+
+o._acquireRedis = function(callback) {
+  this.redis_pool.acquire(this.db_signatures, callback);
+};
+
+o._releaseRedis = function(client) {
+  this.redis_pool.release(this.db_signatures, client);
+};
+
+/**
+ * Internal function to communicate with redis
+ *
+ * @param redisFunc - the redis function to execute
+ * @param redisArgs - the arguments for the redis function in an array
+ * @param callback - function to pass results too.
+ */
+o._redisCmd = function(redisFunc, redisArgs, callback) {
+  var redisClient;
+  var that = this;
+  var db = that.db_signatures;
+
+  Step(
+    function getRedisClient() {
+      that.redis_pool.acquire(db, this);
+    },
+    function executeQuery(err, data) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      redisClient = data;
+      redisArgs.push(this);
+      redisClient[redisFunc.toUpperCase()].apply(redisClient, redisArgs);
+    },
+    function releaseRedisClient(err, data) {
+      if ( ! _.isUndefined(redisClient) ) that.redis_pool.release(db, redisClient);
+      callback(err, data);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+//--------------- PUBLIC API -------------------------------------
+
+// Check if the given certificate authorizes waiver of "auth"
+o.authorizedByCert = function(cert, auth) {
+  //console.log("Checking cert: "); console.dir(cert);
+  if ( cert.version !== "0.0.1" ) {
+    throw new Error("Unsupported certificate version " + cert.version);
+  }
+
+  // Open authentication certificates are always authorized
+  if ( cert.auth.method === 'open' ) return true;
+
+  // Token based authentication requires valid token
+  if ( cert.auth.method === 'token' ) {
+    var found = cert.auth.valid_tokens.indexOf(auth);
+    //if ( found !== -1 ) {
+      //console.log("Token " + auth + " is found at position " + found + " in valid tokens " + cert.auth.valid_tokens);
+    //  return true;
+    //} else return false;
+    return cert.auth.valid_tokens.indexOf(auth) !== -1;
+  }
+
+  throw new Error("Unsupported authentication method: " + cert.auth.method);
+};
+
+// Check if shown credential are authorized to access a map
+// by the given signer.
+//
+// @param signer a signer name (cartodb username)
+// @param map_id a layergroup_id
+// @param auth an authentication token, or undefined if none
+//                    (can still be authorized by signature)
+//
+// @param callback function(Error, Boolean)
+//
+o.isAuthorized = function(signer, map_id, auth, callback) {
+  var that = this;
+  var authorized = false;
+  var certificate_id_list;
+  var missing_certificates = [];
+console.log("Check auth from signer '" + signer + "' on map '" + map_id + "' with auth '" + auth + "'");
+  Step(
+    function getMapSignatures() {
+      var map_sig_key = _.template(that.key_map_sig, {signer:signer, map_id:map_id});
+      that._redisCmd('SMEMBERS', [ map_sig_key ], this);
+    },
+    function getCertificates(err, crt_lst) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      console.log("Map '" + map_id + "' is signed by " + crt_lst.length + " certificates of user '" + signer + "': " + crt_lst);
+      certificate_id_list = crt_lst;
+      if ( ! crt_lst.length ) {
+        // No certs, avoid calling redis with short args list.
+        // Next step expects a list of certificate values so
+        // we directly send the empty list.
+        return crt_lst;
+      }
+      var map_crt_key = _.template(that.key_map_crt, {signer:signer});
+      that._redisCmd('HMGET', [ map_crt_key ].concat(crt_lst), this);
+    },
+    function checkCertificates(err, certs) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      for (var i=0; i<certs.length; ++i) {
+        var crt_id = certificate_id_list[i];
+        if ( _.isNull(certs[i]) ) {
+          missing_certificates.push(crt_id);
+          continue;
+        }
+        var cert;
+        try {
+          //console.log("cert " + crt_id + ": " + certs[i]);
+          cert = JSON.parse(certs[i]);
+          authorized = that.authorizedByCert(cert, auth);
+        } catch (err) {
+          console.log("Certificate " + certificate_id_list[i] + " by user '" + signer + "' is malformed: " + err);
+          continue;
+        }
+        if ( authorized ) {
+          console.log("Access to map '" + map_id + "' authorized by cert '"
+            + certificate_id_list[i] + "' of user '" + signer + "'");
+          //console.dir(cert);
+          break; // no need to further check certs
+        }
+      }
+      return null;
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      if ( missing_certificates.length ) {
+        console.log("WARNING: map '" + map_id + "' is signed by '" + signer
+          + "' with " + missing_certificates.length
+          + " missing certificates: "
+          + missing_certificates + " (TODO: give cleanup instructions)");
+      }
+      callback(err, authorized);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// Add an authorization certificate from a user.
+//
+// @param signer a signer name (cartodb username)
+// @param cert certificate object, see
+//             http://github.com/CartoDB/Windshaft-cartodb/wiki/Signed-maps
+//
+// @param callback function(err, crt_id) return certificate id
+//
+// TODO: allow for requesting error when certificate already exists ?
+//
+o.addCertificate = function(signer, cert, callback) {
+  var crt_val = JSON.stringify(cert);
+  var crt_id = crypto.createHash('md5').update(crt_val).digest('hex');
+
+  var usr_crt_key = _.template(this.key_map_crt, {signer:signer});
+  this._redisCmd('HSET', [ usr_crt_key, crt_id, crt_val ], function(err, created) {
+    // NOTE: created would be 0 if the field already existed, 1 otherwise
+    callback(err, crt_id);
+  });
+};
+
+// Remove an authorization certificate of a user, also removing
+// any signature made with the certificate.
+//
+// @param signer a signer name (cartodb username)
+// @param crt_id certificate identifier, as returned by addCertificate
+// @param callback function(err)
+//
+o.delCertificate = function(signer, crt_id, callback) {
+  var db = this.db_signatures;
+  var crt_sig_key = _.template(this.key_crt_sig, {signer:signer, crt_id:crt_id});
+  var signed_map_list;
+  var redis_client;
+  var that = this;
+  Step (
+    function getRedisClient() {
+      that._acquireRedis(this);
+    },
+    function removeCertificate(err, data) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      redis_client = data;
+      // Remove the certificate (would be enough to stop authorizing uses)
+      var usr_crt_key = _.template(that.key_map_crt, {signer:signer});
+      redis_client.HDEL(usr_crt_key, crt_id, this);
+    },
+    function getMapSignatures(err, deleted) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! deleted ) {
+        // debugging (how can this be possible?)
+        console.log("WARNING: authorization certificate '" + crt_id
+          + "' by user '" + signer + "' did not exist on delete request");
+      }
+      // Get all signatures by this certificate
+      redis_client.SMEMBERS(crt_sig_key, this);
+    },
+    function delMapSignaturesReference(err, map_id_list) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      signed_map_list = map_id_list;
+      console.log("Certificate '" + crt_id + "' from user '" + signer
+        + "' was used to sign " + signed_map_list.length + " maps");
+      redis_client.DEL(crt_sig_key, this);
+    },
+    function delMapSignatures(err) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      var crt_sig_key = _.template(that.key_crt_sig, {signer:signer, crt_id:crt_id});
+      var tx = redis_client.MULTI();
+      for (var i=0; i<signed_map_list.length; ++i) {
+        var map_id = signed_map_list[i];
+        var map_sig_key = _.template(that.key_map_sig, {signer:signer, map_id:map_id});
+        //console.log("Queuing removal of '" + crt_id + "' from '" + map_sig_key + "'");
+        tx.SREM( map_sig_key, crt_id )
+      }
+      tx.EXEC(this);
+    },
+    function reportTransaction(err, rets) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      for (var i=0; i<signed_map_list.length; ++i) {
+        var ret = rets[i];
+        if ( ! ret ) {
+          console.log("No signature with certificate '" + crt_id
+            + "' of user '" + signer + "' found in map '"
+            + signed_map_list[i] + "'");
+        } else {
+          console.log("Signature with certificate '" + crt_id
+            + "' of user '" + signer + "' removed from map '"
+            + signed_map_list[i] + "'");
+        }
+      }
+      return null;
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      if ( ! _.isUndefined(redis_client) ) {
+        that._releaseRedis(redis_client);
+      }
+      callback(err);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// Sign a map with a certificate reference
+//
+// @param signer a signer name (cartodb username)
+// @param map_id a layergroup_id
+// @param crt_id signature certificate identifier
+//
+// @param callback function(Error) 
+//
+o.signMap = function(signer, map_id, crt_id, callback) {
+  var that = this;
+  Step(
+    function addMapSignature() {
+      var map_sig_key = _.template(that.key_map_sig, {signer:signer, map_id:map_id});
+console.log("Adding " + crt_id + " to " + map_sig_key);
+      that._redisCmd('SADD', [ map_sig_key, crt_id ], this);
+    },
+    function addCertificateUsage(err) {
+      // Add the map to the set of maps signed by the given cert
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      var crt_sig_key = _.template(that.key_crt_sig, {signer:signer, crt_id:crt_id});
+      that._redisCmd('SADD', [ crt_sig_key, map_id ], this);
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      callback(err);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// Sign a map with a full certificate
+//
+// @param signer a signer name (cartodb username)
+// @param map_id a layergroup_id
+// @param cert_id signature certificate identifier
+//
+// @param callback function(Error, String) return certificate id
+//
+o.addSignature = function(signer, map_id, cert, callback) {
+  var that = this;
+  var certificate_id;
+  Step(
+    function addCertificate() {
+      that.addCertificate(signer, cert, this);
+    },
+    function signMap(err, cert_id) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! cert_id ) throw new Error("addCertificate returned no certificate id");
+      certificate_id = cert_id;
+      that.signMap(signer, map_id, cert_id, this);
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      callback(err, certificate_id);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+module.exports = SignedMaps;
diff --git a/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js b/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..829a2fea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
@@ -0,0 +1,583 @@
+var crypto    = require('crypto');
+var Step      = require('step');
+var _         = require('underscore');
+
+// Templates in this hash (keyed as <username>@<template_name>)
+// are being worked on.
+var user_template_locks = {};
+
+// Class handling map templates
+//
+// See http://github.com/CartoDB/Windshaft-cartodb/wiki/Template-maps
+//
+// @param redis_pool an instance of a "redis-mpool"
+//        See https://github.com/CartoDB/node-redis-mpool
+//        Needs version 0.x.x of the API.
+//
+// @param signed_maps an instance of a "signed_maps" class,
+//        See signed_maps.js
+// 
+function TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps) {
+  this.redis_pool = redis_pool;
+  this.signed_maps = signed_maps;
+
+  // Database containing templates
+  // TODO: allow configuring ?
+  // NOTE: currently it is the same as
+  //       the one containing layergroups
+  this.db_signatures = 0;
+
+  //
+  // Map templates are owned by a user that specifies access permissions
+  // for their instances.
+  // 
+  // We have the following datastores:
+  //
+  //  1. User teplates: set of per-user map templates
+  //     NOTE: each template would have an associated auth
+  //           reference, see signed_maps.js
+
+  // User templates (HASH:tpl_id->tpl_val)
+  this.key_usr_tpl = "map_tpl|<%= owner %>";
+
+  // User template locks (HASH:tpl_id->ctime)
+  this.key_usr_tpl_lck = "map_tpl|<%= owner %>|locks";
+
+};
+
+var o = TemplateMaps.prototype;
+
+//--------------- PRIVATE METHODS --------------------------------
+
+o._acquireRedis = function(callback) {
+  this.redis_pool.acquire(this.db_signatures, callback);
+};
+
+o._releaseRedis = function(client) {
+  this.redis_pool.release(this.db_signatures, client);
+};
+
+/**
+ * Internal function to communicate with redis
+ *
+ * @param redisFunc - the redis function to execute
+ * @param redisArgs - the arguments for the redis function in an array
+ * @param callback - function to pass results too.
+ */
+o._redisCmd = function(redisFunc, redisArgs, callback) {
+  var redisClient;
+  var that = this;
+  var db = that.db_signatures;
+
+  Step(
+    function getRedisClient() {
+      that.redis_pool.acquire(db, this);
+    },
+    function executeQuery(err, data) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      redisClient = data;
+      redisArgs.push(this);
+      redisClient[redisFunc.toUpperCase()].apply(redisClient, redisArgs);
+    },
+    function releaseRedisClient(err, data) {
+      if ( ! _.isUndefined(redisClient) ) that.redis_pool.release(db, redisClient);
+      callback(err, data);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// @param callback function(err, obtained)
+o._obtainTemplateLock = function(owner, tpl_id, callback) {
+  var usr_tpl_lck_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl_lck, {owner:owner});
+  var that = this;
+  var gotLock = false;
+  Step (
+    function obtainLock() {
+      var ctime = Date.now();
+      that._redisCmd('HSETNX', [usr_tpl_lck_key, tpl_id, ctime], this);
+    },
+    function checkLock(err, locked) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! locked ) {
+        // Already locked
+        // TODO: unlock if expired ?
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + owner + "' is locked");
+      }
+      return gotLock = true;
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      callback(err, gotLock);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// @param callback function(err, deleted)
+o._releaseTemplateLock = function(owner, tpl_id, callback) {
+  var usr_tpl_lck_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl_lck, {owner:owner});
+  this._redisCmd('HDEL', [usr_tpl_lck_key, tpl_id], callback);
+};
+
+o._reValidIdentifier = /^[a-zA-Z][0-9a-zA-Z_]*$/;
+o._checkInvalidTemplate = function(template) {
+  if ( template.version != '0.0.1' ) {
+    return new Error("Unsupported template version " + template.version);
+  }
+  var tplname = template.name;
+  if ( ! tplname ) {
+    return new Error("Missing template name");
+  }
+  if ( ! tplname.match(this._reValidIdentifier) ) {
+    return new Error("Invalid characters in template name '" + tplname + "'");
+  }
+
+  var phold = template.placeholders;
+  for (var k in phold) {
+    if ( ! k.match(this._reValidIdentifier) ) {
+      return new Error("Invalid characters in placeholder name '" + k + "'");
+    }
+    if ( ! phold[k].hasOwnProperty('default') ) {
+      return new Error("Missing default for placeholder '" + k + "'");
+    }
+    if ( ! phold[k].hasOwnProperty('type') ) {
+      return new Error("Missing type for placeholder '" + k + "'");
+    }
+  };
+
+  // TODO: run more checks over template format ?
+};
+
+//--------------- PUBLIC API -------------------------------------
+
+// Extract a signature certificate from a template
+//
+// The certificate will be ready to be passed to
+// SignedMaps.addCertificate or SignedMaps.authorizedByCert
+//
+o.getTemplateCertificate = function(template) {
+  var cert = {
+    version: '0.0.1',
+    template_id: template.name,
+    auth: template.auth
+  };
+  return cert;
+};
+
+// Add a template
+//
+// NOTE: locks user+template_name or fails
+//
+// @param owner cartodb username of the template owner
+//
+// @param template layergroup template, see
+//        http://github.com/CartoDB/Windshaft-cartodb/wiki/Template-maps#template-format
+//
+// @param callback function(err, tpl_id) 
+//        Return template identifier (only valid for given user)
+//
+o.addTemplate = function(owner, template, callback) {
+  var invalidError = this._checkInvalidTemplate(template);
+  if ( invalidError ) {
+    callback(invalidError);
+    return;
+  }
+  var tplname = template.name;
+
+  // Procedure:
+  //
+  // 0. Obtain a lock for user+template_name, fail if impossible
+  // 1. Check no other template exists with the same name
+  // 2. Install certificate extracted from template, extending
+  //    it to contain a name to properly salt things out.
+  // 3. Modify the template object to reference certificate by id
+  // 4. Install template
+  // 5. Release lock
+  //
+  //
+
+  var usr_tpl_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl, {owner:owner});
+  var gotLock = false;
+  var that = this;
+  Step(
+    // try to obtain a lock
+    function obtainLock() {
+      that._obtainTemplateLock(owner, tplname, this);
+    },
+    function getExistingTemplate(err, locked) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! locked ) {
+        // Already locked
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tplname + "' of user '" + owner + "' is locked");
+      }
+      gotLock = true;
+      that._redisCmd('HEXISTS', [ usr_tpl_key, tplname ], this);
+    },
+    function installCertificate(err, exists) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( exists ) {
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tplname + "' of user '" + owner + "' already exists"); 
+      }
+      var cert = that.getTemplateCertificate(template);
+      that.signed_maps.addCertificate(owner, cert, this);
+    },
+    function installTemplate(err, crt_id) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      template.auth_id = crt_id;
+      var tpl_val = JSON.stringify(template);
+      that._redisCmd('HSET', [ usr_tpl_key, tplname, tpl_val ], this);
+    },
+    function releaseLock(err, newfield) {
+      if ( ! err && ! newfield ) {
+        console.log("ERROR: addTemplate overridden existing template '"
+          + tplname + "' of '" + owner
+          + "' -- HSET returned " + overridden + ": someone added it without locking ?");
+        // TODO: how to recover this ?!
+      }
+
+      if ( ! gotLock ) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        return null;
+      }
+
+      // release the lock
+      var next = this;
+      that._releaseTemplateLock(owner, tplname, function(e, d) {
+        if ( e ) {
+          console.log("Error removing lock on template '" + tplname
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "': " + e);
+        } else if ( ! d ) {
+          console.log("ERROR: lock on template '" + tplname
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' externally removed during insert!");
+        }
+        next(err);
+      });
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      callback(err, tplname);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// Delete a template
+//
+// NOTE: locks user+template_name or fails
+//
+// Also deletes associated authentication certificate, which
+// in turn deletes all instance signatures
+//
+// @param owner cartodb username of the template owner
+//
+// @param tpl_id template identifier as returned
+//        by addTemplate or listTemplates
+//
+// @param callback function(err)
+//
+o.delTemplate = function(owner, tpl_id, callback) {
+  var usr_tpl_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl, {owner:owner});
+  var gotLock = false;
+  var that = this;
+  Step(
+    // try to obtain a lock
+    function obtainLock() {
+      that._obtainTemplateLock(owner, tpl_id, this);
+    },
+    function getExistingTemplate(err, locked) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! locked ) {
+        // Already locked
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + owner + "' is locked");
+      }
+      gotLock = true;
+      that._redisCmd('HGET', [ usr_tpl_key, tpl_id ], this);
+    },
+    function delCertificate(err, tplval) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      var tpl = JSON.parse(tplval);
+      if ( ! tpl.auth_id ) {
+        // not sure this is an error, in case we'll ever
+        // allow unsigned templates...
+        console.log("ERROR: installed template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' has no auth_id reference: "); console.dir(tpl);
+        return null;
+      }
+      var next = this;
+      that.signed_maps.delCertificate(owner, tpl.auth_id, function(err) {
+        if ( err ) {
+          var msg = "ERROR: could not delete certificate '"
+                  + tpl.auth_id + "' associated with template '"
+                  + tpl_id + "' of user '" + owner + "': " + err;
+          // I'm actually not sure we want this event to be fatal
+          // (avoiding a deletion of the template itself) 
+          next(new Error(msg));
+        } else {
+          next();
+        }
+      });
+    },
+    function delTemplate(err) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      that._redisCmd('HDEL', [ usr_tpl_key, tpl_id ], this);
+    },
+    function releaseLock(err, deleted) {
+      if ( ! err && ! deleted ) {
+          console.log("ERROR: template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' externally removed during delete!");
+      }
+
+      if ( ! gotLock ) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        return null;
+      }
+
+      // release the lock
+      var next = this;
+      that._releaseTemplateLock(owner, tpl_id, function(e, d) {
+        if ( e ) {
+          console.log("Error removing lock on template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "': " + e);
+        } else if ( ! d ) {
+          console.log("ERROR: lock on template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' externally removed during delete!");
+        }
+        next(err);
+      });
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      callback(err);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// Update a template
+//
+// NOTE: locks user+template_name or fails
+//
+// Also deletes and re-creates associated authentication certificate,
+// which in turn deletes all instance signatures
+//
+// @param owner cartodb username of the template owner
+//
+// @param tpl_id template identifier as returned by addTemplate
+//
+// @param template layergroup template, see
+//        http://github.com/CartoDB/Windshaft-cartodb/wiki/Template-maps#template-format
+//
+// @param callback function(err)
+//        
+o.updTemplate = function(owner, tpl_id, template, callback) {
+
+  var invalidError = this._checkInvalidTemplate(template);
+  if ( invalidError ) {
+    callback(invalidError);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  var tplname = template.name;
+
+  if ( tpl_id != tplname ) {
+    callback(new Error("Cannot update name of a map template ('" + tpl_id + "' != '" + tplname + "')"));
+    return;
+  }
+
+  var usr_tpl_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl, {owner:owner});
+  var gotLock = false;
+  var that = this;
+  Step(
+    // try to obtain a lock
+    function obtainLock() {
+      that._obtainTemplateLock(owner, tpl_id, this);
+    },
+    function getExistingTemplate(err, locked) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! locked ) {
+        // Already locked
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + owner + "' is locked");
+      }
+      gotLock = true;
+      that._redisCmd('HGET', [ usr_tpl_key, tpl_id ], this);
+    },
+    function delOldCertificate(err, tplval) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! tplval ) {
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '"
+                         + owner +"' does not exist");
+      }
+      var tpl = JSON.parse(tplval);
+      if ( ! tpl.auth_id ) {
+        // not sure this is an error, in case we'll ever
+        // allow unsigned templates...
+        console.log("ERROR: installed template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' has no auth_id reference: "); console.dir(tpl);
+        return null;
+      }
+      var next = this;
+      that.signed_maps.delCertificate(owner, tpl.auth_id, function(err) {
+        if ( err ) {
+          var msg = "ERROR: could not delete certificate '"
+                  + tpl.auth_id + "' associated with template '"
+                  + tpl_id + "' of user '" + owner + "': " + err;
+          // I'm actually not sure we want this event to be fatal
+          // (avoiding a deletion of the template itself) 
+          next(new Error(msg));
+        } else {
+          next();
+        }
+      });
+    },
+    function installNewCertificate(err) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      var cert = that.getTemplateCertificate(template);
+      that.signed_maps.addCertificate(owner, cert, this);
+    },
+    function updTemplate(err, crt_id) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      template.auth_id = crt_id;
+      var tpl_val = JSON.stringify(template);
+      that._redisCmd('HSET', [ usr_tpl_key, tplname, tpl_val ], this);
+    },
+    function releaseLock(err, newfield) {
+      if ( ! err && newfield ) {
+          console.log("ERROR: template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' externally removed during update!");
+      }
+
+      if ( ! gotLock ) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        return null;
+      }
+
+      // release the lock
+      var next = this;
+      that._releaseTemplateLock(owner, tpl_id, function(e, d) {
+        if ( e ) {
+          console.log("Error removing lock on template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "': " + e);
+        } else if ( ! d ) {
+          console.log("ERROR: lock on template '" + tpl_id
+            + "' of user '" + owner + "' externally removed during update!");
+        }
+        next(err);
+      });
+    },
+    function finish(err) {
+      callback(err);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// List user templates
+//
+// @param owner cartodb username of the templates owner
+//
+// @param callback function(err, tpl_id_list)
+//        Returns a list of template identifiers
+// 
+o.listTemplates = function(owner, callback) {
+  var usr_tpl_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl, {owner:owner});
+  this._redisCmd('HKEYS', [ usr_tpl_key ], callback);
+};
+
+// Get a templates
+//
+// @param owner cartodb username of the template owner
+//
+// @param tpl_id template identifier as returned
+//        by addTemplate or listTemplates
+//
+// @param callback function(err, template)
+//        Return full template definition
+//
+o.getTemplate = function(owner, tpl_id, callback) {
+  var usr_tpl_key = _.template(this.key_usr_tpl, {owner:owner});
+  var that = this;
+  Step(
+    function getTemplate() {
+      that._redisCmd('HGET', [ usr_tpl_key, tpl_id ], this);
+    },
+    function parseTemplate(err, tpl_val) {
+      if ( err ) throw err;
+      var tpl = JSON.parse(tpl_val);
+      // Should we strip auth_id ?
+      return tpl;
+    },
+    function finish(err, tpl) {
+      callback(err, tpl);
+    }
+  );
+};
+
+// Perform placeholder substitutions on a template
+//
+// @param template a template object (will not be modified)
+//
+// @param params an object containing named subsitution parameters
+//        Only the ones found in the template's placeholders object
+//        will be used, with missing ones taking default values.
+//
+// @returns a layergroup configuration 
+//
+// @throws Error on malformed template or parameter
+//
+o._reNumber = /^([-+]?[\d\.]?\d+([eE][+-]?\d+)?)$/;
+o._reCSSColorName = /^[a-zA-Z]+$/;
+o._reCSSColorVal = /^#[0-9a-fA-F]{3,6}$/;
+o._replaceVars = function(str, params) {
+  //return _.template(str, params); // lazy way, possibly dangerous 
+  // Construct regular expressions for each param
+  if ( ! params._re ) {
+    params._re = {};
+    for (var k in params) {
+      params._re[k] = RegExp("<%= " + k + " %>", "g");
+    }
+  }
+  for (var k in params) str = str.replace(params._re[k], params[k]);
+  return str;
+};
+o.instance = function(template, params) {
+  var all_params = {};
+  var phold = template.placeholders;
+  for (var k in phold) {
+    var val = params.hasOwnProperty(k) ? params[k] : phold[k].default;
+    var type = phold[k].type;
+    // properly escape
+    if ( type === 'sql_literal' ) {
+      // duplicate any single-quote
+      val = val.replace(/'/g, "''");
+    }
+    else if ( type === 'sql_ident' ) {
+      // duplicate any double-quote
+      val = val.replace(/"/g, '""');
+    }
+    else if ( type === 'number' ) {
+      // check it's a number
+      if ( ! val.match(this._reNumber) ) {
+        throw new Error("Invalid number value for template parameter '"
+          + k + "': " + val);
+      }
+    }
+    else if ( type === 'css_color' ) {
+      // check it only contains letters or
+      // starts with # and only contains hexdigits
+      if ( ! val.match(this._reCSSColorName) && ! val.match(this._reCSSColorVal) ) {
+        throw new Error("Invalid css_color value for template parameter '"
+          + k + "': " + val);
+      }
+    }
+    else {
+      // NOTE: should be checked at template create/update time
+      throw new Error("Invalid placeholder type '" + type + "'");
+    }
+    all_params[k] = val;
+  }
+
+  // NOTE: we're deep-cloning the layergroup here
+  var layergroup = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(template.layergroup));
+  for (var i=0; i<layergroup.layers.length; ++i) {
+    var lyropt = layergroup.layers[i].options;
+    lyropt.cartocss = this._replaceVars(lyropt.cartocss, all_params);
+    lyropt.sql = this._replaceVars(lyropt.sql, all_params);
+    // Anything else ?
+  }
+  return layergroup;
+};
+
+module.exports = TemplateMaps;
diff --git a/npm-shrinkwrap.json b/npm-shrinkwrap.json
index 743e1838..4c6c37e2 100644
--- a/npm-shrinkwrap.json
+++ b/npm-shrinkwrap.json
@@ -266,18 +266,26 @@
     "cartodb-redis": {
       "version": "0.3.0"
     },
+    "redis-mpool": {
+      "version": "0.0.2",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "generic-pool": {
+          "version": "2.0.4"
+        }
+      }
+    },
     "mapnik": {
       "version": "0.7.25"
     },
     "lzma": {
       "version": "1.2.3"
     },
-    "semver": {
-      "version": "1.1.4"
-    },
     "strftime": {
       "version": "0.6.2"
     },
+    "semver": {
+      "version": "1.1.4"
+    },
     "redis": {
       "version": "0.8.6"
     },
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5c0c56f7..9e1ce7fe 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
         "step": "0.0.x",
         "request": "2.9.202",
         "cartodb-redis": "~0.3.0",
+        "redis-mpool": "~0.0.2",
         "mapnik": "~0.7.22",
         "lzma": "~1.2.3"
     },
diff --git a/test/acceptance/templates.js b/test/acceptance/templates.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5b2db52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/acceptance/templates.js
@@ -0,0 +1,910 @@
+var assert      = require('../support/assert');
+var tests       = module.exports = {};
+var _           = require('underscore');
+var redis       = require('redis');
+var querystring = require('querystring');
+var semver      = require('semver');
+var mapnik      = require('mapnik');
+var Step        = require('step');
+var strftime    = require('strftime');
+var SQLAPIEmu   = require(__dirname + '/../support/SQLAPIEmu.js');
+var redis_stats_db = 5;
+
+require(__dirname + '/../support/test_helper');
+
+var windshaft_fixtures = __dirname + '/../../node_modules/windshaft/test/fixtures';
+
+var CartodbWindshaft = require(__dirname + '/../../lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft');
+var serverOptions = require(__dirname + '/../../lib/cartodb/server_options');
+var server = new CartodbWindshaft(serverOptions);
+server.setMaxListeners(0);
+
+suite('template_api', function() {
+
+    var redis_client = redis.createClient(global.environment.redis.port);
+    var sqlapi_server;
+    var expected_last_updated_epoch = 1234567890123; // this is hard-coded into SQLAPIEmu
+    var expected_last_updated = new Date(expected_last_updated_epoch).toISOString();
+
+    suiteSetup(function(done){
+      sqlapi_server = new SQLAPIEmu(global.environment.sqlapi.port, done);
+      // TODO: check redis is clean ?
+    });
+
+    var template_acceptance1 =  {
+        version: '0.0.1',
+        name: 'acceptance1',
+        auth: { method: 'open' },
+        layergroup:  {
+          version: '1.0.0',
+          layers: [
+             { options: {
+                 sql: 'select cartodb_id, ST_Translate(the_geom_webmercator, -5e6, 0) as the_geom_webmercator from test_table limit 2 offset 2',
+                 cartocss: '#layer { marker-fill:blue; marker-allow-overlap:true; }', 
+                 cartocss_version: '2.0.2',
+                 interactivity: 'cartodb_id'
+               } }
+          ]
+        }
+    };
+
+    test("can add template, returning id", function(done) {
+
+      var errors = [];
+      var expected_failure = false;
+      var expected_tpl_id = "localhost@acceptance1";
+      var post_request_1 = {
+          url: '/tiles/template',
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+      }
+      Step(
+        function postUnauthenticated()
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request_1, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function postTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'), res.body);
+          err = parsed.error;
+          assert.ok(err.match(/only.*authenticated.*user/i),
+            'Unexpected error response: ' + err);
+          post_request_1.url += '?api_key=1234';
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request_1, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function rePostTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsedBody = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          var expectedBody = { template_id: expected_tpl_id };
+          assert.deepEqual(parsedBody, expectedBody);
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request_1, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkFailure(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 400, res.body);
+          var parsedBody = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.hasOwnProperty('error'), res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.error.match(/already exists/i),
+            'Unexpected error for pre-existing template name: ' + parsedBody.error);
+          return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push(err);
+          redis_client.keys("map_*|localhost", function(err, keys) {
+              if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+              var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+                if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt)|/) )
+                  return m;
+              });
+              if ( todrop.length != 2 ) {
+                errors.push(new Error("Unexpected keys in redis: " + todrop));
+              } else {
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_tpl|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_tpl|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_crt|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_crt|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+              }
+              redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+                if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+                if ( errors.length ) {
+                  done(new Error(errors));
+                }
+                else done(null);
+              });
+          });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test("can list templates", function(done) {
+
+      var errors = [];
+      var expected_failure = false;
+      var tplid1, tplid2;
+      Step(
+        function postTemplate1(err, res)
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function postTemplate2(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          tplid1 = parsed.template_id;
+
+          var next = this;
+          var backup_name = template_acceptance1.name;
+          template_acceptance1.name += '_new';
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          template_acceptance1.name = backup_name;
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function litsTemplatesUnauthenticated(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          tplid2 = parsed.template_id;
+          var next = this;
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template',
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function litsTemplates(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401, res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'),
+            'Missing error from response: ' + res.body);
+          err = parsed.error;
+          assert.ok(err.match(/authenticated user/), err);
+          var next = this;
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkList(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_ids'),
+            "Missing 'template_ids' from response body: " + res.body);
+          var ids = parsed.template_ids;
+          assert.equal(ids.length, 2);
+          assert.ok(ids.indexOf(tplid1) != -1,
+            'Missing "' + tplid1 + "' from list response: " + ids.join(','));
+          assert.ok(ids.indexOf(tplid2) != -1,
+            'Missing "' + tplid2 + "' from list response: " + ids.join(','));
+          return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push(err);
+          redis_client.keys("map_*|localhost", function(err, keys) {
+              if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+              var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+                if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt)|/) )
+                  return m;
+              });
+              if ( todrop.length != 2 ) {
+                errors.push(new Error("Unexpected keys in redis: " + todrop));
+              } else {
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_tpl|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_tpl|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_crt|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_crt|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+              }
+              redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+                if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+                if ( errors.length ) {
+                  done(new Error(errors));
+                }
+                else done(null);
+              });
+          });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test("can update template", function(done) {
+
+      var errors = [];
+      var expected_failure = false;
+      var tpl_id;
+      Step(
+        function postTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function putMisnamedTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          tpl_id = parsed.template_id;
+          var backup_name = template_acceptance1.name;
+          template_acceptance1.name = 'changed_name';
+          var put_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '/?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'PUT',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          template_acceptance1.name = backup_name;
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, put_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function putUnexistentTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 400, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsedBody = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.hasOwnProperty('error'), res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.error.match(/cannot update name/i),
+            'Unexpected error for invalid update: ' + parsedBody.error);
+          var put_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/unexistent/?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'PUT',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, put_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function putValidTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 400, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsedBody = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.hasOwnProperty('error'), res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.error.match(/cannot update name/i),
+            'Unexpected error for invalid update: ' + parsedBody.error);
+          var put_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '/?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'PUT',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, put_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkValidUpate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.equal(tpl_id, parsed.template_id);
+          return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push(err);
+          redis_client.keys("map_*|localhost", function(err, keys) {
+              if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+              var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+                if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt)|/) )
+                  return m;
+              });
+              if ( todrop.length != 2 ) {
+                errors.push(new Error("Unexpected keys in redis: " + todrop));
+              } else {
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_tpl|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_tpl|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_crt|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_crt|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+              }
+              redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+                if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+                if ( errors.length ) {
+                  done(new Error(errors));
+                }
+                else done(null);
+              });
+          });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test("can get a template by id", function(done) {
+
+      var errors = [];
+      var expected_failure = false;
+      var tpl_id;
+      Step(
+        function postTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function getTemplateUnauthorized(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          tpl_id = parsed.template_id;
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id, 
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function getTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsedBody = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.hasOwnProperty('error'), res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsedBody.error.match(/only.*authenticated.*user/i),
+            'Unexpected error for unauthenticated template get: ' + parsedBody.error);
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '?api_key=1234', 
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkReturnTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template'),
+            "Missing 'template' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.deepEqual(template_acceptance1, parsed.template);
+          return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push(err);
+          redis_client.keys("map_*|localhost", function(err, keys) {
+              if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+              var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+                if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt)|/) )
+                  return m;
+              });
+              if ( todrop.length != 2 ) {
+                errors.push(new Error("Unexpected keys in redis: " + todrop));
+              } else {
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_tpl|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_tpl|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+                if ( todrop.indexOf('map_crt|localhost') == -1 ) {
+                  errors.push(new Error("Missing 'map_crt|localhost' key in redis"));
+                }
+              }
+              redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+                if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+                if ( errors.length ) {
+                  done(new Error(errors));
+                }
+                else done(null);
+              });
+          });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test("can delete a template by id", function(done) {
+
+      var errors = [];
+      var expected_failure = false;
+      var tpl_id;
+      Step(
+        function postTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance1)
+          }
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function getTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          tpl_id = parsed.template_id;
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '?api_key=1234', 
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function deleteTemplateUnauthorized(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template'),
+            "Missing 'template' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.deepEqual(template_acceptance1, parsed.template);
+          var del_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id,
+              method: 'DELETE',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, del_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function deleteTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401, res.statusCode + ": " + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'),
+            "Missing 'error' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.error.match(/only.*authenticated.*user/i),
+            'Unexpected error for unauthenticated template get: ' + parsed.error);
+          var del_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '?api_key=1234', 
+              method: 'DELETE',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, del_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function getMissingTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 204, res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          assert.ok(!res.body, 'Unexpected body in DELETE /template response');
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '?api_key=1234', 
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkGetFailure(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 404, res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'),
+            "Missing 'error' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.error.match(/cannot find/i),
+            'Unexpected error for missing template: ' + parsed.error);
+          return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push(err);
+          redis_client.keys("map_*|localhost", function(err, keys) {
+              if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+              var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+                if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt)|/) )
+                  return m;
+              });
+              if ( todrop.length ) {
+                errors.push(new Error("Unexpected keys in redis: " + todrop));
+                redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+                  if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+                  if ( errors.length ) {
+                    done(new Error(errors));
+                  }
+                  else done(null);
+                });
+              } else {
+                  if ( errors.length ) {
+                    done(new Error(errors));
+                  }
+                  else done(null);
+              }
+          });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test("can instanciate a template by id", function(done) {
+
+      // This map fetches data from a private table
+      var template_acceptance2 =  {
+          version: '0.0.1',
+          name: 'acceptance1',
+          auth: { method: 'token', valid_tokens: ['valid1','valid2'] },
+          layergroup:  {
+            version: '1.0.0',
+            layers: [
+               { options: {
+                   sql: "select * from test_table_private_1 LIMIT 0",
+                   cartocss: '#layer { marker-fill:blue; marker-allow-overlap:true; }', 
+                   cartocss_version: '2.0.2',
+                   interactivity: 'cartodb_id'
+                 } }
+            ]
+          }
+      };
+
+      var template_params = {};
+
+      var errors = [];
+      var expected_failure = false;
+      var tpl_id;
+      var layergroupid;
+      Step(
+        function postTemplate(err, res)
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_acceptance2)
+          }
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function instanciateNoAuth(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('template_id'),
+            "Missing 'template_id' from response body: " + res.body);
+          tpl_id = parsed.template_id;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id,
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_params)
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function instanciateAuth(err, res)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401,
+            'Unexpected success instanciating template with no auth: '
+            + res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'),
+            "Missing 'error' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.error.match(/unauthorized/i),
+            'Unexpected error for unauthorized instance : ' + parsed.error);
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '?auth_token=valid2',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template_params)
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function fetchTileNoAuth(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200,
+            'Instantiating template: ' + res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('layergroupid'),
+            "Missing 'layergroupid' from response body: " + res.body);
+          layergroupid = parsed.layergroupid;
+          assert.ok(layergroupid.match(/^localhost@/),
+            "Returned layergroupid does not start with signer name: "
+            + layergroupid);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('last_updated'),
+            "Missing 'last_updated' from response body: " + res.body);
+          // TODO: check value of last_updated ?
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/layergroup/' + layergroupid + ':cb0/0/0/0.png',
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost' },
+              encoding: 'binary'
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function fetchTileAuth(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401,
+            'Fetching tile with no auth: ' + res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'),
+            "Missing 'error' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.error.match(/permission denied/i),
+            'Unexpected error for unauthorized instance '
+            + '(expected /permission denied): ' + parsed.error);
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/layergroup/' + layergroupid + '/0/0/0.png?auth_token=valid1',
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost' },
+              encoding: 'binary'
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkTile(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, 
+            'Unexpected error for authorized instance: '
+            + res.statusCode + ' -- ' + res.body);
+          assert.equal(res.headers['content-type'], "image/png");
+          return null;
+        },
+        function deleteTemplate(err)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          var del_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + tpl_id + '?api_key=1234', 
+              method: 'DELETE',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, del_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function fetchTileDeleted(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 204,
+            'Deleting template: ' + res.statusCode + ':' + res.body);
+          var get_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/layergroup/' + layergroupid + '/0/0/0.png?auth_token=valid1',
+              method: 'GET',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost' },
+              encoding: 'binary'
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, get_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function checkTileDeleted(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 401, 
+            'Unexpected statusCode fetch tile after signature revokal: '
+            + res.statusCode + ':' + res.body); 
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('error'),
+            "Missing 'error' from response body: " + res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.error.match(/permission denied/i),
+            'Unexpected error for unauthorized access : ' + parsed.error);
+          return null;
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push(err);
+          redis_client.keys("map_*|localhost", function(err, keys) {
+              if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+              var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+                if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt)|/) )
+                  return m;
+              });
+              if ( todrop.length ) {
+                errors.push(new Error("Unexpected keys in redis: " + todrop));
+                redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+                  if ( err ) errors.push(err.message);
+                  if ( errors.length ) {
+                    done(new Error(errors));
+                  }
+                  else done(null);
+                });
+              } else {
+                  if ( errors.length ) {
+                    done(new Error(errors));
+                  }
+                  else done(null);
+              }
+          });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test("template instantiation raises mapviews counter", function(done) {
+      var layergroup =  {
+        stat_tag: 'random_tag',
+        version: '1.0.0',
+        layers: [
+           { options: {
+               sql: 'select 1 as cartodb_id, !pixel_height! as h, '
+                  + 'ST_Buffer(!bbox!, -32*greatest(!pixel_width!,!pixel_height!)) as the_geom_webmercator',
+               cartocss: '#layer { polygon-fill:red; }', 
+               cartocss_version: '2.0.1' 
+             } }
+        ]
+      };
+      var template =  {
+          version: '0.0.1',
+          name: 'stat_gathering',
+          auth: { method: 'open' },
+          layergroup: layergroup
+      };
+      var statskey = "user:localhost:mapviews";
+      var redis_stats_client = redis.createClient(global.environment.redis.port);
+      var template_id; // will be set on template post 
+      var now = strftime("%Y%m%d", new Date());
+      var errors = [];
+      Step(
+        function clean_stats()
+        {
+          var next = this;
+          redis_stats_client.select(redis_stats_db, function(err) {
+            if ( err ) next(err);
+            else redis_stats_client.del(statskey+':global', next);
+          });
+        },
+        function do_post_tempate(err)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template?api_key=1234',
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify(template)
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function instantiateTemplate(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200, res.body);
+          template_id = JSON.parse(res.body).template_id;
+          var post_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + template_id,
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              data: JSON.stringify({})
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, post_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function check_global_stats(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 200,
+            'Instantiating template: ' + res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          var parsed = JSON.parse(res.body);
+          assert.ok(parsed.hasOwnProperty('layergroupid'),
+            "Missing 'layergroupid' from response body: " + res.body);
+          layergroupid = parsed.layergroupid;
+          redis_stats_client.zscore(statskey + ":global", now, this);
+        },
+        function check_tag_stats(err, val) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(val, 1, "Expected score of " + now + " in "
+              +  statskey + ":global to be 1, got " + val);
+          redis_stats_client.zscore(statskey+':stat_tag:random_tag', now, this);
+        },
+        function check_tag_stats_value(err, val) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(val, 1, "Expected score of " + now + " in "
+              +  statskey + ":stat_tag:" + layergroup.stat_tag + " to be 1, got " + val);
+          return null;
+        },
+        function deleteTemplate(err)
+        {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          var del_request = {
+              url: '/tiles/template/' + template_id + '?api_key=1234', 
+              method: 'DELETE',
+              headers: {host: 'localhost'}
+          }
+          var next = this;
+          assert.response(server, del_request, {},
+            function(res) { next(null, res); });
+        },
+        function cleanup_stats(err, res) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.equal(res.statusCode, 204, res.statusCode + ': ' + res.body);
+          if ( err ) errors.push('' + err);
+          redis_client.del([statskey+':global', statskey+':stat_tag:'+layergroup.stat_tag], this);
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          if ( err ) errors.push('' + err);
+          if ( errors.length ) done(new Error(errors.join(',')));
+          else done(null);
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    suiteTeardown(function(done) {
+
+        // This test will add map_style records, like
+        // 'map_style|null|publicuser|my_table',
+        redis_client.keys("map_*", function(err, keys) {
+            var todrop = _.map(keys, function(m) {
+              if ( m.match(/^map_(tpl|crt|sig)|/) ) return m;
+            });
+            redis_client.del(todrop, function(err) {
+              redis_client.select(5, function(err) {
+                redis_client.keys("user:localhost:mapviews*", function(err, keys) {
+                  redis_client.del(keys, function(err) {
+                    sqlapi_server.close(done);
+                  });
+                });
+              });
+            });
+        });
+
+    });
+    
+});
+
diff --git a/test/unit/cartodb/signed_maps.test.js b/test/unit/cartodb/signed_maps.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cac35cea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/cartodb/signed_maps.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+var assert = require('assert')
+  //, _ = require('underscore')
+  , RedisPool = require('redis-mpool')
+  , SignedMaps = require('../../../lib/cartodb/signed_maps.js')
+  , test_helper = require('../../support/test_helper')
+  , Step = require('step')
+  , tests = module.exports = {};
+
+suite('signed_maps', function() {
+
+    // configure redis pool instance to use in tests
+    var redis_pool = RedisPool(global.environment.redis);
+    
+    test('can sign map with open and token-based auth', function(done) {
+      var smap = new SignedMaps(redis_pool);
+      assert.ok(smap);
+      var sig = 'sig1';
+      var map = 'map1';
+      var tok = 'tok1';
+      var crt = {
+        version:'0.0.1',
+        layergroup_id:map,
+        auth: {}
+      };
+      var crt1_id; // by token
+      var crt2_id; // open
+      Step(
+        function() {
+          smap.isAuthorized(sig,map,tok,this);
+        },
+        function checkAuthFailure1(err, authorized) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(!authorized, "unexpectedly authorized");
+          crt.auth.method = 'token';
+          crt.auth.valid_tokens = [tok];
+          smap.addSignature(sig, map, crt, this)
+        },
+        function getCert1(err, id) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(id, "undefined signature id");
+          crt1_id = id; // keep note of it
+//console.log("Certificate 1 is " + crt1_id);
+          smap.isAuthorized(sig,map,'',this);
+        },
+        function checkAuthFailure2(err, authorized) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(!authorized, "unexpectedly authorized");
+          smap.isAuthorized(sig,map,tok,this);
+        },
+        function checkAuthSuccess1(err, authorized) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(authorized, "unauthorized :(");
+          crt.auth.method = 'open';
+          delete crt.auth.valid_tokens;
+          smap.addSignature(sig, map, crt, this)
+        },
+        function getCert2(err, id) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(id, "undefined signature id");
+          crt2_id = id; // keep note of it
+//console.log("Certificate 2 is " + crt2_id);
+          smap.isAuthorized(sig,map,'arbitrary',this);
+        },
+        function checkAuthSuccess2_delCert2(err, authorized) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(authorized, "unauthorized :(");
+          var next = this;
+          smap.delCertificate(sig, crt2_id, function(e) {
+            if (e) next(e);
+            else smap.isAuthorized(sig,map,'arbitrary',next);
+          });
+        },
+        function checkAuthFailure3_delCert2(err, authorized) {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          assert.ok(!authorized, "unexpectedly authorized");
+          smap.delCertificate(sig, crt1_id, this);
+        },
+        function finish(err) {
+          done(err);
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
+    
+});
diff --git a/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps.test.js b/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21b465d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,400 @@
+var assert = require('assert')
+  //, _ = require('underscore')
+  , RedisPool = require('redis-mpool')
+  , SignedMaps = require('../../../lib/cartodb/signed_maps.js')
+  , TemplateMaps = require('../../../lib/cartodb/template_maps.js')
+  , test_helper = require('../../support/test_helper')
+  , Step = require('step')
+  , tests = module.exports = {};
+
+suite('template_maps', function() {
+
+  // configure redis pool instance to use in tests
+  var redis_pool = RedisPool(global.environment.redis);
+  var signed_maps = new SignedMaps(redis_pool);
+    
+  test('does not accept template with unsupported version', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var tpl = { version:'6.6.6',
+      name:'k', auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    Step(
+      function() {
+        tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, this);
+      },
+      function checkFailed(err) {
+        assert.ok(err);
+        assert.ok(err.message.match(/unsupported.*version/i), err);
+        return null;
+      },
+      function finish(err) {
+        done(err);
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('does not accept template with missing name', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    Step(
+      function() {
+        tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, this);
+      },
+      function checkFailed(err) {
+        assert.ok(err);
+        assert.ok(err.message.match(/missing.*name/i), err);
+        return null;
+      },
+      function finish(err) {
+        done(err);
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('does not accept template with invalid name', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    var invalidnames = [ "ab|", "a b", "a@b", "1ab", "_x", "", " x", "x " ];
+    var testNext = function() {
+      if ( ! invalidnames.length ) { done(); return; }
+      var n = invalidnames.pop();
+      tpl.name = n;
+      tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, function(err) {
+        if ( ! err ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected success with invalid name '" + n + "'"));
+        }
+        else if ( ! err.message.match(/template.*name/i) ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected error message with invalid name '" + n
+            + "': " + err));
+        }
+        else {
+          testNext();
+        }
+      });
+    };
+    testNext();
+  });
+
+  test('does not accept template with invalid placeholder name', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      name: "valid", placeholders: {},
+      auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    var invalidnames = [ "ab|", "a b", "a@b", "1ab", "_x", "", " x", "x " ];
+    var testNext = function() {
+      if ( ! invalidnames.length ) { done(); return; }
+      var n = invalidnames.pop();
+      tpl.placeholders = {};
+      tpl.placeholders[n] = { type:'number', default:1 };
+      tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, function(err) {
+        if ( ! err ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected success with invalid name '" + n + "'"));
+        }
+        else if ( ! err.message.match(/invalid.*name/i) ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected error message with invalid name '" + n
+            + "': " + err));
+        }
+        else {
+          testNext();
+        }
+      });
+    };
+    testNext();
+  });
+
+  test('does not accept template with missing placeholder default', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      name: "valid", placeholders: { v: {} },
+      auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, function(err) {
+        if ( ! err ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected success with missing placeholder default"));
+        }
+        else if ( ! err.message.match(/missing default/i) ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected error message with missing placeholder default: "
+            + err));
+        }
+        else {
+          done();
+        }
+      });
+  });
+
+  test('does not accept template with missing placeholder type', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      name: "valid", placeholders: { v: { default:1 } },
+      auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, function(err) {
+        if ( ! err ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected success with missing placeholder type"));
+        }
+        else if ( ! err.message.match(/missing type/i) ) {
+          done(new Error("Unexpected error message with missing placeholder default: "
+            + err));
+        }
+        else {
+          done();
+        }
+      });
+  });
+
+  test('add, get and delete a valid template', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var expected_failure = false;
+    var tpl_id;
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      name: 'first', auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    Step(
+      function() {
+        tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, this);
+      },
+      function addOmonimousTemplate(err, id) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        tpl_id = id;
+        assert.equal(tpl_id, 'first');
+        expected_failure = true;
+        // should fail, as it already exists
+        tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl, this);
+      },
+      function getTemplate(err) {
+        if ( ! expected_failure && err ) throw err;
+        assert.ok(err);
+        assert.ok(err.message.match(/already exists/i), err);
+        tmap.getTemplate('me', tpl_id, this);
+      },
+      function delTemplate(err, got_tpl) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        assert.deepEqual(got_tpl, tpl);
+        tmap.delTemplate('me', tpl_id, this);
+      },
+      function finish(err) {
+        done(err);
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('add multiple templates, list them', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var expected_failure = false;
+    var tpl1 = { version:'0.0.1', name: 'first', auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    var tpl1_id;
+    var tpl2 = { version:'0.0.1', name: 'second', auth: {}, layergroup: {} };
+    var tpl2_id;
+    Step(
+      function addTemplate1() {
+        tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl1, this);
+      },
+      function addTemplate2(err, id) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        tpl1_id = id;
+        tmap.addTemplate('me', tpl2, this);
+      },
+      function listTemplates(err, id) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        tpl2_id = id;
+        tmap.listTemplates('me', this);
+      },
+      function checkTemplates(err, ids) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        assert.equal(ids.length, 2);
+        assert.ok(ids.indexOf(tpl1_id) != -1, ids.join(','));
+        assert.ok(ids.indexOf(tpl2_id) != -1, ids.join(','));
+        return null;
+      },
+      function delTemplate1(err) {
+        if ( tpl1_id ) {
+          var next = this;
+          tmap.delTemplate('me', tpl1_id, function(e) {
+            if ( err || e ) next(new Error(err + '; ' + e));
+            else next();
+          });
+        } else {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          return null;
+        }
+      },
+      function delTemplate2(err) {
+        if ( tpl2_id ) {
+          var next = this;
+          tmap.delTemplate('me', tpl2_id, function(e) {
+            if ( err || e ) next(new Error(err + '; ' + e));
+            else next();
+          });
+        } else {
+          if ( err ) throw err;
+          return null;
+        }
+      },
+      function finish(err) {
+        done(err);
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('update templates', function(done) {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+    var expected_failure = false;
+    var owner = 'me';
+    var tpl = { version:'0.0.1',
+      name: 'first',
+      auth: { method: 'open' },
+      layergroup: {}
+    };
+    var tpl_id;
+    Step(
+      function addTemplate() {
+        tmap.addTemplate(owner, tpl, this);
+      },
+      // Updating template name should fail
+      function updateTemplateName(err, id) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        tpl_id = id;
+        expected_failure = true;
+        tpl.name = 'second';
+        tmap.updTemplate(owner, tpl_id, tpl, this);
+      },
+      function updateTemplateAuth(err) {
+        if ( err && ! expected_failure) throw err;
+        expected_failure = false;
+        assert.ok(err);
+        tpl.name = 'first';
+        tpl.auth.method = 'token';
+        tmap.updTemplate(owner, tpl_id, tpl, this);
+      },
+      function updateTemplateWithInvalid(err) {
+        if ( err ) throw err;
+        tpl.version = '999.999.999';
+        expected_failure = true;
+        tmap.updTemplate(owner, tpl_id, tpl, this);
+      },
+      function updateUnexistentTemplate(err) {
+        if ( err && ! expected_failure) throw err;
+        expected_failure = false;
+        assert.ok(err);
+        assert.ok(err.message.match(/unsupported.*version/i), err);
+        tpl.version = '0.0.1';
+        expected_failure = true;
+        tmap.updTemplate(owner, 'unexistent', tpl, this);
+      },
+      function delTemplate(err) {
+        if ( err && ! expected_failure) throw err;
+        expected_failure = false;
+        assert.ok(err);
+        assert.ok(err.message.match(/cannot update name/i), err);
+        tmap.delTemplate(owner, tpl_id, this);
+      },
+      function finish(err) {
+        done(err);
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('instanciate templates', function() {
+    var tmap = new TemplateMaps(redis_pool, signed_maps);
+    assert.ok(tmap);
+
+    var tpl1 =  {
+        version: '0.0.1',
+        name: 'acceptance1',
+        auth: { method: 'open' },
+        placeholders: {
+          fill: { type: "css_color", default: "red" },
+          color: { type: "css_color", default: "#a0fF9A" },
+          name: { type: "sql_literal", default: "test" },
+          zoom: { type: "number", default: "0" },
+        },
+        layergroup: {
+          version: '1.0.0',
+          global_cartocss_version: '2.0.2',
+          layers: [
+             { options: {
+                 sql: "select '<%= name %>' || id, g from t",
+                 cartocss: '#layer { marker-fill:<%= fill %>; }'
+               } },
+             { options: {
+                 sql: "select fun('<%= name %>') g from x",
+                 cartocss: '#layer { line-color:<%= color %>; marker-fill:<%= color %>; }'
+               } },
+             { options: {
+                 sql: "select g from x",
+                 cartocss: '#layer[zoom=<%=zoom%>] { }'
+               } }
+          ]
+        }
+    };
+
+    var inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {});
+
+    var lyr = inst.layers[0].options;
+    assert.equal(lyr.sql, "select 'test' || id, g from t");
+    assert.equal(lyr.cartocss, '#layer { marker-fill:red; }');
+
+    lyr = inst.layers[1].options;
+    assert.equal(lyr.sql, "select fun('test') g from x");
+    assert.equal(lyr.cartocss, '#layer { line-color:#a0fF9A; marker-fill:#a0fF9A; }');
+
+    inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {color:'yellow', name:"it's dangerous"});
+
+    lyr = inst.layers[0].options;
+    assert.equal(lyr.sql, "select 'it''s dangerous' || id, g from t");
+    assert.equal(lyr.cartocss, '#layer { marker-fill:red; }');
+
+    lyr = inst.layers[1].options;
+    assert.equal(lyr.sql, "select fun('it''s dangerous') g from x");
+    assert.equal(lyr.cartocss, '#layer { line-color:yellow; marker-fill:yellow; }');
+
+    // Invalid css_color
+    var err = null;
+    try { inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {color:'##ff00ff'}); }
+    catch (e) { err = e; }
+    assert.ok(err);
+    assert.ok(err.message.match(/invalid css_color/i), err);
+
+    // Invalid css_color 2 (too few digits)
+    var err = null;
+    try { inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {color:'#ff'}); }
+    catch (e) { err = e; }
+    assert.ok(err);
+    assert.ok(err.message.match(/invalid css_color/i), err);
+
+    // Invalid css_color 3 (too many digits)
+    var err = null;
+    try { inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {color:'#1234567'}); }
+    catch (e) { err = e; }
+    assert.ok(err);
+    assert.ok(err.message.match(/invalid css_color/i), err);
+
+    // Invalid number
+    var err = null;
+    try { inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {zoom:'#'}); }
+    catch (e) { err = e; }
+    assert.ok(err);
+    assert.ok(err.message.match(/invalid number/i), err);
+
+    // Invalid number 2
+    var err = null;
+    try { inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {zoom:'23e'}); }
+    catch (e) { err = e; }
+    assert.ok(err);
+    assert.ok(err.message.match(/invalid number/i), err);
+
+    // Valid number
+    var err = null;
+    try { inst = tmap.instance(tpl1, {zoom:'-.23e10'}); }
+    catch (e) { err = e; }
+    assert.ok(!err);
+  });
+    
+});