diff --git a/dapps/creators/react/.npmrc b/dapps/creators/react/.npmrc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e031d3432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dapps/creators/react/.npmrc
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+engine-strict = true
+package-lock = false
+save-exact = true
+scripts-prepend-node-path = true
diff --git a/dapps/creators/react/README.md b/dapps/creators/react/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..764e2c225
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dapps/creators/react/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# `embark-create-react-dapp`
+
+> DApp creator utility that uses Create React App
+
+Visit [framework.embarklabs.io](https://framework.embarklabs.io/) to get started with
+[Embark](https://github.com/embarklabs/embark).
diff --git a/dapps/creators/react/bin/create b/dapps/creators/react/bin/create
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..5d42c467f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dapps/creators/react/bin/create
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/* global process require */
+
+require('source-map-support/register');
+require('..').main()
+  .then(code => {
+    process.exit(code ? code : 0);
+  })
+  .catch(error => {
+    console.error(error.stack);
+    process.exit(1);
+  });
diff --git a/dapps/creators/react/package.json b/dapps/creators/react/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4121528f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dapps/creators/react/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+{
+  "name": "@embarklabs/create-react-dapp",
+  "version": "5.2.1",
+  "author": "Michael Bradley <michaelsbradleyjr@gmail.com> (https://github.com/michaelsbradleyjr/)",
+  "description": "DApp creator utility that uses Create React App",
+  "homepage": "https://github.com/embarklabs/embark/tree/master/dapps/creators/react#readme",
+  "repository": {
+    "directory": "dapps/creators/react",
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/embarklabs/embark.git"
+  },
+  "keywords": [
+    "blockchain",
+    "create-react-app",
+    "dapps",
+    "ethereum",
+    "ipfs",
+    "react",
+    "serverless",
+    "solc",
+    "solidity"
+  ],
+  "license": "MIT",
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public"
+  },
+  "bin": "./bin/create",
+  "main": "./dist/index.js",
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ],
+  "embark-collective": {
+    "build:node": true
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "_build": "npm run solo -- build",
+    "ci": "npm run qa",
+    "clean": "npm run reset",
+    "lint": "eslint bin/create src/",
+    "qa": "npm-run-all lint _build",
+    "reset": "npx rimraf dist embark-*.tgz package",
+    "solo": "embark-solo"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "embark-i18n": "^5.1.1",
+    "embark-init": "^5.2.1",
+    "lodash.clonedeep": "4.5.0",
+    "source-map-support": "0.5.13"
+  },
+  "eslintConfig": {
+    "extends": "../../../.eslintrc.json"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@babel/runtime-corejs3": "7.7.4",
+    "embark-solo": "^5.1.1",
+    "eslint": "5.7.0",
+    "npm-run-all": "4.1.5",
+    "rimraf": "3.0.0"
+  },
+  "indirect": {
+    "dependencies": {
+      "create-react-app": "^3.3.1"
+    }
+  },
+  "engines": {
+    "node": ">=10.17.0",
+    "npm": ">=6.11.3",
+    "yarn": ">=1.19.1"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/dapps/creators/react/src/index.js b/dapps/creators/react/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cbc4f8f0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dapps/creators/react/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/* global __dirname require */
+
+import { __ } from 'embark-i18n';
+import { creatorDefaults, makeCreatorMain } from 'embark-init';
+import cloneDeep from 'lodash.clonedeep';
+import { join } from 'path';
+
+const pkgJsonPath = join(__dirname, "..", "package.json");
+const pkgJson = require(pkgJsonPath);
+const version = pkgJson.version;
+
+const creator = cloneDeep(creatorDefaults);
+creator.extraHelp = () => {
+  console.log('');
+  console.log('EXTRA HELP SECTION FOR react-dapp');
+};
+creator.version = version;
+
+delete creator.init.options.contractsOnly;
+delete creator.init.options.simple;
+delete creator.init.presets.contractsOnly;
+const defaultPreset = '@embarklabs/dapps-presets-react-boilerplate';
+creator.init.presets.default = `${defaultPreset}@${pkgJson.devDependencies[defaultPreset]}`;
+const demoPreset = '@embarklabs/dapps-presets-react-demo';
+creator.init.presets.demo = `${demoPreset}@${pkgJson.devDependencies[demoPreset]}`;
+
+const subcreator = 'create-react-app';
+creator.subcreator.abbrev = 'cra';
+creator.subcreator.command = ['{{subcreator.package}}', [2], {abc:123}];
+creator.subcreator.name = subcreator;
+creator.subcreator.package = '{{subcreator.name}}@{{subcreator.version}}';
+creator.subcreator.version = pkgJson.indirect.dependencies[subcreator];
+
+// const subcreator = '@angular/cli';
+// creator.subcreator.abbrev = 'ng';
+// creator.subcreator.command = ['-p', '{{subcreator.package}}', 'ng', 'new'];
+// creator.subcreator.name = subcreator;
+// creator.subcreator.package = '{{subcreator.name}}@{{subcreator.version}}';
+// creator.subcreator.version = pkgJson.indirect.dependencies[subcreator];
+
+export const main = makeCreatorMain(creator);
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3a461cb70..8d5883eb2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
   },
   "workspaces": {
     "packages": [
+      "dapps/creators/*",
       "dapps/templates/*",
       "dapps/tests/*",
       "packages/*",
diff --git a/packages/embark/package.json b/packages/embark/package.json
index 16ac0a76e..dafd48648 100644
--- a/packages/embark/package.json
+++ b/packages/embark/package.json
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
     "embark-engine": "^5.2.2",
     "embark-graph": "^5.2.0",
     "embark-i18n": "^5.1.1",
+    "embark-init": "^5.2.0",
     "embark-logger": "^5.2.0",
     "embark-reset": "^5.1.1",
     "embark-suggestions": "^5.2.2",
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/bin/embark.js b/packages/embark/src/bin/embark.js
index 217a6d843..50bd26b1c 100755
--- a/packages/embark/src/bin/embark.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/bin/embark.js
@@ -992,6 +992,7 @@ function isDappCmd(cmd) {
     '--help',
     'new',
     'demo',
+    'init',
     'version',
     'help'
   ].indexOf(cmd) === -1;
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/cmd/cmd.js b/packages/embark/src/cmd/cmd.js
index 07b83d211..f7ce7cf62 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/cmd/cmd.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/cmd/cmd.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { __, setOrDetectLocale } from 'embark-i18n';
+import { cli as initCli } from 'embark-init';
 import { diagramPath } from 'embark-utils';
 const program = require('commander');
 const EmbarkController = require('./cmd_controller.js');
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ class Cmd {
   process(args) {
     this.newApp();
     this.demo();
+    this.init();
     this.build();
     this.run();
     this.exec();
@@ -439,6 +441,19 @@ class Cmd {
       });
   }
 
+  async init() {
+    let reject, resolve;
+    let promise = new Promise((res, rej) => { resolve = res; reject = rej; });
+    initCli(program.command('init'), { reject, resolve });
+    try {
+      const code = await promise;
+      process.exit(code ?? 0);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error(error.stack);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  }
+
   helpCmd() {
     program
       .command('help')
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/.npmrc b/packages/utils/init/.npmrc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e031d3432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/.npmrc
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+engine-strict = true
+package-lock = false
+save-exact = true
+scripts-prepend-node-path = true
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/README.md b/packages/utils/init/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ddf0c78f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# `embark-init`
+
+> DApp initializer utility
+
+Visit [framework.embarklabs.io](https://framework.embarklabs.io/) to get started with
+[Embark](https://github.com/embarklabs/embark).
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/bin/init b/packages/utils/init/bin/init
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..5d42c467f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/bin/init
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/* global process require */
+
+require('source-map-support/register');
+require('..').main()
+  .then(code => {
+    process.exit(code ? code : 0);
+  })
+  .catch(error => {
+    console.error(error.stack);
+    process.exit(1);
+  });
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/package.json b/packages/utils/init/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b537def3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+{
+  "name": "embark-init",
+  "version": "5.2.1",
+  "author": "Michael Bradley <michaelsbradleyjr@gmail.com> (https://github.com/michaelsbradleyjr/)",
+  "description": "DApp initializer utility",
+  "homepage": "https://github.com/embarklabs/embark/tree/master/packages/utils/init#readme",
+  "repository": {
+    "directory": "packages/utils/init",
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/embarklabs/embark.git"
+  },
+  "keywords": [
+    "blockchain",
+    "dapps",
+    "ethereum",
+    "ipfs",
+    "serverless",
+    "solc",
+    "solidity"
+  ],
+  "license": "MIT",
+  "bin": "./bin/init",
+  "main": "./dist/index.js",
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ],
+  "embark-collective": {
+    "build:node": true
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "_build": "npm run solo -- build",
+    "ci": "npm run qa",
+    "clean": "npm run reset",
+    "lint": "eslint bin/init src/",
+    "qa": "npm-run-all lint _build",
+    "reset": "npx rimraf dist embark-*.tgz package",
+    "solo": "embark-solo"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "chalk": "2.4.2",
+    "commander": "2.20.3",
+    "embark-i18n": "^5.1.1",
+    "lodash.clonedeep": "4.5.0",
+    "lodash.isplainobject": "4.0.6",
+    "minimist": "1.2.0",
+    "source-map-support": "0.5.13"
+  },
+  "eslintConfig": {
+    "extends": "../../../.eslintrc.json"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@babel/runtime-corejs3": "7.7.4",
+    "embark-solo": "^5.1.1",
+    "eslint": "5.7.0",
+    "npm-run-all": "4.1.5",
+    "rimraf": "3.0.0"
+  },
+  "engines": {
+    "node": ">=10.17.0",
+    "npm": ">=6.11.3",
+    "yarn": ">=1.19.1"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/src/creator.js b/packages/utils/init/src/creator.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..93406a8fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/src/creator.js
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+/* global process */
+
+import { spawn } from 'child_process';
+import { Command } from 'commander';
+import { __, setOrDetectLocale } from 'embark-i18n';
+import minimist from 'minimist';
+
+import { creatorDefaults } from './defaults';
+import { main as initMain } from './index';
+import { makeCreatorCommanderOptions, replaceTokens, runCommand } from './util';
+
+export { creatorDefaults };
+
+const procArgv = process.argv.slice();
+
+export function makeCreatorMain(creator = creatorDefaults) {
+  if (!Array.isArray(creator.subcreator.command)) {
+    creator.subcreator.command = [creator.subcreator.command];
+  }
+
+  async function handleCliOptions(
+    cliOptions,
+    { argv, promise, reject, resolve } = {}
+  ) {
+    setOrDetectLocale(cliOptions.locale);
+
+    const npxCmd = process.platform === 'win32' ? 'npx.cmd': 'npx';
+
+    console.log('hi from handleCliOptions in creator.js');
+
+    // let error = new Error('bad stuff happened in creator.js');
+    // if (reject) return reject(error);
+    // throw error;
+    if (resolve) return resolve(19);
+    return 19;
+
+    // should display command/s that will be run, similar to what the release
+    // script does, so it's easier to figure out what's happening and how
+    // options are combining
+
+    // are there prompts?
+
+    // if so, and --yes was NOT spec'd then run the prompts and upate options
+    // with answers
+
+    // --yes should apply to creator and init, but not to subcreator; if
+    // subcreator has a --yes option then it should be sepc'd with `-- --yes`
+    // ...could support --<subshortname>-yes
+
+    // support a --cra-version options
+
+    // support all options embark-init supports and forward them to embark-init
+    // if a project name isn't specified then pass '.' to create-react-app the
+    // embark-init options should be an export from embark-init, that way the
+    // creator doesn't have to "know about" specifics of embark-init
+
+    // if `--` was spec'd then ignore subcreator.options, consider it an
+    // implicit --yes to prompts and supply options that followed `--`
+
+    // ^ should probably have an --init-prompts for the creator that can
+    // combine with `--yes` and `--`
+
+    // let subp = spawn(npxCmd, [
+    //   ...creator.subcreator.command,
+    //   ...creator.subcreator.options
+    // ], {
+    //   stdio: 'inherit'
+    // });
+
+    // let _reject, _resolve;
+    // let promise = new Promise((res, rej) => { _resolve = res; _reject = rej; });
+
+    // subp.on('error', error => { _reject(error); });
+    // subp.on('exit', code => { _resolve(code); });
+
+    // try {
+    //   const code = await promise;
+    //   if (code) {
+    //     if (resolve) return resolve(code);
+    //     return code;
+    //   }
+    // } catch (error) {
+    //   if (reject) return reject(error);
+    //   throw error;
+    // }
+
+    // process init.options and build an array that combines/overrides re:
+    // matching options spec'd in the creator's cli
+    const initCliArgs = [];
+
+    // should report what final options get forwarded to embark-init
+    return initMain(null, initCliArgs, {promise, reject, resolve});
+  }
+
+  function cli(
+    program,
+    {
+      argv = [],
+      promise,
+      reject,
+      resolve
+    } = {}
+  ) {
+    if (!program) {
+      program = new Command();
+      program.version(creator.version);
+    }
+    program.description(
+      `Creates a new Embark dapp using ${creator.subcreator.name}`
+    );
+    program.usage(`[options] [-- [${creator.subcreator.abbrev}-options]]`);
+    // console.log('before replace:', require('util').inspect(creator, {depth: null}));
+    creator = replaceTokens(creator);
+    // console.log('after replace:', require('util').inspect(creator, {depth: null}));
+    makeCreatorCommanderOptions(creator).forEach(opt => {
+      program.option(...opt);
+    });
+    program.action((...args) => handleCliOptions(
+      args, { argv, promise, reject, resolve }
+    ));
+    return program;
+  }
+
+  return function creatorMain(
+    program,
+    argv = procArgv,
+    { promise, reject, resolve } = {}
+  ) {
+    if (!(promise && reject && resolve)) {
+      promise = new Promise((res, rej) => { resolve = res; reject = rej; });
+    }
+    program = cli(program, { argv: argv.slice(), promise, reject, resolve });
+    program.parse(argv);
+    return promise;
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/src/defaults.js b/packages/utils/init/src/defaults.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..baf8e7d23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/src/defaults.js
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import { __ } from 'embark-i18n';
+import { join } from 'path';
+
+const pkgJsonPath = join(__dirname, "..", "package.json");
+const pkgJson = require(pkgJsonPath);
+
+const contractsOnlyPreset = '@embarklabs/dapps-presets-init-boilerplate';
+const defaultPreset = '@embarklabs/dapps-presets-init-boilerplate';
+
+const defaultInitContractsOnlyPreset = `${contractsOnlyPreset}@${pkgJson.devDependencies[contractsOnlyPreset]}`;
+const defaultInitDefaultPreset = `${defaultPreset}@${pkgJson.devDependencies[defaultPreset]}`;
+
+const defaultInitOptions = {
+  contractsOnly: {
+    description: [
+      __('create a barebones project meant only for contract development'),
+      ',',
+      '\n                    ',
+      __('alias for %s', '--preset {{init.presets.contractsOnly}}')
+    ].join(''),
+    long: 'contracts-only'
+  },
+
+  force: {
+    description: __('overwrite existing files'),
+    long: 'force',
+    short: 'f'
+  },
+
+  locale: {
+    default: 'en',
+    description: __('language to use'),
+    long: 'locale [locale]'
+  },
+
+  preset: {
+    default: `{{init.presets.default}}`,
+    description: [
+      __('preset to use'),
+      ', ',
+      __('can be any valid package specifier'),
+      '\n                   '
+    ].join(''),
+    long: 'preset [pkg]',
+    short: 'p'
+  },
+
+  simple: {
+    description: __('alias for %s', '--contracts-only'),
+    long: 'simple'
+  },
+
+  template: {
+    description: __('alias for %s', '--preset [pkg]'),
+    long: 'template [pkg]'
+  },
+
+  yarn: {
+    description: __('use yarn instead of npm'),
+    long: 'yarn'
+  },
+
+  yes: {
+    description: __('skip prompts, accept defaults for unspecified options'),
+    long: 'yes',
+    short: 'y'
+  }
+};
+
+export const initDefaults = {
+  options: defaultInitOptions,
+  presets: {
+    contractsOnly: defaultInitContractsOnlyPreset,
+    default: defaultInitDefaultPreset
+  }
+};
+
+const defaultCreatorDemoPreset = null;
+const defaultCreatorExtraHelp = null;
+
+const defaultCreatorOptions = {
+  demo: {
+    description: [
+      __('create a working dapp with a SimpleStorage contract'),
+      ', ',
+      __('alias for %s', '--preset {{init.presets.demo}}')
+    ].join(''),
+    long: 'demo'
+  },
+
+  noInit: {
+    description: [
+      __('only run %s', '{{subcreator.name}}'),
+      ', ',
+      __('do not initialize embark-related files')
+    ].join(''),
+    long: 'no-init'
+  },
+
+  overrideSubcreator: {
+    default: '{{subcreator.package}}',
+    description: [
+      __('specify the %s', '{{subcreator.name}}'),
+      ' ',
+      __('package'),
+      ', ',
+      __('can be any valid package specifier'),
+      ', e.g. ',
+      __('to use a different version or fork')
+    ].join(''),
+    long: '{{subcreator.abbrev}}-package [pkg]'
+  }
+};
+
+const defaultSubcreatorAbbrev = null;
+const defaultSubcreatorCommand = [];
+const defaultSubcreatorName = null;
+const defaultSubcreatorOptions = [];
+const defaultSubcreatorPackage = null;
+const defaultSubcreatorVersion = null;
+
+const subcreatorDefaults = {
+  abbrev: defaultSubcreatorAbbrev,
+  command: defaultSubcreatorCommand,
+  name: defaultSubcreatorName,
+  options: defaultSubcreatorOptions,
+  package: defaultSubcreatorPackage,
+  version: defaultSubcreatorVersion
+};
+
+export const creatorDefaults = {
+  extraHelp: defaultCreatorExtraHelp,
+  init: {
+    options: initDefaults.options,
+    presets: {
+      demo: defaultCreatorDemoPreset,
+      ...initDefaults.presets
+    }
+  },
+  options: defaultCreatorOptions,
+  subcreator: subcreatorDefaults,
+  version: null
+};
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/src/index.js b/packages/utils/init/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ddf692d38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+/* global __dirname process require */
+
+import { spawn } from 'child_process';
+import { Command } from 'commander';
+import { __, setOrDetectLocale } from 'embark-i18n';
+import minimist from 'minimist';
+import { join } from 'path';
+
+import { initDefaults } from './defaults';
+import { makeInitCommanderOptions, replaceTokens, runCommand } from './util';
+
+export { initDefaults };
+export * from './creator';
+
+const pkgJsonPath = join(__dirname, "..", "package.json");
+const pkgJson = require(pkgJsonPath);
+const version = pkgJson.version;
+
+async function handleCliOptions(
+  cliOptions,
+  { argv, init, promise, reject, resolve } = {}
+) {
+  setOrDetectLocale(cliOptions.locale);
+
+  const npxCmd = process.platform === 'win32' ? 'npx.cmd': 'npx';
+
+  console.log('hi from handleCliOptions in embark-init');
+
+  // let error = new Error('bad stuff happened in embark-init');
+  // if (reject) return reject(error);
+  // throw error;
+  // if (resolve) return resolve(19);
+  // return 19;
+
+  // should display command/s that will be run, similar to what the release
+  // script does, so it's easier to figure out what's happening and how options
+  // are combining
+
+  // was a packge-command given as a positional?
+
+  // if so, ignore LHS options and:
+  // `npx [package-command] [--RHS-opts] -- [--CREATOR-opts]`
+  // BUT first resolve [package-command]:
+  // first choice: embark-create-[package-command]
+  // fallback: create-[package-command]
+
+  // ^ embark-init should check if it is in the monorepo and attempt to find
+  // the creator package inside the monorepo and invoke its bin directly
+  // instead of using npx, though npx can be a fallback
+
+  // if not...
+  // are there prompts?
+
+  // if so, and --yes was NOT spec'd then run the prompts and upate options
+  // with answers
+
+  // presets should (somehow) be able to contain metadata that will affect
+  // creator and subcreator options, e.g. `--cra-version` and `-- --typescript`
+
+  // hydrate the preset, which may involve additional prompts
+  // ?? maybe all init prompts should be in presets w/ no preliminary prompts
+  // spec'able to main ??
+
+  // the idea is to attempt to reuse Vue's presets system as much as possible,
+  // if necessary repurposing the source code as sources in embark-init, but
+  // hopefully it's flexible enough to be leveraged with copying/modifying the
+  // source code
+}
+
+export function cli(
+  program,
+  {
+    argv = [],
+    init = initDefaults,
+    promise,
+    reject,
+    resolve
+  } = {}
+) {
+  if (!program) {
+    program = new Command();
+    program.version(version);
+  }
+  program.description('Initializes a project as an Embark dapp');
+  program.usage('[options] [creator] [creator-options] [-- [extra-options]]');
+  ({init} = replaceTokens({init}));
+  makeInitCommanderOptions(init).forEach(opt => { program.option(...opt); });
+  program.action((...args) => handleCliOptions(
+    args, { argv, init, promise, reject, resolve }
+  ));
+  program.on('--help', () => {
+    let embarkInit = 'embark-init';
+    if (program.parent) embarkInit = 'embark init';
+
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('SIMPLE USAGE:');
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('    ', `${embarkInit} [options]`);
+    console.log('');
+    console.log(
+      'Initialization is performed in the current working directory;',
+      'will first run \`npm init\` if no package.json is present.'
+    );
+
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('WITH CREATOR:');
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('    ', `${embarkInit} [creator] [options] [-- [extra-options]]`);
+    console.log('');
+    console.log(
+      'A creator is a name such as "react-dapp".',
+      'Options to the left of the creator are ignored.',
+      'Any options to the right of "--" are passed to the underlying tool,',
+      'e.g. create-react-app, and will override conflicting options computed by the creator.'
+    );
+    console.log('');
+    console.log(
+      'Creator names are resolved to packages by prepending "@embarklabs/create-", then trying with "embark-", and finally using the bare name.'
+    );
+    console.log('');
+    console.log(
+      'Example: "react-dapp" resolves to "@embarklabs/create-react-dapp", and the following are equivalent:'
+    );
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('    ', `${embarkInit} react-dapp mydapp [options] [-- [extra-options]]`);
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('    ', `npx @embarklabs/crete-react-dapp mydapp [options] [-- [extra-options]]`);
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('To see the help output of a creator do:');
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('    ', `${embarkInit} [creator] --help`);
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('To see the help output of a creator\'s underlying tool do:');
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('    ', `${embarkInit} [creator] -- --help`);
+  });
+  return program;
+}
+
+const procArgv = process.argv.slice();
+
+export function main(
+  program,
+  argv = procArgv,
+  { promise, reject, resolve } = {}
+) {
+  if (!(promise && reject && resolve)) {
+    promise = new Promise((res, rej) => { resolve = res; reject = rej; });
+  }
+  program = cli(program, { argv: argv.slice(), promise, reject, resolve });
+  program.parse(argv);
+  return promise;
+}
diff --git a/packages/utils/init/src/util.js b/packages/utils/init/src/util.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f95004ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/init/src/util.js
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+import cloneDeep from 'lodash.clonedeep';
+import isPlainObject from 'lodash.isplainobject';
+
+import { creatorDefaults } from './defaults';
+
+const cyan = (str) => chalk.cyan(str);
+const log = (mark, str, which = 'log') => console[which](
+  mark, str.filter(s => !!s).join(` `)
+);
+export const logError = (...str) => log(chalk.red(`✘`), str, 'error');
+export const logInfo = (...str) => log(chalk.blue(`ℹ`), str);
+export const logSuccess = (...str) => log(chalk.green(`✔`), str);
+export const logWarning = (...str) => log(chalk.yellow('‼︎'), str);
+
+export function makeInitCommanderOptions({options}) {
+  return Object.values(options)
+     .sort(({long: aLong}, {long: bLong}) => {
+      if (aLong < bLong) return -1;
+      if (aLong > bLong) return 1;
+      return 0;
+    })
+    .reduce((acc, {default: def, description, long, short}) => {
+      const copt = [];
+      if (short) {
+        copt.push(`-${short}, --${long}`);
+      } else {
+        copt.push(`--${long}`);
+      }
+      copt.push(description);
+      if (def) copt.push(def);
+      return acc.concat([copt]);
+    }, []);
+}
+
+export function makeCreatorCommanderOptions(creator) {
+  return makeInitCommanderOptions({
+    options: {
+      ...creator.init.options,
+      ...creator.options
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+// !!! needs refactor because intend to use spawn
+export function runCommand(cmd, inherit = true, display) {
+  logInfo(`Running command ${cyan(display || cmd)}.`);
+  let out;
+  if (inherit) {
+    // execSyncInherit(cmd);
+  } else {
+    // out = execSync(cmd);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+// NOTE: does not detect/handle recursive references, e.g. `{{foo}}` refers to
+// `{{bar}}` and `{{bar}}` refers to `{{foo}}`, but assume for now that won't
+// be a common pitfall
+export function replaceTokens(obj) {
+  obj = cloneDeep(obj);
+  let dict = {};
+
+  let entries = Object.entries(obj).map(
+    ([key, value]) => [key, value, '', 'object']
+  );
+  while (entries.length) {
+    let [key, value, level, kind] = entries.shift();
+    let nextLevel;
+    if (kind === 'object') {
+      nextLevel = `${level}${level ? '.' : ''}${key}`;
+    } else if (kind === 'array') {
+      nextLevel = `${level}[${key}]`;
+    }
+    if (typeof value === 'number') value = value.toString();
+    if (typeof value !== 'string') {
+      if (isPlainObject(value)) {
+        const nextKind = 'object';
+        entries.unshift(...(Object.entries(value).map(
+          ([key, value]) => [key, value, nextLevel, nextKind]
+        )));
+      } else if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+        const nextKind = 'array';
+        entries.unshift(...(value.map(
+          (value, index) => [index, value, nextLevel, nextKind]
+        )));
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
+    const token = nextLevel;
+    dict[token] = value;
+  }
+
+  const unknowns = [];
+  Object.values(dict).forEach(value => {
+    const matches = value.match(/\{\{([^}]+)\}\}/g);
+    if (!matches) return;
+    unknowns.push(...matches.map(
+      curly => curly.match(/\{\{\s*(\S+)\s*\}\}/)[1]
+    ).filter(
+      token => !dict.hasOwnProperty(token)
+    ));
+  });
+
+  if (unknowns.length) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Unknown token${unknowns.length > 1 ? 's' : ''} ${unknowns.join(', ')}`
+    );
+  }
+
+  const keys = Object.keys(dict);
+  const dependencies = {};
+  const dependents = {};
+  while (keys.length) {
+    const key = keys.shift();
+    if (!dependencies[key]) dependencies[key] = new Set();
+    if (!dependents[key]) dependents[key] = new Set();
+    let unresolvedDep;
+    const matches = dict[key].match(/\{\{([^}]+)\}\}/g);
+    if (matches) {
+      matches
+        .map(curly => curly.match(/\{\{\s*(\S+)\s*\}\}/)[1])
+        .forEach(token => {
+          if (!dependents[token]) dependents[token] = new Set();
+          dependents[token].add(key);
+          dependencies[key].add(token);
+        });
+      [...dependencies[key]].forEach(dependency => {
+        if (dependents[dependency] && dependents[dependency].has(key)) {
+          throw new Error(
+            `circular dependency between tokens ${key} and ${dependency}`
+          );
+        }
+        if (dict[dependency].match(/\{\{([^}]+)\}\}/g)) {
+          if (!unresolvedDep) {
+            unresolvedDep = true;
+            keys.push(key);
+          }
+        } else {
+          const token = `{{${dependency}}}`;
+          let value = dict[key];
+          let replaced;
+          while (true) {
+            replaced = value.replace(token, dict[dependency]);
+            if (replaced === value) break;
+            value = replaced;
+          }
+          dict[key] = value;
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  entries = Object.entries(obj).map(([key, value]) => [key, value, obj]);
+  while (entries.length) {
+    let [key, value, context] = entries.shift();
+    const nextContext = value;
+    if (isPlainObject(value)) {
+      entries.unshift(...(Object.entries(value).map(
+        ([key, value]) => [key, value, nextContext]
+      )));
+      continue;
+    } else if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+      entries.unshift(...(value.map(
+        (value, index) => [index, value, nextContext]
+      )));
+      continue;
+    } else if (typeof value === 'string') {
+      Object.entries(dict).forEach(([token, tokenVal]) => {
+        token = `{{${token}}}`;
+        let replaced;
+        while (true) {
+          replaced = value.replace(token, tokenVal);
+          if (replaced === value) break;
+          value = replaced;
+        }
+        context[key] = value;
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  return obj;
+}
diff --git a/scripts/globalize.js b/scripts/globalize.js
index c0d5aa5e6..eaa1de28a 100644
--- a/scripts/globalize.js
+++ b/scripts/globalize.js
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ const embarkBinPath = path.resolve(
 );
 if (!fs.existsSync(embarkBinPath)) process.exit(1);
 
+const embarkInitBinPath = path.resolve(
+  path.join(__dirname, '../packages/utils/init/bin/init')
+);
+if (!fs.existsSync(embarkInitBinPath)) process.exit(1);
+
 const getStdout = (cmd) => {
   let out;
   try {
@@ -30,8 +35,16 @@ if (process.platform === 'win32') {
     path.join(npmGlobalBin, 'embark.cmd'),
     `@node "${embarkBinPath}" %*${EOL}`
   );
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    path.join(npmGlobalBin, 'embark-init.cmd'),
+    `@node "${embarkInitBinPath}" %*${EOL}`
+  );
 } else {
-  const linkPath = path.join(npmGlobalBin, 'embark');
+  let linkPath = path.join(npmGlobalBin, 'embark');
   if (fs.existsSync(linkPath)) fs.unlinkSync(linkPath);
   fs.symlinkSync(embarkBinPath, linkPath);
+
+  linkPath = path.join(npmGlobalBin, 'embark-init');
+  if (fs.existsSync(linkPath)) fs.unlinkSync(linkPath);
+  fs.symlinkSync(embarkInitBinPath, linkPath);
 }
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index e8c632728..8eceadb17 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -7511,16 +7511,16 @@ commander@2.18.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/commander/-/commander-2.18.0.tgz#2bf063ddee7c7891176981a2cc798e5754bc6970"
   integrity sha512-6CYPa+JP2ftfRU2qkDK+UTVeQYosOg/2GbcjIcKPHfinyOLPVGXu/ovN86RP49Re5ndJK1N0kuiidFFuepc4ZQ==
 
+commander@2.20.3, commander@^2.11.0, commander@^2.12.1, commander@^2.13.0, commander@^2.15.0, commander@^2.19.0, commander@^2.20.0, commander@^2.9.0, commander@~2.20.0:
+  version "2.20.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/commander/-/commander-2.20.3.tgz#fd485e84c03eb4881c20722ba48035e8531aeb33"
+  integrity sha512-GpVkmM8vF2vQUkj2LvZmD35JxeJOLCwJ9cUkugyk2nuhbv3+mJvpLYYt+0+USMxE+oj+ey/lJEnhZw75x/OMcQ==
+
 commander@3.0.2:
   version "3.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/commander/-/commander-3.0.2.tgz#6837c3fb677ad9933d1cfba42dd14d5117d6b39e"
   integrity sha512-Gar0ASD4BDyKC4hl4DwHqDrmvjoxWKZigVnAbn5H1owvm4CxCPdb0HQDehwNYMJpla5+M2tPmPARzhtYuwpHow==
 
-commander@^2.11.0, commander@^2.12.1, commander@^2.13.0, commander@^2.15.0, commander@^2.19.0, commander@^2.20.0, commander@^2.9.0, commander@~2.20.0:
-  version "2.20.3"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/commander/-/commander-2.20.3.tgz#fd485e84c03eb4881c20722ba48035e8531aeb33"
-  integrity sha512-GpVkmM8vF2vQUkj2LvZmD35JxeJOLCwJ9cUkugyk2nuhbv3+mJvpLYYt+0+USMxE+oj+ey/lJEnhZw75x/OMcQ==
-
 commander@^4.0.1:
   version "4.0.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/commander/-/commander-4.0.1.tgz#b67622721785993182e807f4883633e6401ba53c"