diff --git a/cmd/gmnhg/main.go b/cmd/gmnhg/main.go
index 67fb969..d06e8e7 100644
--- a/cmd/gmnhg/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gmnhg/main.go
@@ -1,8 +1,290 @@
-// gmnhg converts Hugo posts to gemini content.
+// This file is part of gmnhg.
+
+// gmnhg is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+
+// gmnhg is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with gmnhg. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+// gmnhg converts Hugo content files to a Gemini site. This program is
+// to be started in the top level directory of a Hugo site (the one
+// containing config.toml).
 //
-// TODO: it is yet to actually do that.
+// gmngh will read layout template files (with .gotmpl extension) and
+// then apply them to content files ending with .md by the following
+// algorithm (file names are relative to layouts/gmnhg):
+//
+// 1. If the .md file specifies its own layout, the relevant layout file
+// is applied. If not, the default template is applied (single). If the
+// layout file does not exist, the file is skipped. Draft posts are not
+// rendered. _index.md files are also skipped.
+//
+// 2. For every top-level content directory an index.gmi is generated,
+// the corresponding template is taken from top/{directory_name}.gotmpl.
+// If there's no matching template, the index won't be rendered.
+//
+// 3. The very top index.gmi is generated from index.gotmpl.
+//
+// The program will then copy static files from static/ directory to the
+// output dir.
+//
+// Templates are passed the following data:
+//
+// 1. Single pages are given .Post, which contains the entire post
+// rendered, .Metadata, which contains the metadata crawled from it (see
+// HugoMetadata), and .Link, which contains the filename relative to
+// content dir (with .md replaced with .gmi).
+//
+// 2. Directory index pages are passed .Posts, which is a slice over
+// post metadata crawled (see HugoMetadata), and .Dirname, which is
+// directory name relative to content dir.
+//
+// 3. The top-level index.gmi is passed with the .PostData map whose
+// keys are top-level content directories names and values are slices
+// over the same post props as specified in 1.
+//
+// This program provides some extra template functions, documented in
+// templates.go.
 package main
 
-func main() {
-	println("in development")
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"flag"
+	"io"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"text/template"
+
+	gemini "git.tdem.in/tdemin/gmnhg"
+)
+
+const defaultTemplate = "single"
+
+const (
+	contentBase  = "content/"
+	templateBase = "layouts/gmnhg/"
+	staticBase   = "static/"
+	outputBase   = "output/"
+)
+
+var (
+	tmplNameRegex     = regexp.MustCompile(templateBase + `(\w+)\.gotmpl`)
+	contentNameRegex  = regexp.MustCompile(contentBase + `([\w-_ ]+)\.md`)
+	topLevelPostRegex = regexp.MustCompile(contentBase + `([\w-_ ]+)/([\w-_ ]+)\.md`)
+)
+
+// TODO: more meaningful errors
+
+type post struct {
+	Post     []byte
+	Metadata gemini.HugoMetadata
+	Link     string
+}
+
+func copyFile(dst, src string) error {
+	input, err := os.Open(src)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer input.Close()
+	if p := path.Dir(dst); p != "" {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(p, 0755); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	output, err := os.Create(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer output.Close()
+	if _, err := io.Copy(output, input); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func writeFile(dst string, contents []byte) error {
+	if p := path.Dir(dst); p != "" {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(p, 0755); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	output, err := os.Create(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer output.Close()
+	if _, err := output.Write(contents); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func main() {
+	var outputDir, workingDir string
+	flag.StringVar(&outputDir, "output", outputBase, "output directory (will be created if missing)")
+	flag.StringVar(&workingDir, "working", "", "working directory (defaults to current directory)")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	if workingDir != "" {
+		if err := os.Chdir(workingDir); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if fileInfo, err := os.Stat("config.toml"); os.IsNotExist(err) || fileInfo.IsDir() {
+		panic("config.toml either doesn't exist or is a directory; not in a Hugo site dir?")
+	}
+
+	// build templates
+	templates := make(map[string]*template.Template)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(templateBase); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		if err := filepath.Walk(templateBase, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			if info.IsDir() {
+				return nil
+			}
+			name := tmplNameRegex.FindStringSubmatch(path)
+			if name == nil || len(name) != 2 {
+				return nil
+			}
+			tmplName := name[1]
+			contents, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			tmpl, err := template.New(tmplName).Funcs(funcMap).Parse(string(contents))
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			templates[tmplName] = tmpl
+			return nil
+		}); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// render posts to Gemtext and collect top level posts data
+	posts := make(map[string]*post, 0)
+	topLevelPosts := make(map[string][]*post)
+	if err := filepath.Walk(contentBase, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if n := info.Name(); info.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(n, ".md") || n == "_index.md" {
+			return nil
+		}
+		fileContent, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		gemText, metadata, err := gemini.RenderMarkdown(fileContent, gemini.WithoutMetadata)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		// skip drafts from rendering
+		if metadata.PostIsDraft {
+			return nil
+		}
+		key := strings.TrimPrefix(strings.TrimSuffix(path, ".md"), contentBase) + ".gmi"
+		p := post{
+			Post:     gemText,
+			Link:     key,
+			Metadata: metadata,
+		}
+		posts[key] = &p
+		if matches := topLevelPostRegex.FindStringSubmatch(path); matches != nil {
+			topLevelPosts[matches[1]] = append(topLevelPosts[matches[1]], &p)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	// clean up output dir beforehand
+	if _, err := os.Stat(outputDir); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(outputDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		dir, err := ioutil.ReadDir(outputDir)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		for _, d := range dir {
+			os.RemoveAll(path.Join(outputDir, d.Name()))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// render posts to files
+	for fileName, post := range posts {
+		var tmpl = defaultSingleTemplate
+		if pl := post.Metadata.PostLayout; pl != "" {
+			t, ok := templates[pl]
+			if !ok {
+				// no point trying to render pages with no layout
+				continue
+			}
+			tmpl = t
+		}
+		buf := bytes.Buffer{}
+		if err := tmpl.Execute(&buf, &post); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		if err := writeFile(path.Join(outputDir, fileName), buf.Bytes()); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+	}
+	// render indexes for top-level dirs
+	for dirname, posts := range topLevelPosts {
+		tmpl, hasTmpl := templates["top/"+dirname]
+		if !hasTmpl {
+			continue
+		}
+		buf := bytes.Buffer{}
+		if err := tmpl.Execute(&buf, map[string]interface{}{
+			"Posts":   posts,
+			"Dirname": dirname,
+		}); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		if err := writeFile(path.Join(outputDir, dirname, "index.gmi"), buf.Bytes()); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+	}
+	// render index page
+	var indexTmpl = defaultIndexTemplate
+	if t, hasIndexTmpl := templates["index"]; hasIndexTmpl {
+		indexTmpl = t
+	}
+	buf := bytes.Buffer{}
+	if err := indexTmpl.Execute(&buf, map[string]interface{}{"PostData": topLevelPosts}); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	if err := writeFile(path.Join(outputDir, "index.gmi"), buf.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	// copy static files to output dir unmodified
+	if err := filepath.Walk(staticBase, func(p string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		if info.IsDir() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return copyFile(path.Join(outputDir, strings.TrimPrefix(p, staticBase)), p)
+	}); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/gmnhg/templates.go b/cmd/gmnhg/templates.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..105b4b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/gmnhg/templates.go
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+// This file is part of gmnhg.
+
+// gmnhg is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+
+// gmnhg is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with gmnhg. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+	"text/template"
+)
+
+type postsSort []*post
+
+func (p postsSort) Len() int {
+	return len(p)
+}
+
+func (p postsSort) Less(i, j int) bool {
+	return p[i].Metadata.PostDate.After(p[j].Metadata.PostDate)
+}
+
+func (p postsSort) Swap(i, j int) {
+	t := p[i]
+	p[i] = p[j]
+	p[j] = t
+}
+
+func mustParseTmpl(name, value string) *template.Template {
+	return template.Must(template.New(name).Funcs(funcMap).Parse(value))
+}
+
+var funcMap template.FuncMap = template.FuncMap{
+	// sorts posts by date, newest posts go first
+	"sortPosts": func(posts []*post) []*post {
+		ps := make(postsSort, len(posts))
+		copy(ps, posts)
+		sort.Sort(ps)
+		return ps
+	},
+}
+
+var defaultSingleTemplate = mustParseTmpl("single", `# {{ .Metadata.PostTitle }}
+
+{{ .Metadata.PostDate.Format "2006-01-02 15:04" }}
+
+{{ printf "%s" .Post }}`)
+
+var defaultIndexTemplate = mustParseTmpl("index", `# Site index
+
+{{ range $dir, $posts := .PostData }}Index of {{ $dir }}:
+
+{{ range $p := $posts | sortPosts }}=> {{ $p.Link }} {{ $p.Metadata.PostDate.Format "2006-01-02 15:04" }} - {{ $p.Metadata.PostTitle }}
+{{ end }}{{ end }}
+`)
diff --git a/cmd/md2gmn/main.go b/cmd/md2gmn/main.go
index 8662af5..f5b26b3 100644
--- a/cmd/md2gmn/main.go
+++ b/cmd/md2gmn/main.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func main() {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	geminiContent, _, err := gemini.RenderMarkdown(text, true)
+	geminiContent, _, err := gemini.RenderMarkdown(text, gemini.WithMetadata)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/render.go b/render.go
index 4de9c80..bd07869 100644
--- a/render.go
+++ b/render.go
@@ -54,6 +54,17 @@ var yamlDelimiter = []byte("---\n")
 // supposed to be rendered.
 var ErrPostIsDraft = errors.New("post is draft")
 
+// MetadataSetting defines whether or not metadata is included in the
+// rendered text.
+type MetadataSetting int
+
+// Metadata settings control the inclusion of metadata in the rendered
+// text.
+const (
+	WithMetadata MetadataSetting = iota
+	WithoutMetadata
+)
+
 // RenderMarkdown converts Markdown text to text/gemini using
 // gomarkdown, appending Hugo YAML front matter data if any is present
 // to the post header.
@@ -63,7 +74,7 @@ var ErrPostIsDraft = errors.New("post is draft")
 //
 // Draft posts are still rendered, but with an error of type
 // ErrPostIsDraft.
-func RenderMarkdown(md []byte, withMetadata bool) (geminiText []byte, metadata HugoMetadata, err error) {
+func RenderMarkdown(md []byte, metadataSetting MetadataSetting) (geminiText []byte, metadata HugoMetadata, err error) {
 	var (
 		blockEnd    int
 		yamlContent []byte
@@ -84,7 +95,7 @@ func RenderMarkdown(md []byte, withMetadata bool) (geminiText []byte, metadata H
 parse:
 	ast := markdown.Parse(md, parser.NewWithExtensions(parser.CommonExtensions))
 	var geminiContent []byte
-	if withMetadata && metadata.PostTitle != "" {
+	if metadataSetting == WithMetadata && metadata.PostTitle != "" {
 		geminiContent = markdown.Render(ast, gemini.NewRendererWithMetadata(metadata))
 	} else {
 		geminiContent = markdown.Render(ast, gemini.NewRenderer())