diff --git a/copier.yml b/copier.yml
index c79e4de..f19c7da 100644
--- a/copier.yml
+++ b/copier.yml
@@ -71,3 +71,11 @@ license:
     - GPL-3.0-or-later
     - LicenseRef-Proprietary
   default: MIT
+
+include_hexagonal:
+  type: bool
+  help: >-
+    Scaffold a hexagonal (ports-and-adapters) architecture? Adds domain/services/
+    adapters layers with an example slice, plus import-linter contracts that
+    enforce the layer boundaries.
+  default: true
diff --git a/template/.github/workflows/cicd.yaml b/template/.github/workflows/cicd.yaml
index 3cac590..3981646 100644
--- a/template/.github/workflows/cicd.yaml
+++ b/template/.github/workflows/cicd.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: ty
         run: make ty
       - name: import-linter
-        run: uv run --no-sources lint-imports
+        run: make import_lint
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
diff --git a/template/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja
similarity index 94%
rename from template/.pre-commit-config.yaml
rename to template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja
index 159e90e..11f983d 100644
--- a/template/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ repos:
     language: system
     files: ^src/.*\.py$
     exclude: ^src/legacy/.*\.py$
+{%- if include_hexagonal %}
   - id: lint_imports
     name: lint imports
     entry: uv run lint-imports
     language: system
     pass_filenames: false
+{%- endif %}
diff --git a/template/AGENTS.md.jinja b/template/AGENTS.md.jinja
index 6a7e4f1..17703ab 100644
--- a/template/AGENTS.md.jinja
+++ b/template/AGENTS.md.jinja
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Use semantic commit messages:
 - `chore:` maintenance tasks, dependency updates, CI config, cleanup of things that work but are unnecessary
 
 Do NOT add "Co-Authored-By" or any AI attribution trailers to commit messages.
-
+{% if include_hexagonal %}
 ## Architecture
 
 This project follows a hexagonal (ports-and-adapters) architecture. The
@@ -60,9 +60,13 @@ The `domain`, `services`, and `adapters` packages ship with a small,
 clearly-marked example slice (a `Note` entity, a `NoteRepository` port, an
 in-memory adapter, and a `NoteService`). Search for `# --- example` and delete
 those blocks once you start modelling your own domain.
-
+{% endif %}
 ## Testing & Linting
 
 - `make test` runs the test suite.
+{%- if include_hexagonal %}
 - `make lint` runs ruff, the `ty` type checker, and the `import-linter`
   architecture contracts.
+{%- else %}
+- `make lint` runs ruff and the `ty` type checker.
+{%- endif %}
diff --git a/template/Makefile b/template/Makefile.jinja
similarity index 94%
rename from template/Makefile
rename to template/Makefile.jinja
index 7abc4b7..5ac554c 100644
--- a/template/Makefile
+++ b/template/Makefile.jinja
@@ -33,11 +33,15 @@ ruff:
 	uv run --no-sources ruff check --fix --exit-non-zero-on-fix src tests
 
 import_lint:
+{%- if include_hexagonal %}
 	uv run --no-sources lint-imports
+{%- else %}
+	@echo "import-linter is not configured (no hexagonal scaffolding)."
+{%- endif %}
 
 type_check: ty
 
-lint: ruff type_check import_lint
+lint: ruff type_check{% if include_hexagonal %} import_lint{% endif %}
 
 pre_commit:
 	pre-commit run --all-files
diff --git a/template/README.md.jinja b/template/README.md.jinja
index 6f89cce..7ed14cd 100644
--- a/template/README.md.jinja
+++ b/template/README.md.jinja
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 Original repository: [https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }}](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }})
 
+{% if include_hexagonal -%}
 
 # Architecture
 
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ organised into `domain`, `services`, and `adapters` layers. The layer
 boundaries are enforced by [import-linter](https://import-linter.readthedocs.io/);
 run `make lint` to check them. See [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md) for the full rules.
 
+{% endif -%}
 
 # Installation
 
diff --git a/template/pyproject.toml.jinja b/template/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 5086a5c..9e7aaa5 100644
--- a/template/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/template/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -94,7 +94,9 @@ type = "github"
 
 [dependency-groups]
 dev = [
+{%- if include_hexagonal %}
     "import-linter>=2.0",
+{%- endif %}
     "pytest>=8.0",
     "ruff>=0.15",
     "ty>=0.0.17",
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ docs = [
     "pydata-sphinx-theme>=0.17.1",
 ]
 
+{% if include_hexagonal %}
 [tool.importlinter]
 root_packages = ["{{ project_slug }}"]
 include_external_packages = true
@@ -150,3 +153,4 @@ forbidden_modules = [
     "requests",
     "sqlalchemy",
 ]
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/adapters/__init__.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}adapters{% endif %}/__init__.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/adapters/__init__.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}adapters{% endif %}/__init__.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/adapters/in_memory_note_repository.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}adapters{% endif %}/in_memory_note_repository.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/adapters/in_memory_note_repository.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}adapters{% endif %}/in_memory_note_repository.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/__init__.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/__init__.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/__init__.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/__init__.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/errors.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/errors.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/errors.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/errors.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/models.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/models.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/models.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/models.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/ports.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/ports.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/domain/ports.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}domain{% endif %}/ports.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/services/__init__.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}services{% endif %}/__init__.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/services/__init__.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}services{% endif %}/__init__.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/services/note_service.py.jinja b/template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}services{% endif %}/note_service.py.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/src/{{ project_slug }}/services/note_service.py.jinja
rename to template/src/{{ project_slug }}/{% if include_hexagonal %}services{% endif %}/note_service.py.jinja
diff --git a/template/tests/test_example_notes.py.jinja b/template/tests/{% if include_hexagonal %}test_example_notes.py{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/tests/test_example_notes.py.jinja
rename to template/tests/{% if include_hexagonal %}test_example_notes.py{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/tests/test_template.py b/tests/test_template.py
index df6a777..2bdf570 100644
--- a/tests/test_template.py
+++ b/tests/test_template.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import re
 import subprocess
 from pathlib import Path
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -26,14 +27,19 @@
 }
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def project_path(tmp_path_factory):
-    """Generate a project from the template and install its dependencies."""
-    dst = tmp_path_factory.mktemp("generated")
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session", params=[True, False], ids=["hexagonal", "flat"])
+def project(tmp_path_factory, request):
+    """Generate a project from the template and install its dependencies.
+
+    Parametrised over the ``include_hexagonal`` answer so that both the
+    hexagonal scaffolding and the plain layout are exercised end to end.
+    """
+    include_hexagonal = request.param
+    dst = tmp_path_factory.mktemp("hex" if include_hexagonal else "flat")
     copier.run_copy(
         src_path=str(TEMPLATE_ROOT),
         dst_path=str(dst),
-        data=COPIER_DATA,
+        data={**COPIER_DATA, "include_hexagonal": include_hexagonal},
         defaults=True,
         unsafe=True,
         vcs_ref="HEAD",
@@ -44,29 +50,34 @@ def project_path(tmp_path_factory):
         check=True,
         capture_output=True,
     )
-    return dst
+    return SimpleNamespace(path=dst, hexagonal=include_hexagonal)
+
 
+def test_template_renders(project):
+    """Verify key files exist, and that hexagonal files appear only when asked."""
+    assert (project.path / "pyproject.toml").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "README.md").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "LICENSE").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "Makefile").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "src" / "test_project").is_dir()
+    assert (project.path / "src" / "test_project" / "__init__.py").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "src" / "test_project" / "main.py").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "tests" / "test_test_project.py").is_file()
 
-def test_template_renders(project_path):
-    """Verify that key files exist after rendering."""
-    assert (project_path / "pyproject.toml").is_file()
-    assert (project_path / "README.md").is_file()
-    assert (project_path / "LICENSE").is_file()
-    assert (project_path / "Makefile").is_file()
-    assert (project_path / "src" / "test_project").is_dir()
-    assert (project_path / "src" / "test_project" / "__init__.py").is_file()
-    assert (project_path / "src" / "test_project" / "main.py").is_file()
-    assert (project_path / "tests" / "test_test_project.py").is_file()
+    domain = project.path / "src" / "test_project" / "domain"
+    example_test = project.path / "tests" / "test_example_notes.py"
+    assert domain.is_dir() == project.hexagonal
+    assert example_test.is_file() == project.hexagonal
 
 
-def test_docs_scaffold_renders(project_path):
+def test_docs_scaffold_renders(project):
     """Verify the documentation scaffold is present and placeholders resolved.
 
     The docs scaffold must ship complete so a generated project builds its
     Sphinx site immediately; this checks the key entry points exist and that
     the templated identity made it into conf.py and index.md.
     """
-    source = project_path / "docs" / "source"
+    source = project.path / "docs" / "source"
     assert (source / "conf.py").is_file()
     assert (source / "index.md").is_file()
     assert (source / "reference" / "python-api.md").is_file()
@@ -74,7 +85,7 @@ def test_docs_scaffold_renders(project_path):
     assert (source / "contributing" / "voice.md").is_file()
     assert (source / "contributing" / "documentation_guide.md").is_file()
     # Drift-tripwire harness.
-    assert (project_path / "tests" / "docs" / "test_doc_claims.py").is_file()
+    assert (project.path / "tests" / "docs" / "test_doc_claims.py").is_file()
 
     # Copier placeholders must be resolved, not left verbatim.
     conf = (source / "conf.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -86,11 +97,11 @@ def test_docs_scaffold_renders(project_path):
     assert "{{" not in index
 
 
-def test_generated_tests_pass(project_path):
+def test_generated_tests_pass(project):
     """Run pytest in the generated project and verify it passes."""
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["uv", "run", "pytest"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )
@@ -99,11 +110,11 @@ def test_generated_tests_pass(project_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_main_executes(project_path):
+def test_main_executes(project):
     """Run the generated project's main module."""
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["uv", "run", "python", "-m", "test_project.main"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )
@@ -112,11 +123,11 @@ def test_main_executes(project_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_make_lint(project_path):
+def test_make_lint(project):
     """Verify that `make lint` succeeds on the generated project."""
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["make", "lint"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )
@@ -125,11 +136,11 @@ def test_make_lint(project_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_make_test(project_path):
+def test_make_test(project):
     """Verify that `make test` succeeds on the generated project."""
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["make", "test"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )
@@ -138,17 +149,17 @@ def test_make_test(project_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_pre_commit_passes(project_path):
+def test_pre_commit_passes(project):
     """Verify that pre-commit hooks pass on the generated project."""
     subprocess.run(
         ["git", "add", "."],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         check=True,
         capture_output=True,
     )
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["uvx", "pre-commit", "run", "--all-files"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )
@@ -157,7 +168,7 @@ def test_pre_commit_passes(project_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_make_docs_strict(project_path):
+def test_make_docs_strict(project):
     """Verify `make docs-strict` builds the docs with zero warnings.
 
     The scaffold is contracted to pass `sphinx-build -W` immediately after
@@ -166,7 +177,7 @@ def test_make_docs_strict(project_path):
     """
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["make", "docs-strict"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )
@@ -175,7 +186,7 @@ def test_make_docs_strict(project_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_make_test_docs(project_path):
+def test_make_test_docs(project):
     """Verify `make test-docs` passes on the freshly generated project.
 
     The drift-tripwire suite in tests/docs/ must be green out of the box; its
@@ -184,7 +195,7 @@ def test_make_test_docs(project_path):
     """
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["make", "test-docs"],
-        cwd=project_path,
+        cwd=project.path,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
     )