diff --git a/cmd/crates/soroban-spec-typescript/src/project_template/src/figuring-out-types.ts b/cmd/crates/soroban-spec-typescript/src/project_template/src/figuring-out-types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca310e265
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/crates/soroban-spec-typescript/src/project_template/src/figuring-out-types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+let responseTypes: 'parsed' | 'simulated' | 'full'
+type ResponseTypes = typeof responseTypes
+
+type Options<R extends ResponseTypes> = {
+  fee?: number
+  responseType?: R
+  secondsToWait?: number
+}
+
+function invoke<R extends ResponseTypes, T = string>(method: string, args?: any[], options?: Options<R>, parseResultXdr?: (xdr: string) => T): R extends "simulated" ? "sim" : R extends "full" ? "rpc" : typeof parseResultXdr extends undefined ? string : T;
+function invoke<undefined, T>(method: string, args: any[], options: Options<'parsed'>, parseResultXdr: (xdr: string) => T): T;
+function invoke<R extends ResponseTypes, T = string>(method: string, args?: any[], { responseType }: Options<R> = {}, parseResultXdr?: (xdr: string) => T): T | string | "sim" | "rpc" {
+  // stub implementation with correct return types
+  switch(responseType) {
+    case 'simulated':
+      return 'sim';
+    case 'full':
+      return 'rpc';
+    default:
+      const parse = parseResultXdr ?? (xdr => xdr)
+      return parse(JSON.stringify({ method, args }));
+  }
+}
+
+// none of these define 'parseResultXdr'; the default returns 'string'
+const invokeSimulate = invoke('balance', ['GAAAA'], { responseType: 'simulated' })
+const invokeRpc = invoke('balance', ['GAAAA'], { responseType: 'full' })
+const invokeParsed = invoke('balance', ['GAAAA'], { responseType: 'parsed' })
+const invokeSimple = invoke('balance', ['GAAAA'])
+
+const invokeParsedXdr = invoke('balance', ['GAAAA'], {}, () => 1)
+
+/**
+ * Smart contract author comments go here.
+ * 
+ * Available `options`:
+ * - fee: The fee to pay for the transaction. Default: 100.
+ * - secondsToWait: If the simulation shows that this invocation requires auth/signing, `invoke` will wait `secondsToWait` seconds for the transaction to complete before giving up and returning the incomplete {@link SorobanClient.SorobanRpc.GetTransactionResponse} results (or attempting to parse their probably-missing XDR with `parseResultXdr`, depending on `responseType`). Set this to `0` to skip waiting altogether, which will return you {@link SorobanClient.SorobanRpc.SendTransactionResponse} more quickly, before the transaction has time to be included in the ledger. Default: 10.
+ * - parseResultXdr: If `responseType` is `parsed`, this function will be used to parse the XDR returned by either the simulation or the sent transaction. If not provided, the raw XDR will be returned; this can be inspected manually at https://laboratory.stellar.org/#xdr-viewer?network=futurenet
+ * - responseType: What type of response to return. 
+ *   - `'parsed'` parses the returned XDR as `{{i128}}`. This is the default. Runs preflight, checks to see if auth/signing is required, and sends the transaction if so. If there's no error and `secondsToWait` is positive, awaits the finalized transaction.
+ *   - `'simulated'` will only simulate/preflight the transaction, even if it's a change/set method that requires auth/signing. Returns full preflight info. 
+ *   - `'full'` return the full RPC response, meaning either 1. the preflight info, if it's a view/read method that doesn't require auth/signing, or 2. the `sendTransaction` response, if there's a problem with sending the transaction or if you set `secondsToWait` to 0, or 3. the `getTransaction` response, if it's a change method with no `sendTransaction` errors and a positive `secondsToWait`.
+ * 
+ * @returns `{{i128}}`, by default, the parsed XDR from either the simulation or the full transaction. For `responseType` of `'simulated'`, returns the full preflight info. For `responseType` of `'full'`, returns either the simulation or the result of sending/getting the transaction to/from the ledger.
+ */
+function balance<R extends ResponseTypes>({ address }: { address: string }, options: Options<R> = {}) {
+  return invoke('balance', [address], options, () => (parseInt(address, 62)))
+}
+
+const balanceSimulate = balance({ address: "GAAAA" }, { responseType: 'simulated' })
+const balanceRpc = balance({ address: "GAAAA" }, { responseType: 'full' })
+const balanceParsed = balance({ address: "GAAAA" }, { responseType: 'parsed' })
+const balanceSimple = balance({ address: "GAAAA" })