diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 72d8844259..8483ea7bcf 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 *.js
 !jest.config.js
+!jest.setup.js
 !test.js
 *.d.ts
 node_modules
diff --git a/docs/working-with-cdk-for-terraform/remote-templates.md b/docs/working-with-cdk-for-terraform/remote-templates.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5f36ecf0d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/working-with-cdk-for-terraform/remote-templates.md
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# Remote Templates
+
+Templates allow scaffolding a new CDK for Terraform project. When you setup a new project via `cdktf init` you can supply one of the [built-in templates](../packages/cdktf-cli/templates) (e.g. `typescript` or `python`) or use your own. This document describes how to create your own template to use with `cdktf init`.
+
+## Using Remote Templates
+Currently the `cdktf` supports downloading and extracting a zip archive containing the files for the template. When extracting the archive, it searches for the `cdktf.json` file. If that file cannot be found in the root directory, it walks all directories until it finds the file. This allows creating an archive that contains e.g. a `README.md` in the root directory explaining things which itself won't turn up in the created project directory. However, most templates won't make use of it.  
+
+If you're using a Github repository for your template, you can create URLs to your repo as follows
+#### main branch
+`https://github.com/<user or organization>/<repo>/archive/refs/heads/main.zip`  
+#### tag `v.0.0.1`
+`https://github.com/<user or organization>/<repo>/archive/refs/tags/v0.0.1.zip`
+
+**Please Note:** Currently only urls to zip archives can be specified, hence only url based authentication mechanisms are supported. If you need support for private packages, please [file an issue](https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform-cdk/issues/new?labels=enhancement%2C+new&template=feature-request.md).
+
+## Creating Remote Templates
+A template is a directory, containing at least a `cdktf.json` file, which is required for the `cdktf` CLI.  
+For scaffolding a new project the library [`sscaff`](https://github.com/awslabs/node-sscaff) is used. `sscaff` basically copies all files into the new directory while allowing for substitutions and hooks.
+
+### Using Substitutions
+A template can make use of substitutions for filenames and file content. To specify your own variables, use Hooks (see below).  
+Besides the [built-in substitutions of](https://github.com/awslabs/node-sscaff#built-in-substitutions) `sccaff` the CDK for Terraform supplies some more variables that can be used in templates:
+
+#### User input
+```typescript
+Name: string;
+Description: string;
+OrganizationName: string;
+WorkspaceName: string;
+```
+These variables hold the input of the user and can for example be used in project files like `package.json` or similar.
+
+#### Versions
+```typescript
+cdktf_version: string;
+constructs_version: string;
+npm_cdktf: string;
+npm_cdktf_cli: string;
+pypi_cdktf: string;
+mvn_cdktf: string;
+nuget_cdktf: string;
+```
+Those variables contain versions that are relative to the cdktf-cli that scaffolds the template. See the [built-in templates](../packages/cdktf-cli/templates) as reference of how you can use them.
+
+### Using `pre` and `post` Hooks
+[Hooks](https://github.com/awslabs/node-sscaff#hooks) allow you to run additional logic before and after the generation of the output.
+
+### Debugging
+To debug your templates you can add `console.log()` statements to your hook functions. Their output is displayed while initializing from a template.  
+If you set the environment flag `CDKTF_LOG_LEVEL` to `debug` you will see more debugging output (e.g. the temporary directory into which your zip archive is downloaded; which can help if you're unsure how your archive behaves).
diff --git a/packages/cdktf-cli/bin/cmds/init.ts b/packages/cdktf-cli/bin/cmds/init.ts
index 85c2e2d6e3..b0696e0d51 100644
--- a/packages/cdktf-cli/bin/cmds/init.ts
+++ b/packages/cdktf-cli/bin/cmds/init.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import yargs from 'yargs'
 import * as readlineSync from 'readline-sync';
+import extract from 'extract-zip';
 import { TerraformLogin } from './helper/terraform-login'
 import * as fs from 'fs-extra';
+import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import { sscaff } from 'sscaff';
 import * as terraformCloudClient from './helper/terraform-cloud-client';
@@ -9,6 +11,8 @@ import * as chalk from 'chalk';
 import { terraformCheck } from './terraform-check';
 import { displayVersionMessage } from './version-check'
 import { FUTURE_FLAGS } from 'cdktf/lib/features';
+import { downloadFile, HttpError } from '../../lib/util';
+import { logger } from '../../lib/logging';
 
 const chalkColour = new chalk.Instance();
 
@@ -28,14 +32,13 @@ class Command implements yargs.CommandModule {
   public readonly describe = 'Create a new cdktf project from a template.';
   public readonly builder = (args: yargs.Argv) => args
     .showHelpOnFail(true)
-    .option('template', { type: 'string', desc: 'The template name to be used to create a new project.' })
-    .option('project-name', { type: 'string', desc: 'The name of the project.'})
-    .option('project-description', { type: 'string', desc: 'The description of the project.'})
+    .option('template', { type: 'string', desc: `The template to be used to create a new project. Either URL to zip file or one of the built-in templates: [${templates.map(t => `"${t}"`).join(', ')}]` })
+    .option('project-name', { type: 'string', desc: 'The name of the project.' })
+    .option('project-description', { type: 'string', desc: 'The description of the project.' })
     .option('dist', { type: 'string', desc: 'Install dependencies from a "dist" directory (for development)' })
-    .option('local', { type: 'boolean', desc: 'Use local state storage for generated Terraform.', default: false})
+    .option('local', { type: 'boolean', desc: 'Use local state storage for generated Terraform.', default: false })
     .option('cdktf-version', { type: 'string', desc: 'The cdktf version to use while creating a new project.', default: pkg.version })
     .strict()
-    .choices('template', templates);
 
   public async handler(argv: any) {
     await terraformCheck()
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ This means that your Terraform state file will be stored locally on disk in a fi
     }
 
     // Gather information about the template and the project
-    const templateInfo = await getTemplatePath(template);
+    const templateInfo = await getTemplate(template);
 
     const projectInfo: any = await gatherInfo(token, templateInfo.Name, argv.projectName, argv.projectDescription);
 
@@ -88,6 +91,10 @@ This means that your Terraform state file will be stored locally on disk in a fi
     await sscaff(templateInfo.Path, '.', {
       ...deps, ...projectInfo, futureFlags
     });
+
+    if (templateInfo.cleanupTemporaryFiles) {
+      await templateInfo.cleanupTemporaryFiles()
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -185,7 +192,7 @@ If you want to exit, press {magenta ^C}.
 
     console.log(chalkColour`\nWe are going to create a new {blueBright Terraform Cloud Workspace} for your project.\n`)
 
-    const workspaceName = readlineSync.question(chalkColour`{blueBright Terraform Cloud Workspace Name:} (default: '${templateName}') `, { defaultInput: templateName } )
+    const workspaceName = readlineSync.question(chalkColour`{blueBright Terraform Cloud Workspace Name:} (default: '${templateName}') `, { defaultInput: templateName })
     project.OrganizationName = organizationOptions[organizationSelect]
     project.WorkspaceName = workspaceName
   }
@@ -193,23 +200,109 @@ If you want to exit, press {magenta ^C}.
   return project;
 }
 
-async function getTemplatePath(templateName: string): Promise<Template> {
+/**
+ * 
+ * @param templateName either the name of built-in templates or an url pointing to a zip archive
+ */
+async function getTemplate(templateName: string): Promise<Template> {
   if (templateName == '') {
+    const templateOptionRemote = '<remote zip file>';
+    const options = [...templates, templateOptionRemote];
     // Prompt for template
-    const selection = readlineSync.keyInSelect(templates, chalkColour`{whiteBright What template you want to use?}`)
+    const selection = readlineSync.keyInSelect(options, chalkColour`{whiteBright What template you want to use?}`)
     if (selection == -1) {
       process.exit(0);
     }
-    templateName = templates[selection];
-    console.log(chalkColour`\n{whiteBright Initializing a project using the {greenBright ${templateName}} template.}`);
+    if (selection === options.indexOf(templateOptionRemote)) {
+      templateName = readlineSync.question('Please enter an URL pointing to the template zip file you want to use: ');
+      if (templateName == '') {
+        console.log('No URL was given (received empty string). Aborted.');
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+    } else {
+      templateName = options[selection];
+      console.log(chalkColour`\n{whiteBright Initializing a project using the {greenBright ${templateName}} template.}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // treat as remote url
+  if (!templates.includes(templateName)) {
+    return fetchRemoteTemplate(templateName);
+  } else {
+    return {
+      'Name': templateName,
+      'Path': path.join(templatesDir, templateName)
+    }
   }
+}
 
-  const templatePath = path.join(templatesDir, templateName);
+async function fetchRemoteTemplate(templateUrl: string): Promise<Template> {
+  console.log(chalkColour`Fetching remote template from: {whiteBright ${templateUrl}}`);
+  try {
+    const url = new URL(templateUrl);
+    const remoteFileName = path.basename(url.pathname) || 'template.zip';
+    logger.trace(`Detected remote file name to be "${remoteFileName}" out of template URL "${templateUrl}"`)
+
+    const tmpDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'cdktf.'));
+    const tmpZipFile = path.join(tmpDir, remoteFileName);
+    const zipExtractDir = path.join(tmpDir, 'extracted');
+
+    logger.trace(`Downloading "${remoteFileName}" to temporary directory "${tmpDir}"`);
+    console.log(chalkColour`Downloading "{whiteBright ${remoteFileName}}" to temporary directory`);
+    await downloadFile(url.href, tmpZipFile);
+    
+    console.log('Extracting zip file');
+    await extract(tmpZipFile, { dir: zipExtractDir });
+
+    // walk directory to find cdktf.json as the extracted directory contains a root directory with unknown name
+    // this also allows nesting the template itself into a sub directory and having a root directory with an unrelated README
+    console.log(chalkColour`Looking for directory containing {whiteBright cdktf.json}`);
+    const templatePath = await findCdkTfJsonDirectory(zipExtractDir);
+
+    if (!templatePath) {
+      throw new Error(chalkColour`Could not find a {whiteBright cdktf.json} in the extracted directory`);
+    }
 
-  return {
-    'Name': templateName,
-    'Path': templatePath
+    return {
+      'Name': path.parse(remoteFileName).name, // strips .zip from filename
+      'Path': templatePath,
+      cleanupTemporaryFiles: async () => {
+        console.log('Clearing up temporary directory of remote template')
+        await fs.remove(tmpDir);
+      },
+    }
+
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e.code === 'ERR_INVALID_URL') {
+      console.error(chalkColour`Could not download template: {redBright the supplied url is invalid}`);
+      console.error(chalkColour`Please supply a valid url (including the protocol) or use one of the built-in templates.`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+    if (e instanceof HttpError) {
+      console.error(chalkColour`Could not download template: {redBright ${e.message}}`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    console.error(e)
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+async function findCdkTfJsonDirectory(rootDir: string): Promise<string | null> {
+  const files = await fs.readdir(rootDir);
+
+  if (files.includes('cdktf.json')) {
+    return rootDir;
+  }
+  for (const file of files) {
+    const fullPath = path.join(rootDir, file);
+    if ((await fs.stat(fullPath)).isDirectory()) {
+      const dir = findCdkTfJsonDirectory(fullPath);
+      if (dir) return dir;
+      // else continue with next sub directory
+    }
   }
+  return null;
 }
 
 interface Deps {
@@ -232,6 +325,7 @@ interface Project {
 interface Template {
   Name: string;
   Path: string;
+  cleanupTemporaryFiles?: () => Promise<void>;
 }
 
 module.exports = new Command();
diff --git a/packages/cdktf-cli/lib/util.ts b/packages/cdktf-cli/lib/util.ts
index 8ce9b51f59..ba4290d916 100644
--- a/packages/cdktf-cli/lib/util.ts
+++ b/packages/cdktf-cli/lib/util.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { spawn, SpawnOptions } from 'child_process';
 import * as fs from 'fs-extra';
+import { https, http } from 'follow-redirects';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import { processLogger } from './logging';
@@ -91,4 +92,38 @@ export async function readCDKTFVersion(outputDir: string): Promise<string> {
 export function downcaseFirst(str: string): string {
   if (str === '') { return str; }
   return `${str[0].toLocaleLowerCase()}${str.slice(1)}`;
+}
+
+export class HttpError extends Error {
+  constructor(message?: string, public statusCode?: number) {
+    super(message); // 'Error' breaks prototype chain here
+    Object.setPrototypeOf(this, new.target.prototype); // restore prototype chain
+    // see: https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/release-notes/typescript-2-2.html#support-for-newtarget
+  }
+}
+
+export async function downloadFile(url: string, targetFilename: string): Promise<void> {
+  const client = url.startsWith('http://') ? http : https;
+  const file = fs.createWriteStream(targetFilename);
+  return new Promise((ok, ko) => {
+    const request = client.get(url, response => {
+      if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
+        ko(new HttpError(`Failed to get '${url}' (${response.statusCode})`, response.statusCode));
+        return;
+      }
+      response.pipe(file);
+    });
+
+    file.on('finish', () => ok());
+
+    request.on('error', err => {
+      fs.unlink(targetFilename, () => ko(err));
+    });
+
+    file.on('error', err => {
+      fs.unlink(targetFilename, () => ko(err));
+    });
+
+    request.end();
+  });
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/cdktf-cli/package.json b/packages/cdktf-cli/package.json
index 198859394a..86968ab783 100644
--- a/packages/cdktf-cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/cdktf-cli/package.json
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
     "chalk": "^4.1.0",
     "codemaker": "^0.22.0",
     "constructs": "^3.0.0",
+    "extract-zip": "^2.0.1",
+    "follow-redirects": "^1.13.3",
     "fs-extra": "^8.1.0",
     "indent-string": "^4.0.0",
     "ink": "^3.0.8",
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/archiver": "^5.1.0",
+    "@types/follow-redirects": "^1.13.0",
     "@types/fs-extra": "^8.1.0",
     "@types/ink": "^2.0.3",
     "@types/ink-spinner": "^3.0.0",
diff --git a/test/csharp/synth-app/test.ts b/test/csharp/synth-app/test.ts
index 6c96192463..81b166a217 100644
--- a/test/csharp/synth-app/test.ts
+++ b/test/csharp/synth-app/test.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("csharp full integration test synth", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupCsharpProject()
+    await driver.setupCsharpProject()
   });
 
   test("synth generates JSON", async () => {
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
-  })
+  }, 180_000);
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/java/synth-app/test.ts b/test/java/synth-app/test.ts
index 6cd701a0e5..81a4fb70d2 100644
--- a/test/java/synth-app/test.ts
+++ b/test/java/synth-app/test.ts
@@ -7,14 +7,15 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 
 describe("java full integration", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
+  jest.setTimeout(240_000);
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupJavaProject()
+    await driver.setupJavaProject()
   });
 
   test("synth generates JSON", async () => {
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
   })
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/jest.config.js b/test/jest.config.js
index 723e6c207c..709a76a6de 100644
--- a/test/jest.config.js
+++ b/test/jest.config.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ module.exports = {
   roots: [
     "<rootDir>"
   ],
+  setupFilesAfterEnv: ['./jest.setup.js'],
   testMatch: ['**/*test.ts'],
   moduleFileExtensions: [
     "js",
diff --git a/test/jest.setup.js b/test/jest.setup.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e5f8621de9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/jest.setup.js
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// set a generous global timeout for beforeAll hooks as jest does run the tests anyway even
+// if the hook timeout out. This produces weird errors that are hard to trace down
+// for reference: https://github.com/facebook/jest/issues/9527
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 300000;
+let originalBeforeAll = global.beforeAll;
+global.beforeAll = function beforeAllWithDefaultTimeout(setup, timeout = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT) {
+    return originalBeforeAll(setup, timeout);
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/package.json b/test/package.json
index 516532cdd9..d6a02489bc 100644
--- a/test/package.json
+++ b/test/package.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   "devDependencies": {
     "@skorfmann/terraform-cloud": "^1.9.1",
     "@types/jest": "^26.0.20",
+    "archiver": "^5.3.0",
     "jest": "^26.6.3",
     "jest-runner-groups": "^2.0.1",
     "ts-jest": "^26.5.1",
diff --git a/test/python/synth-app/test.ts b/test/python/synth-app/test.ts
index 36520666b2..5d726af581 100644
--- a/test/python/synth-app/test.ts
+++ b/test/python/synth-app/test.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("python full integration test synth", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupPythonProject()
+    await driver.setupPythonProject()
   });
 
   test("synth generates JSON", async () => {
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
-  })
+  }, 240_000);
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/python/third-party-provider/test.ts b/test/python/third-party-provider/test.ts
index fb12a10124..32861bbabb 100644
--- a/test/python/third-party-provider/test.ts
+++ b/test/python/third-party-provider/test.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("python full integration 3rd party", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupPythonProject()
+    await driver.setupPythonProject()
   });
 
   test("synth generates JSON", async () => {
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
-  })
+  }, 30_000)
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/template-server.ts b/test/template-server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f649227f54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/template-server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import * as archiver from 'archiver';
+import * as http from 'http';
+import { AddressInfo } from 'net';
+
+export class TemplateServer {
+  private server: http.Server;
+  private static templateFile = 'template.zip';
+
+  constructor(private srcDirectory: string) {
+    this.server = http.createServer(this.handle);
+  }
+
+  handle = (req: http.IncomingMessage, res: http.ServerResponse) => {
+    if (req.url !== `/${TemplateServer.templateFile}`) {
+      res.statusCode = 404;
+      res.end();
+    }
+
+    res.on('error', err => { throw err; });
+    res.writeHead(200, {
+      'Content-Type': 'application/zip',
+    });
+
+    const archive = archiver('zip');
+    archive.pipe(res);
+    archive.directory(this.srcDirectory, false);
+    archive.finalize();
+  }
+
+  async start(): Promise<string> {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      try {
+        this.server.listen(() => {
+          const { port } = this.server.address() as AddressInfo;
+          resolve(`http://localhost:${port}/${TemplateServer.templateFile}`);
+        });
+      } catch (e) {
+        reject(e);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  async stop(): Promise<void> {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => this.server.close(err => err ? reject(err) : resolve()));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/test-helper.ts b/test/test-helper.ts
index 751a752906..1c1d5d961d 100644
--- a/test/test-helper.ts
+++ b/test/test-helper.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import { TemplateServer } from "./template-server";
+import { spawn } from 'child_process';
+
 const { execSync } = require("child_process");
 const os = require("os");
 const path = require("path");
@@ -8,13 +11,36 @@ export class TestDriver {
   public workingDirectory: string;
 
   constructor(public rootDir: string, addToEnv: Record<string, string> = {}) {
-    this.env = Object.assign({CI: 1}, process.env, addToEnv);
+    this.env = Object.assign({ CI: 1 }, process.env, addToEnv);
   }
 
-  private execSync(command: string) {
+  private async exec(command: string, args: string[] = []) {
     try {
-      execSync(command, { stdio: "pipe", env: this.env });
-    } catch(e) {
+      await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+        const stdout = [], stderr = [];
+        const process = spawn(command, args, { shell: true, stdio: 'pipe', env: this.env },);
+        process.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
+          stdout.push(data.toString());
+        });
+        process.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
+          stderr.push(data.toString());
+        });
+        process.on('close', (code) => {
+          if (code === 0) {
+            resolve({
+              stdout: stdout.join('\n'),
+              stderr: stderr.join('\n'),
+            });
+          } else {
+            const error = new Error(`spawned command ${command} with args ${args} failed with exit code ${code}`);
+            (error as any).code = code;
+            (error as any).stdout = stdout.join('\n');
+            (error as any).stderr = stderr.join('\n');
+            reject(error);
+          }
+        });
+      });
+    } catch (e) {
       console.log(e.stdout.toString())
       console.error(e.stderr.toString())
       throw e;
@@ -41,19 +67,18 @@ export class TestDriver {
     return fs.readFileSync(path.join(this.workingDirectory, 'cdktf.out', 'cdk.tf.json'), 'utf-8')
   }
 
-  init = (template) => {
-    execSync(
-      `cdktf init --template ${template} --project-name="typescript-test" --project-description="typescript test app" --local`,
-      { stdio: "inherit", env: this.env }
+  init = async (template: string) => {
+    await this.exec(
+      `cdktf init --template ${template} --project-name="typescript-test" --project-description="typescript test app" --local`
     );
   }
 
-  get = () => {
-    execSync(`cdktf get`, { stdio: "inherit", env: this.env });
+  get = async () => {
+    await this.exec(`cdktf get`);
   }
 
-  synth = () => {
-    this.execSync(`cdktf synth`);
+  synth = async () => {
+    await this.exec(`cdktf synth`);
   }
 
   diff = () => {
@@ -68,34 +93,47 @@ export class TestDriver {
     return execSync(`cdktf destroy --auto-approve`, { env: this.env }).toString();
   }
 
-  setupTypescriptProject = () => {
+  setupTypescriptProject = async () => {
     this.switchToTempDir()
-    this.init('typescript')
+    await this.init('typescript')
     this.copyFiles('main.ts', 'cdktf.json')
-    this.get()
+    await this.get()
   }
 
-  setupPythonProject = () => {
+  setupPythonProject = async () => {
     this.switchToTempDir()
-    this.init('python')
+    await this.init('python')
     this.copyFiles('main.py', 'cdktf.json')
-    this.get()
+    await this.get()
   }
 
-  setupCsharpProject = () => {
+  setupCsharpProject = async () => {
     this.switchToTempDir()
-    this.init('csharp')
+    await this.init('csharp')
     this.copyFiles('Main.cs', 'cdktf.json')
-    this.get()
+    await this.get()
     execSync('dotnet add reference .gen/aws/aws.csproj', { stdio: 'inherit', env: this.env });
   }
 
-  setupJavaProject = () => {
+  setupJavaProject = async () => {
     this.switchToTempDir()
-    this.init('java')
+    await this.init('java')
     this.copyFiles('cdktf.json')
     this.copyFile('Main.java', 'src/main/java/com/mycompany/app/Main.java')
-    this.get()
+    await this.get()
+  }
+
+  setupRemoteTemplateProject = async (overrideUrl?: string) => {
+    const templateServer = new TemplateServer(path.resolve(__dirname, '..', 'packages/cdktf-cli/templates/typescript'));
+    try {
+      const url = await templateServer.start();
+      this.switchToTempDir()
+      await this.init(overrideUrl || url)
+      this.copyFiles('cdktf.json')
+      await this.get()
+    } finally {
+      await templateServer.stop();
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/typescript/diff-deploy-destroy/test.ts b/test/typescript/diff-deploy-destroy/test.ts
index 066b88304f..19354f0c7e 100644
--- a/test/typescript/diff-deploy-destroy/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/diff-deploy-destroy/test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * Testing a full cycle of diff, deploy and destroy
  *
- * @group typescript
+ * 
  */
 
 import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("full integration test", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupTypescriptProject()
+    await driver.setupTypescriptProject()
   });
 
   test("diff", () => {
diff --git a/test/typescript/feature-flags/test.ts b/test/typescript/feature-flags/test.ts
index 981ce32a6c..6784ece267 100644
--- a/test/typescript/feature-flags/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/feature-flags/test.ts
@@ -18,32 +18,32 @@ describe("full integration test", () => {
     ]
   }
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
     driver.switchToTempDir()
-    driver.init('typescript')
+    await driver.init('typescript')
     driver.copyFiles('main.ts')
     writeConfig(driver.workingDirectory, cdktfJSON)
-    driver.get()
+    await driver.get()
   });
 
-  test("with excludeStackIdFromLogicalIds feature", () => {
+  test("with excludeStackIdFromLogicalIds feature", async () => {
     writeConfig(driver.workingDirectory, jsonWithContext({ excludeStackIdFromLogicalIds: "true" }))
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(loadStackJson(driver.workingDirectory)).toMatchSnapshot();
-  });
+  }, 60_000);
 
-  test("with allowSepCharsInLogicalIds feature", () => {
+  test("with allowSepCharsInLogicalIds feature", async () => {
     writeConfig(driver.workingDirectory, jsonWithContext({ allowSepCharsInLogicalIds: "true" }))
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(loadStackJson(driver.workingDirectory)).toMatchSnapshot();
-  });
+  }, 60_000);
 
-  test("without features", () => {
+  test("without features", async () => {
     writeConfig(driver.workingDirectory, cdktfJSON)
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(loadStackJson(driver.workingDirectory)).toMatchSnapshot();
-  });
+  }, 60_000);
 
   const jsonWithContext = (context) => {
     return Object.assign({}, cdktfJSON, { context })
diff --git a/test/typescript/init-remote-template/cdktf.json b/test/typescript/init-remote-template/cdktf.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..827ed077b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/typescript/init-remote-template/cdktf.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "language": "typescript",
+  "app": "npm run --silent compile && node main.js",
+  "terraformProviders": [
+    "null"
+  ],
+  "context": {
+    "excludeStackIdFromLogicalIds": "true"
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/typescript/init-remote-template/test.ts b/test/typescript/init-remote-template/test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b1da486acc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/typescript/init-remote-template/test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/**
+ * Testing interaction remote templates
+ *
+ * @group typescript
+ */
+
+import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
+const fs = require('fs').promises;
+
+describe("remote templates", () => {
+  
+  test("can init", async () => {
+    const driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
+    await driver.setupRemoteTemplateProject();
+    const files = await fs.readdir(driver.workingDirectory);
+    expect(files).toEqual(['.gen', '.gitignore', '.npmrc', 'cdktf.json', 'help', 'main.ts', 'package.json', 'tsconfig.json']);
+  }, 120_000)
+
+  test("handles invalid url", async () => {
+    const driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
+    
+    try {
+      await driver.setupRemoteTemplateProject('invalid_url');
+      fail('Expected init to throw an error');
+    } catch (e) {
+      expect(e.stderr).toContain('Could not download template: the supplied url is invalid');
+    }
+  }, 120_000)
+})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/typescript/init-with-colors/test.ts b/test/typescript/init-with-colors/test.ts
index ce067a59e2..63a76a60bd 100644
--- a/test/typescript/init-with-colors/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/init-with-colors/test.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("test with colors", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  test("build providers", () => {
+  test("build providers", async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname, { FORCE_COLOR: '1' })
     driver.switchToTempDir()
-    driver.init('typescript')
-  })
+    await driver.init('typescript')
+  }, 120_000)
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/typescript/modules/test.ts b/test/typescript/modules/test.ts
index 2950f6ff32..c915891729 100755
--- a/test/typescript/modules/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/modules/test.ts
@@ -14,22 +14,22 @@ const onPosix = process.platform !== 'win32' ? it : it.skip
 describe("full integration test", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
     driver.switchToTempDir()
-    driver.init('typescript')
+    await driver.init('typescript')
     driver.copyFiles('main.ts', 'cdktf.json')
     fs.copySync(path.join(__dirname, 'local-module'), path.join(driver.workingDirectory, 'local-module'))
-    driver.get()
+    await driver.get()
   });
 
-  onPosix("build modules posix", () => {
-    driver.synth()
+  onPosix("build modules posix", async () => {
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
-  })
+  }, 120_000)
 
-  onWindows("build modules windows", () => {
-    driver.synth()
+  onWindows("build modules windows", async () => {
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
-  })
+  }, 120_000)
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/typescript/providers/test.ts b/test/typescript/providers/test.ts
index cfeb10b0cb..1adae0ba8b 100755
--- a/test/typescript/providers/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/providers/test.ts
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("full integration test", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupTypescriptProject()
+    await driver.setupTypescriptProject()
   });
 
   test("build providers", () => {
diff --git a/test/typescript/synth-app-error/test.ts b/test/typescript/synth-app-error/test.ts
index 90dbed3820..8f1c429c52 100644
--- a/test/typescript/synth-app-error/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/synth-app-error/test.ts
@@ -9,21 +9,21 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 describe("full integration test synth", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupTypescriptProject()
+    await driver.setupTypescriptProject()
   });
 
   test("synth prints error message on failure", async () => {
     try {
-      driver.synth();
+      await driver.synth();
       fail('Expected synth to fail but no error was thrown');
     } catch (e) {
-      expect(e.status).toBe(1);
+      expect(e.code).toBe(1);
       expect(e.stderr.toString()).toContain(`cdktf encountered an error while synthesizing
 
 Synth command: npm run --silent compile && node thisFileDoesNotExist.js
 Error:         non-zero exit code 1`);
     }
-  })
+  }, 120_000)
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/typescript/synth-app/test.ts b/test/typescript/synth-app/test.ts
index 30947a5e09..d027750f61 100644
--- a/test/typescript/synth-app/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/synth-app/test.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,15 @@ import { TestDriver } from "../../test-helper";
 
 describe("full integration test synth", () => {
   let driver: TestDriver;
+  jest.setTimeout(120_000);
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname)
-    driver.setupTypescriptProject()
+    await driver.setupTypescriptProject()
   });
 
   test("synth generates JSON", async () => {
-    driver.synth()
+    await driver.synth()
     expect(driver.synthesizedStack()).toMatchSnapshot()
   })
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/typescript/terraform-cloud/test.ts b/test/typescript/terraform-cloud/test.ts
index e9b35bc880..10e223ca80 100755
--- a/test/typescript/terraform-cloud/test.ts
+++ b/test/typescript/terraform-cloud/test.ts
@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ describe("full integration test", () => {
   let workspaceName: string;
   const orgName = 'cdktf'
 
-  beforeAll(() => {
-    jest.setTimeout(60000);
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    jest.setTimeout(240_000);
     workspaceName = `${GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER}-${crypto.randomBytes(10).toString('hex')}`
     driver = new TestDriver(__dirname, {
       TERRAFORM_CLOUD_WORKSPACE_NAME: workspaceName,
       TERRAFORM_CLOUD_ORGANIZATION: orgName
     });
-    driver.setupTypescriptProject()
+    await driver.setupTypescriptProject()
   });
 
   afterAll(() => {
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 9b5073d2ed..00cb595aea 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -1487,6 +1487,13 @@
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/eslint-visitor-keys/-/eslint-visitor-keys-1.0.0.tgz#1ee30d79544ca84d68d4b3cdb0af4f205663dd2d"
   integrity sha512-OCutwjDZ4aFS6PB1UZ988C4YgwlBHJd6wCeQqaLdmadZ/7e+w79+hbMUFC1QXDNCmdyoRfAFdm0RypzwR+Qpag==
 
+"@types/follow-redirects@^1.13.0":
+  version "1.13.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/follow-redirects/-/follow-redirects-1.13.0.tgz#82d3767050314ddb44606576e6bf4fcfee5f4d05"
+  integrity sha512-VPGDD77WMB+da4l1vdfGYM1k9ZjtPyY8EHisvc33QUcwCf/stt/5M1P/ZOPhpnjPgBwJX/xuo3X3wFVp0rutTA==
+  dependencies:
+    "@types/node" "*"
+
 "@types/fs-extra@^8.1.0":
   version "8.1.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/fs-extra/-/fs-extra-8.1.1.tgz#1e49f22d09aa46e19b51c0b013cb63d0d923a068"
@@ -1724,6 +1731,13 @@
   dependencies:
     "@types/yargs-parser" "*"
 
+"@types/yauzl@^2.9.1":
+  version "2.9.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/yauzl/-/yauzl-2.9.1.tgz#d10f69f9f522eef3cf98e30afb684a1e1ec923af"
+  integrity sha512-A1b8SU4D10uoPjwb0lnHmmu8wZhR9d+9o2PKBQT2jU5YPTKsxac6M2qGAdY7VcL+dHHhARVUDmeg0rOrcd9EjA==
+  dependencies:
+    "@types/node" "*"
+
 "@types/yoga-layout@1.9.2":
   version "1.9.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/yoga-layout/-/yoga-layout-1.9.2.tgz#efaf9e991a7390dc081a0b679185979a83a9639a"
@@ -1960,6 +1974,19 @@ archiver@^5.1.0:
     tar-stream "^2.1.4"
     zip-stream "^4.0.4"
 
+archiver@^5.3.0:
+  version "5.3.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/archiver/-/archiver-5.3.0.tgz#dd3e097624481741df626267564f7dd8640a45ba"
+  integrity sha512-iUw+oDwK0fgNpvveEsdQ0Ase6IIKztBJU2U0E9MzszMfmVVUyv1QJhS2ITW9ZCqx8dktAxVAjWWkKehuZE8OPg==
+  dependencies:
+    archiver-utils "^2.1.0"
+    async "^3.2.0"
+    buffer-crc32 "^0.2.1"
+    readable-stream "^3.6.0"
+    readdir-glob "^1.0.0"
+    tar-stream "^2.2.0"
+    zip-stream "^4.1.0"
+
 are-we-there-yet@~1.1.2:
   version "1.1.5"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/are-we-there-yet/-/are-we-there-yet-1.1.5.tgz#4b35c2944f062a8bfcda66410760350fe9ddfc21"
@@ -2297,7 +2324,7 @@ btoa-lite@^1.0.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/btoa-lite/-/btoa-lite-1.0.0.tgz#337766da15801210fdd956c22e9c6891ab9d0337"
   integrity sha1-M3dm2hWAEhD92VbCLpxokaudAzc=
 
-buffer-crc32@^0.2.1, buffer-crc32@^0.2.13:
+buffer-crc32@^0.2.1, buffer-crc32@^0.2.13, buffer-crc32@~0.2.3:
   version "0.2.13"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/buffer-crc32/-/buffer-crc32-0.2.13.tgz#0d333e3f00eac50aa1454abd30ef8c2a5d9a7242"
   integrity sha1-DTM+PwDqxQqhRUq9MO+MKl2ackI=
@@ -2759,6 +2786,16 @@ compress-commons@^4.0.2:
     normalize-path "^3.0.0"
     readable-stream "^3.6.0"
 
+compress-commons@^4.1.0:
+  version "4.1.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/compress-commons/-/compress-commons-4.1.0.tgz#25ec7a4528852ccd1d441a7d4353cd0ece11371b"
+  integrity sha512-ofaaLqfraD1YRTkrRKPCrGJ1pFeDG/MVCkVVV2FNGeWquSlqw5wOrwOfPQ1xF2u+blpeWASie5EubHz+vsNIgA==
+  dependencies:
+    buffer-crc32 "^0.2.13"
+    crc32-stream "^4.0.1"
+    normalize-path "^3.0.0"
+    readable-stream "^3.6.0"
+
 concat-map@0.0.1:
   version "0.0.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/concat-map/-/concat-map-0.0.1.tgz#d8a96bd77fd68df7793a73036a3ba0d5405d477b"
@@ -3756,6 +3793,17 @@ extglob@^2.0.4:
     snapdragon "^0.8.1"
     to-regex "^3.0.1"
 
+extract-zip@^2.0.1:
+  version "2.0.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/extract-zip/-/extract-zip-2.0.1.tgz#663dca56fe46df890d5f131ef4a06d22bb8ba13a"
+  integrity sha512-GDhU9ntwuKyGXdZBUgTIe+vXnWj0fppUEtMDL0+idd5Sta8TGpHssn/eusA9mrPr9qNDym6SxAYZjNvCn/9RBg==
+  dependencies:
+    debug "^4.1.1"
+    get-stream "^5.1.0"
+    yauzl "^2.10.0"
+  optionalDependencies:
+    "@types/yauzl" "^2.9.1"
+
 extsprintf@1.3.0:
   version "1.3.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/extsprintf/-/extsprintf-1.3.0.tgz#96918440e3041a7a414f8c52e3c574eb3c3e1e05"
@@ -3800,6 +3848,13 @@ fb-watchman@^2.0.0:
   dependencies:
     bser "2.1.1"
 
+fd-slicer@~1.1.0:
+  version "1.1.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/fd-slicer/-/fd-slicer-1.1.0.tgz#25c7c89cb1f9077f8891bbe61d8f390eae256f1e"
+  integrity sha1-JcfInLH5B3+IkbvmHY85Dq4lbx4=
+  dependencies:
+    pend "~1.2.0"
+
 figgy-pudding@^3.4.1, figgy-pudding@^3.5.1:
   version "3.5.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/figgy-pudding/-/figgy-pudding-3.5.2.tgz#b4eee8148abb01dcf1d1ac34367d59e12fa61d6e"
@@ -3900,6 +3955,11 @@ follow-redirects@^1.10.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/follow-redirects/-/follow-redirects-1.13.1.tgz#5f69b813376cee4fd0474a3aba835df04ab763b7"
   integrity sha512-SSG5xmZh1mkPGyKzjZP8zLjltIfpW32Y5QpdNJyjcfGxK3qo3NDDkZOZSFiGn1A6SclQxY9GzEwAHQ3dmYRWpg==
 
+follow-redirects@^1.13.3:
+  version "1.13.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/follow-redirects/-/follow-redirects-1.13.3.tgz#e5598ad50174c1bc4e872301e82ac2cd97f90267"
+  integrity sha512-DUgl6+HDzB0iEptNQEXLx/KhTmDb8tZUHSeLqpnjpknR70H0nC2t9N73BK6fN4hOvJ84pKlIQVQ4k5FFlBedKA==
+
 for-in@^1.0.2:
   version "1.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/for-in/-/for-in-1.0.2.tgz#81068d295a8142ec0ac726c6e2200c30fb6d5e80"
@@ -4101,6 +4161,13 @@ get-stream@^5.0.0:
   dependencies:
     pump "^3.0.0"
 
+get-stream@^5.1.0:
+  version "5.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/get-stream/-/get-stream-5.2.0.tgz#4966a1795ee5ace65e706c4b7beb71257d6e22d3"
+  integrity sha512-nBF+F1rAZVCu/p7rjzgA+Yb4lfYXrpl7a6VmJrU8wF9I1CKvP/QwPNZHnOlwbTkY6dvtFIzFMSyQXbLoTQPRpA==
+  dependencies:
+    pump "^3.0.0"
+
 get-value@^2.0.3, get-value@^2.0.6:
   version "2.0.6"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/get-value/-/get-value-2.0.6.tgz#dc15ca1c672387ca76bd37ac0a395ba2042a2c28"
@@ -6976,6 +7043,11 @@ path-type@^3.0.0:
   dependencies:
     pify "^3.0.0"
 
+pend@~1.2.0:
+  version "1.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/pend/-/pend-1.2.0.tgz#7a57eb550a6783f9115331fcf4663d5c8e007a50"
+  integrity sha1-elfrVQpng/kRUzH89GY9XI4AelA=
+
 performance-now@^2.1.0:
   version "2.1.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/performance-now/-/performance-now-2.1.0.tgz#6309f4e0e5fa913ec1c69307ae364b4b377c9e7b"
@@ -8298,6 +8370,17 @@ tar-stream@^2.1.4:
     inherits "^2.0.3"
     readable-stream "^3.1.1"
 
+tar-stream@^2.2.0:
+  version "2.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/tar-stream/-/tar-stream-2.2.0.tgz#acad84c284136b060dc3faa64474aa9aebd77287"
+  integrity sha512-ujeqbceABgwMZxEJnk2HDY2DlnUZ+9oEcb1KzTVfYHio0UE6dG71n60d8D2I4qNvleWrrXpmjpt7vZeF1LnMZQ==
+  dependencies:
+    bl "^4.0.3"
+    end-of-stream "^1.4.1"
+    fs-constants "^1.0.0"
+    inherits "^2.0.3"
+    readable-stream "^3.1.1"
+
 tar@^4.4.10, tar@^4.4.12, tar@^4.4.8:
   version "4.4.13"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/tar/-/tar-4.4.13.tgz#43b364bc52888d555298637b10d60790254ab525"
@@ -9194,6 +9277,14 @@ yargs@^16.2.0:
     y18n "^5.0.5"
     yargs-parser "^20.2.2"
 
+yauzl@^2.10.0:
+  version "2.10.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/yauzl/-/yauzl-2.10.0.tgz#c7eb17c93e112cb1086fa6d8e51fb0667b79a5f9"
+  integrity sha1-x+sXyT4RLLEIb6bY5R+wZnt5pfk=
+  dependencies:
+    buffer-crc32 "~0.2.3"
+    fd-slicer "~1.1.0"
+
 yn@^3.1.1:
   version "3.1.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/yn/-/yn-3.1.1.tgz#1e87401a09d767c1d5eab26a6e4c185182d2eb50"
@@ -9221,3 +9312,12 @@ zip-stream@^4.0.4:
     archiver-utils "^2.1.0"
     compress-commons "^4.0.2"
     readable-stream "^3.6.0"
+
+zip-stream@^4.1.0:
+  version "4.1.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/zip-stream/-/zip-stream-4.1.0.tgz#51dd326571544e36aa3f756430b313576dc8fc79"
+  integrity sha512-zshzwQW7gG7hjpBlgeQP9RuyPGNxvJdzR8SUM3QhxCnLjWN2E7j3dOvpeDcQoETfHx0urRS7EtmVToql7YpU4A==
+  dependencies:
+    archiver-utils "^2.1.0"
+    compress-commons "^4.1.0"
+    readable-stream "^3.6.0"