Thanks for the context. I get the resource constraints, but two small changes would make a huge difference without requiring a redesign:
Change 1: Folder-specific repo loading
Let me load just preview/xyz/0.0.1 from my forked preview repo instead of forcing me to import the entire thing. The GitHub sync already exists for Pro users, just needs to work on a subfolder. Right now importing the whole preview repo makes no sense since it’s got every package in there.
Change 2: Auto-convert import paths
When packaging/exporting, automatically swap local imports (../config.typ) to package format (@preview/xyz:0.0.1). This is straightforward pattern matching that would save crucial time in manual review and cleanup. At the very least the the failed CI check can give this suggestion in its error message.
Why this matters:
Templates drive adoption. LaTeX has tons of high-quality templates. People are more likely to choose a typesetting software based on whether a good template exists for their use case. The current workflow (download, hunt for import issues, multi-step push) actively discourages the exact people who should be contributing. The idea of typst universe is great, making it easier to contribute templates means growing the ecosystem faster; which means more users pick up Typst instead of sticking with LaTeX.