diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6b5d2ef..0ca212f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 # build everything at once
-all: plugins exe
+all: plugins exe test
 
 # build the main executable to make configs
 main: exe
@@ -21,8 +21,11 @@ plugins:
 	go build -buildmode=plugin -o lib/syslog.so internal/generator/plugins/syslog/syslog.go
 	go build -buildmode=plugin -o lib/warewulf.so internal/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go
 
-# remove executable and all plugins
+# remove executable and all built plugins
 clean:
 	rm configurator
 	rm lib/*
 
+# run all of the unit tests
+test:
+	go test ./tests/generate_test.go --tags=all
diff --git a/cmd/config.go b/cmd/config.go
index 6596988..bd26e7c 100644
--- a/cmd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/config.go
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 )
 
 var configCmd = &cobra.Command{
diff --git a/cmd/inspect.go b/cmd/inspect.go
index 0a543c3..a2b0adf 100644
--- a/cmd/inspect.go
+++ b/cmd/inspect.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"maps"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 353523e..cbbfab7 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile_test.go b/internal/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 06ab7d0..0000000
--- a/internal/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-package main
diff --git a/internal/schema.go b/internal/schema.go
deleted file mode 100644
index dc794a1..0000000
--- a/internal/schema.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-// TODO: implement a way to fetch schemas from node orchestrator
-package configurator
diff --git a/internal/auth.go b/pkg/auth.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/auth.go
rename to pkg/auth.go
diff --git a/internal/client.go b/pkg/client.go
similarity index 99%
rename from internal/client.go
rename to pkg/client.go
index f5de764..bee15d8 100644
--- a/internal/client.go
+++ b/pkg/client.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 )
 
 type ClientOption func(*SmdClient)
diff --git a/internal/config.go b/pkg/config.go
similarity index 90%
rename from internal/config.go
rename to pkg/config.go
index ee113dc..10da3c6 100644
--- a/internal/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config.go
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import (
 type Options struct{}
 
 type Target struct {
-	Templates  []string `yaml:"templates,omitempty"`
-	FilePaths  []string `yaml:"files,omitempty"`
-	RunTargets []string `yaml:"targets,omitempty"`
+	TemplatePaths []string `yaml:"templates,omitempty"`
+	FilePaths     []string `yaml:"files,omitempty"`
+	RunTargets    []string `yaml:"targets,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type Jwks struct {
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ func NewConfig() Config {
 		},
 		Targets: map[string]Target{
 			"dnsmasq": Target{
-				Templates: []string{},
+				TemplatePaths: []string{},
 			},
 			"conman": Target{
-				Templates: []string{},
+				TemplatePaths: []string{},
 			},
 			"warewulf": Target{
-				Templates: []string{
+				TemplatePaths: []string{
 					"templates/warewulf/defaults/node.jinja",
 					"templates/warewulf/defaults/provision.jinja",
 				},
diff --git a/internal/configurator.go b/pkg/configurator.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/configurator.go
rename to pkg/configurator.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/generator.go b/pkg/generator/generator.go
similarity index 91%
rename from internal/generator/generator.go
rename to pkg/generator/generator.go
index 1ed6c9d..27a032e 100644
--- a/internal/generator/generator.go
+++ b/pkg/generator/generator.go
@@ -8,11 +8,10 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"plugin"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/nikolalohinski/gonja/v2"
 	"github.com/nikolalohinski/gonja/v2/exec"
-	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 )
 
 type Mappings map[string]any
@@ -32,6 +31,7 @@ type Generator interface {
 type Params struct {
 	Args        []string
 	PluginPaths []string
+	Generators  map[string]Generator
 	Target      string
 	Verbose     bool
 }
@@ -259,14 +259,14 @@ func ApplyTemplateFromFiles(mappings Mappings, paths ...string) (FileMap, error)
 
 // Main function to generate a collection of files as a map with the path as the key and
 // the contents of the file as the value. This function currently expects a list of plugin
-// paths to load all plugins within a directory. Then, each plugin's generator.Generate()
+// paths to load all plugins within a directory. Then, each plugin's generator.GenerateWithTarget()
 // function is called for each target specified.
 //
 // This function is the corresponding implementation for the "generate" CLI subcommand.
 // It is also call when running the configurator as a service with the "/generate" route.
 //
 // TODO: Separate loading plugins so we can load them once when running as a service.
-func Generate(config *configurator.Config, params Params) (FileMap, error) {
+func GenerateWithTarget(config *configurator.Config, params Params) (FileMap, error) {
 	// load generator plugins to generate configs or to print
 	var (
 		generators = make(map[string]Generator)
@@ -278,12 +278,12 @@ func Generate(config *configurator.Config, params Params) (FileMap, error) {
 		)
 	)
 
-	// load all plugins from params
+	// load all plugins from supplied arguments
 	for _, path := range params.PluginPaths {
 		if params.Verbose {
 			fmt.Printf("loading plugins from '%s'\n", path)
 		}
-		gens, err := LoadPlugins(path)
+		plugins, err := LoadPlugins(path)
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("failed to load plugins: %v\n", err)
 			err = nil
@@ -291,9 +291,12 @@ func Generate(config *configurator.Config, params Params) (FileMap, error) {
 		}
 
 		// add loaded generator plugins to set
-		maps.Copy(generators, gens)
+		maps.Copy(generators, plugins)
 	}
 
+	// copy all generators supplied from arguments
+	maps.Copy(generators, params.Generators)
+
 	// show available targets then exit
 	if len(params.Args) == 0 && params.Target == "" {
 		for g := range generators {
@@ -302,19 +305,14 @@ func Generate(config *configurator.Config, params Params) (FileMap, error) {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
-	if params.Target == "" {
-		logrus.Errorf("no target supplied (--target name)")
-	} else {
-		// run the generator plugin from target passed
-		gen := generators[params.Target]
-		if gen == nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid generator target (%s)", params.Target)
-		}
-		return gen.Generate(
-			config,
-			WithTarget(gen.GetName()),
-			WithClient(client),
-		)
+	// run the generator plugin from target passed
+	gen := generators[params.Target]
+	if gen == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid generator target (%s)", params.Target)
 	}
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("an unknown error has occurred")
+	return gen.Generate(
+		config,
+		WithTarget(gen.GetName()),
+		WithClient(client),
+	)
 }
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/conman/conman.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/conman/conman.go
similarity index 91%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/conman/conman.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/conman/conman.go
index b324238..6a14f89 100644
--- a/internal/generator/plugins/conman/conman.go
+++ b/pkg/generator/plugins/conman/conman.go
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/generator"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 )
 
 type Conman struct{}
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (g *Conman) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (gen
 		"plugin_description": g.GetDescription(),
 		"server_opts":        "",
 		"global_opts":        "",
-	}, target.Templates...)
+	}, target.TemplatePaths...)
 }
 
 var Generator Conman
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/coredhcp/coredhcp.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/coredhcp/coredhcp.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/coredhcp/coredhcp.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/coredhcp/coredhcp.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/dhcpd/dhcpd.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/dhcpd/dhcpd.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/dhcpd/dhcpd.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/dhcpd/dhcpd.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/dnsmasq/dnsmasq.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/dnsmasq/dnsmasq.go
similarity index 91%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/dnsmasq/dnsmasq.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/dnsmasq/dnsmasq.go
index 6483fd1..9150009 100644
--- a/internal/generator/plugins/dnsmasq/dnsmasq.go
+++ b/pkg/generator/plugins/dnsmasq/dnsmasq.go
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/generator"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 )
 
 type DnsMasq struct{}
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func (g *DnsMasq) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (ge
 	// print message if verbose param found
 	if verbose, ok := params["verbose"].(bool); ok {
 		if verbose {
-			fmt.Printf("template: \n%s\nethernet interfaces found: %v\n", strings.Join(target.Templates, "\n\t"), len(eths))
+			fmt.Printf("template: \n%s\nethernet interfaces found: %v\n", strings.Join(target.TemplatePaths, "\n\t"), len(eths))
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (g *DnsMasq) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (ge
 		"plugin_version":     g.GetVersion(),
 		"plugin_description": g.GetDescription(),
 		"dhcp-hosts":         output,
-	}, target.Templates...)
+	}, target.TemplatePaths...)
 }
 
 var Generator DnsMasq
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/example/example.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/example/example.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/example/example.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/example/example.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/hostfile/hostfile.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/powerman/powerman.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/powerman/powerman.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/powerman/powerman.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/powerman/powerman.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/syslog/syslog.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/syslog/syslog.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/syslog/syslog.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/syslog/syslog.go
diff --git a/internal/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go b/pkg/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go
similarity index 90%
rename from internal/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go
rename to pkg/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go
index f9646b8..8f40d7a 100644
--- a/internal/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go
+++ b/pkg/generator/plugins/warewulf/warewulf.go
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import (
 	"maps"
 	"strings"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/generator"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/util"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
 )
 
 type Warewulf struct{}
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (g *Warewulf) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (g
 		client    = generator.GetClient(params)
 		targetKey = params["target"].(string)
 		target    = config.Targets[targetKey]
-		outputs   = make(generator.FileMap, len(target.FilePaths)+len(target.Templates))
+		outputs   = make(generator.FileMap, len(target.FilePaths)+len(target.TemplatePaths))
 	)
 
 	// check if our client is included and is valid
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (g *Warewulf) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (g
 	// print message if verbose param found
 	if verbose, ok := params["verbose"].(bool); ok {
 		if verbose {
-			fmt.Printf("template: \n%s\n ethernet interfaces found: %v\n", strings.Join(target.Templates, "\n\t"), len(eths))
+			fmt.Printf("template: \n%s\n ethernet interfaces found: %v\n", strings.Join(target.TemplatePaths, "\n\t"), len(eths))
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (g *Warewulf) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (g
 	}
 	templates, err := generator.ApplyTemplateFromFiles(generator.Mappings{
 		"node_entries": nodeEntries,
-	}, target.Templates...)
+	}, target.TemplatePaths...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load templates: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/server/server.go b/pkg/server/server.go
similarity index 86%
rename from internal/server/server.go
rename to pkg/server/server.go
index 425a594..1144adc 100644
--- a/internal/server/server.go
+++ b/pkg/server/server.go
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"time"
 
-	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal"
-	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/internal/generator"
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
 	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/jwtauth/v5"
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5/middleware"
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ func (s *Server) Serve() error {
 	return s.ListenAndServe()
 }
 
+func (s *Server) Close() {
+
+}
+
 // This is the corresponding service function to generate templated files, that
 // works similarly to the CLI variant. This function takes similiar arguments as
 // query parameters that are included in the HTTP request URL.
@@ -115,14 +119,14 @@ func (s *Server) Generate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// get all of the expect query URL params and validate
 	s.GeneratorParams.Target = r.URL.Query().Get("target")
 	if s.GeneratorParams.Target == "" {
-		writeError(w, "no targets supplied")
+		writeErrorResponse(w, "no targets supplied")
 		return
 	}
 
 	// generate a new config file from supplied params
-	outputs, err := generator.Generate(s.Config, s.GeneratorParams)
+	outputs, err := generator.GenerateWithTarget(s.Config, s.GeneratorParams)
 	if err != nil {
-		writeError(w, "failed to generate config: %v", err)
+		writeErrorResponse(w, "failed to generate config: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -130,12 +134,12 @@ func (s *Server) Generate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	tmp := generator.ConvertContentsToString(outputs)
 	b, err := json.Marshal(tmp)
 	if err != nil {
-		writeError(w, "failed to marshal output: %v", err)
+		writeErrorResponse(w, "failed to marshal output: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
 	_, err = w.Write(b)
 	if err != nil {
-		writeError(w, "failed to write response: %v", err)
+		writeErrorResponse(w, "failed to write response: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
 }
@@ -147,15 +151,15 @@ func (s *Server) Generate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 func (s *Server) ManageTemplates(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	_, err := w.Write([]byte("this is not implemented yet"))
 	if err != nil {
-		writeError(w, "failed to write response: %v", err)
+		writeErrorResponse(w, "failed to write response: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
 }
 
 // Wrapper function to simplify writting error message responses. This function
 // is only intended to be used with the service and nothing else.
-func writeError(w http.ResponseWriter, format string, a ...any) {
+func writeErrorResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, format string, a ...any) error {
 	errmsg := fmt.Sprintf(format, a...)
-	fmt.Printf(errmsg)
 	w.Write([]byte(errmsg))
+	return fmt.Errorf(errmsg)
 }
diff --git a/internal/util/params.go b/pkg/util/params.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/util/params.go
rename to pkg/util/params.go
diff --git a/internal/util/util.go b/pkg/util/util.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/util/util.go
rename to pkg/util/util.go
diff --git a/tests/generate_test.go b/tests/generate_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31e6e04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/generate_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,402 @@
+package tests
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"testing"
+
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/server"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
+)
+
+// A valid test generator that implements the `Generator` interface.
+type TestGenerator struct{}
+
+func (g *TestGenerator) GetName() string    { return "test" }
+func (g *TestGenerator) GetVersion() string { return "v1.0.0" }
+func (g *TestGenerator) GetDescription() string {
+	return "This is a plugin created for running tests."
+}
+func (g *TestGenerator) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (generator.FileMap, error) {
+	// Jinja 2 template file
+	files := [][]byte{
+		[]byte(`
+Name:        {{plugin_name}}
+Version:     {{plugin_version}}
+Description: {{plugin_description}}
+
+This is the first test template file.
+		`),
+		[]byte(`
+This is another testing Jinja 2 template file using {{plugin_name}}.
+		`),
+	}
+
+	// apply Jinja templates to file
+	fileList, err := generator.ApplyTemplates(generator.Mappings{
+		"plugin_name":        g.GetName(),
+		"plugin_version":     g.GetVersion(),
+		"plugin_description": g.GetDescription(),
+	}, files...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to apply templates: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// make sure we're able to receive certain arguments when passed
+	params := generator.GetParams(opts...)
+	if len(params) <= 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("expect at least one params, but found none")
+	}
+
+	// make sure we have a valid config we can access
+	if config == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid config (config is nil)")
+	}
+
+	// make sure we're able to get a valid client as well
+	client := generator.GetClient(params)
+	if client == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid client (client is nil)")
+	}
+
+	// TODO: make sure we can get a target
+
+	// make sure we have the same number of files in file list
+	if len(files) != len(fileList) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("file list output count is not the same as the input")
+	}
+
+	// convert file list to file map
+	fileMap := make(generator.FileMap, len(fileList))
+	for i, contents := range fileList {
+		fileMap[fmt.Sprintf("t-%d.txt", i)] = contents
+	}
+
+	return fileMap, nil
+}
+
+// Test building and loading plugins
+func TestPlugin(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		testPluginDir        = t.TempDir()
+		testPluginPath       = fmt.Sprintf("%s/test-plugin.so", testPluginDir)
+		testPluginSourcePath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/test-plugin.go", testPluginDir)
+		testPluginSource     = []byte(`
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
+)
+
+type TestGenerator struct{}
+
+func (g *TestGenerator) GetName() string        { return "test" }
+func (g *TestGenerator) GetVersion() string     { return "v1.0.0" }
+func (g *TestGenerator) GetDescription() string { return "This is a plugin creating for running tests." }
+func (g *TestGenerator) Generate(config *configurator.Config, opts ...util.Option) (generator.FileMap, error) {
+	return generator.FileMap{"test": []byte("test")}, nil
+}
+var Generator TestGenerator
+		`)
+	)
+
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("failed to get working directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// show all paths to make sure we're using the correct ones
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPlugin) working directory:     %v\n", wd)
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPlugin) plugin directory:      %v\n", testPluginDir)
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPlugin) plugin path:           %v\n", testPluginPath)
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPlugin) plugin source path:    %v\n", testPluginSourcePath)
+
+	// make temporary directory to test plugin
+	err = os.MkdirAll(testPluginDir, os.ModeDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to make temporary directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// dump the plugin source code to a file
+	err = os.WriteFile(testPluginSourcePath, testPluginSource, os.ModePerm)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to write test plugin file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// make sure the source file was actually written
+	fileInfo, err := os.Stat(testPluginSourcePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to stat path: %v", err)
+	}
+	if fileInfo.IsDir() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected file but found directory")
+	}
+
+	// change to testing directory to run command
+	err = os.Chdir(testPluginDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to 'cd' to temporary directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// execute command to build the plugin
+	cmd := exec.Command("go", "build", "-buildmode=plugin", fmt.Sprintf("-o=%s", testPluginPath), testPluginSourcePath)
+	if output, err := cmd.Output(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to execute command: %v\n%s", err, string(output))
+	}
+
+	// stat the file to confirm that the plugin was built
+	fileInfo, err = os.Stat(testPluginPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to stat plugin file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if fileInfo.IsDir() {
+		t.Fatalf("directory file but a file was expected")
+	}
+	if fileInfo.Size() <= 0 {
+		t.Fatal("found an empty file or file with size of 0 bytes")
+	}
+
+	// test loading plugins both individually and in a dir
+	gen, err := generator.LoadPlugin(testPluginSourcePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to load the test plugin: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// test that we have all expected methods with type assertions
+	if _, ok := gen.(interface {
+		GetName() string
+		GetVersion() string
+		GetDescription() string
+		Generate(*configurator.Config, ...util.Option) (generator.FileMap, error)
+	}); !ok {
+		t.Error("plugin does not implement all of the generator interface")
+	}
+
+	// test loading plugins from a directory (should just load a single one)
+	gens, err := generator.LoadPlugins(testPluginDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to load plugins in '%s': %v", testPluginDir, err)
+	}
+
+	// test all of the plugins loaded from a directory (should expect same result as above)
+	for _, gen := range gens {
+		if _, ok := gen.(interface {
+			GetName() string
+			GetVersion() string
+			GetDescription() string
+			Generate(*configurator.Config, ...util.Option) (generator.FileMap, error)
+		}); !ok {
+			t.Error("plugin does not implement all of the generator interface")
+		}
+	}
+
+}
+
+// Test that expects to fail with a specific error using a partially
+// implemented generator. The purpose of this test is to make sure we're
+// seeing the correct error that we would expect in these situations.
+// The errors should be something like:
+//   - no symbol:      "failed to look up symbol at path"
+//   - invalid symbol: "failed to load the correct symbol type at path"
+func TestPluginWithInvalidOrNoSymbol(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		testPluginDir        = t.TempDir()
+		testPluginPath       = fmt.Sprintf("%s/invalid-plugin.so", testPluginDir)
+		testPluginSourcePath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/invalid-plugin.go", testPluginDir)
+		testPluginSource     = []byte(`
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	configurator "github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/generator"
+	"github.com/OpenCHAMI/configurator/pkg/util"
+)
+
+// An invalid generator that does not or partially implements
+// the "Generator" interface.
+type InvalidGenerator struct{}
+var Generator TestGenerator
+		`)
+	)
+
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("failed to get working directory: %v", err)
+	}
+	// show all paths to make sure we're using the correct ones
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPluginWithInvalidOrNoSymbol) working directory:     %v\n", wd)
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPluginWithInvalidOrNoSymbol) plugin directory:             %v\n", testPluginDir)
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPluginWithInvalidOrNoSymbol) plugin path:           %v\n", testPluginPath)
+	fmt.Printf("(TestPluginWithInvalidOrNoSymbol) plugin source path:    %v\n", testPluginSourcePath)
+
+	// make temporary directory to test plugin
+	err = os.MkdirAll(testPluginDir, os.ModeDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to make temporary directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// dump the plugin source code to a file
+	err = os.WriteFile(testPluginSourcePath, testPluginSource, os.ModePerm)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to write test plugin file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// make sure the source file was actually written
+	fileInfo, err := os.Stat(testPluginSourcePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to stat path: %v", err)
+	}
+	if fileInfo.IsDir() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected file but found directory")
+	}
+
+	// change to testing directory to run command
+	err = os.Chdir(testPluginDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to 'cd' to temporary directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// execute command to build the plugin
+	cmd := exec.Command("go", "build", "-buildmode=plugin", fmt.Sprintf("-o=%s", testPluginPath), testPluginSourcePath)
+	if output, err := cmd.Output(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to execute command: %v\n%s", err, string(output))
+	}
+
+	// stat the file to confirm that the plugin was built
+	fileInfo, err = os.Stat(testPluginPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to stat plugin file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if fileInfo.IsDir() {
+		t.Fatalf("directory file but a file was expected")
+	}
+	if fileInfo.Size() <= 0 {
+		t.Fatal("found an empty file or file with size of 0 bytes")
+	}
+
+	// try and load plugin, but expect specific error
+	_, err = generator.LoadPlugin(testPluginSourcePath)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected an error, but returned nil")
+	}
+}
+
+// Test that expects to successfully "generate" a file using the built-in
+// example plugin with no fetching.
+//
+// NOTE: Normally we would dynamically load a generator from a plugin, but
+// we're not doing it here since that's not what is being tested.
+func TestGenerateExample(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		config = configurator.NewConfig()
+		client = configurator.NewSmdClient()
+		gen    = TestGenerator{}
+	)
+
+	// make sure our generator returns expected strings
+	t.Run("properties", func(t *testing.T) {
+		if gen.GetName() != "test" {
+			t.Error("test generator return unexpected name")
+		}
+		if gen.GetVersion() != "v1.0.0" {
+			t.Error("test generator return unexpected version")
+		}
+		if gen.GetDescription() != "This is a plugin creating for running tests." {
+			t.Error("test generator return unexpected description")
+		}
+	})
+
+	// try to generate a file with templating applied
+	fileMap, err := gen.Generate(
+		&config,
+		generator.WithTarget("test"),
+		generator.WithClient(client),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to generate file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// test for 2 expected files to be generated in the output (hint: check the
+	// TestGenerator.Generate implementation)
+	if len(fileMap) != 2 {
+		t.Error("expected 2 files in generated output")
+	}
+}
+
+// Test that expects to successfully "generate" a file using the built-in
+// example plugin but by making a HTTP request to a service instance instead.
+//
+// NOTE: This test uses the default server settings to run. Also, no need to
+// try and load the plugin from a lib here either.
+func TestGenerateExampleWithServer(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		config  = configurator.NewConfig()
+		client  = configurator.NewSmdClient()
+		gen     = TestGenerator{}
+		headers = make(map[string]string, 0)
+	)
+
+	// NOTE: Currently, the server needs a config to know where to get load plugins,
+	// and how to handle targets/templates. This will be simplified in the future to
+	// decoupled the server from required a config altogether.
+	config.Targets["test"] = configurator.Target{
+		TemplatePaths: []string{},
+		FilePaths:     []string{},
+	}
+
+	// show which targets are availabe in the config
+	fmt.Printf("targets:\n")
+	for target, _ := range config.Targets {
+		fmt.Printf("\t- %s\n", target)
+	}
+
+	// create new server, add test generator, and start in background
+	server := server.New(&config)
+	server.GeneratorParams.Generators = map[string]generator.Generator{
+		"test": &gen,
+	}
+	go server.Serve()
+
+	// make request to server to generate a file
+	res, b, err := util.MakeRequest("http://127.0.0.1:3334/generate?target=test", http.MethodGet, nil, headers)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to make request: %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("expect status code 200 from response but received %d instead", res.StatusCode)
+	}
+
+	// test for specific output from request
+	//
+	// NOTE: we don't actually use the config in this plugin implementation,
+	// but we do check that a valid config was passed.
+	fileMap, err := gen.Generate(
+		&config,
+		generator.WithClient(client),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to generate file: %v", err)
+	}
+	for path, contents := range fileMap {
+		tmp := make(map[string]string, 1)
+		err := json.Unmarshal(b, &tmp)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("failed to unmarshal response: %v", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		if string(contents) != string(tmp[path]) {
+			t.Fatalf("response does not match expected output...\nexpected:%s\noutput:%s", string(contents), string(tmp[path]))
+		}
+	}
+}