diff --git a/python/cpp/Makefile.jinja b/python/cpp/Makefile.jinja
index 706008d..b515de3 100644
--- a/python/cpp/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/cpp/Makefile.jinja
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ lint-cpp:  ## run cpp linter
 	clang-format --dry-run -Werror -i -style=file `find ./cpp -name "*.*pp"`
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-cpp lint-py  ## run project linters
 
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ fix-cpp:  ## fix cpp formatting
 	clang-format -i -style=file `find ./cpp -name "*.*pp"`
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix: fix-cpp fix-py fix-docs  ## run project autoformatters
 
diff --git a/python/cpp/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/cpp/pyproject.toml.jinja
index cdbc0d5..3826a53 100644
--- a/python/cpp/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/cpp/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatch-cpp{% if add_pyodide %}>=0.5.0{% endif %}",
     "hatchling",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pybind11",
     "pytest",
diff --git a/python/cppjswasm/Makefile.jinja b/python/cppjswasm/Makefile.jinja
index c4231ec..e243c04 100644
--- a/python/cppjswasm/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/cppjswasm/Makefile.jinja
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ lint-cpp:  ## run C++ linter
 	make -C cpp lint
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-cpp lint-js lint-py lint-docs  ## run project linters
 
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ fix-cpp:  ## fix C++ formatting
 	make -C cpp fix
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix: fix-cpp fix-js fix-py fix-docs  ## run project autoformatters
 
diff --git a/python/cppjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/cppjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 1c7ba27..6425332 100644
--- a/python/cppjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/cppjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatchling",
     "pybind11",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-cov",
diff --git a/python/cython/Makefile.jinja b/python/cython/Makefile.jinja
index 31b538c..1842e9e 100644
--- a/python/cython/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/cython/Makefile.jinja
@@ -18,16 +18,16 @@ lint-py:  ## lint Python with ruff
 	python -m ruff format --check {{ module }}
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint documentation
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md docs/development.md{% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md docs/development.md{% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md docs/development.md $(wildcard docs/src){% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md docs/development.md $(wildcard docs/src){% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix-py:  ## autoformat Python code
 	python -m ruff check --fix {{ module }}
 	python -m ruff format {{ module }}
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat documentation
-	python -m mdformat README.md docs/development.md{% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md docs/development.md{% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md docs/development.md $(wildcard docs/src){% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md docs/development.md $(wildcard docs/src){% if add_wiki %} docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-py lint-docs  ## run all linters
 lints: lint
diff --git a/python/cython/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/cython/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 9f57da4..9d6043a 100644
--- a/python/cython/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/cython/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatch-cython",
     "hatchling",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-cov",
diff --git a/python/js/Makefile.jinja b/python/js/Makefile.jinja
index f7ba25b..b478d93 100644
--- a/python/js/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/js/Makefile.jinja
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ lint-js:  ## run js linter
 	cd js; pnpm lint
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-js lint-py lint-docs  ## run project linters
 
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ fix-js:  ## fix js formatting
 	cd js; pnpm fix
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix: fix-js fix-py fix-docs  ## run project autoformatters
 
diff --git a/python/js/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/js/pyproject.toml.jinja
index e228543..c187e98 100644
--- a/python/js/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/js/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatch-js",
     "hatchling",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-cov",
diff --git a/python/jupyter/Makefile.jinja b/python/jupyter/Makefile.jinja
index 6e6ff7a..ef081c7 100644
--- a/python/jupyter/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/jupyter/Makefile.jinja
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ lint-js:  ## run js linter
 	cd js; pnpm lint
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-js lint-py lint-docs  ## run project linters
 
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ fix-js:  ## fix js formatting
 	cd js; pnpm fix
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix: fix-js fix-py fix-docs  ## run project autoformatters
 
diff --git a/python/jupyter/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/jupyter/pyproject.toml.jinja
index ee13312..2545f30 100644
--- a/python/jupyter/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/jupyter/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatchling",
     "jupyter-builder>=1.2.3,<2",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "jupyterlab>=4,<5",
     "pytest",
diff --git a/python/pure/Makefile.jinja b/python/pure/Makefile.jinja
index ee5abf7..1708a80 100644
--- a/python/pure/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/pure/Makefile.jinja
@@ -25,16 +25,16 @@ lint-py:  ## lint python with ruff
 	python -m ruff format --check {{ module }}
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix-py:  ## autoformat python code with ruff
 	python -m ruff check --fix {{ module }}
 	python -m ruff format {{ module }}
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-py lint-docs  ## run all linters
 lints: lint
diff --git a/python/pure/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/pure/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 3c7ae3e..9c992d5 100644
--- a/python/pure/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/pure/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ develop = [
     "codespell",
     "hatchling",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-cov",
diff --git a/python/rust/Makefile.jinja b/python/rust/Makefile.jinja
index 29f613f..c791320 100644
--- a/python/rust/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/rust/Makefile.jinja
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ lint-rs:  ## run rust linter
 	make -C rust lint
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-rs lint-py lint-docs  ## run project linters
 
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ fix-rs:  ## fix rust formatting
 	make -C rust fix
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix: fix-rs fix-py fix-docs  ## run project autoformatters
 
diff --git a/python/rust/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/rust/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 982d252..5a83144 100644
--- a/python/rust/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/rust/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatch-rs{% if add_pyodide %}>=0.3.0{% endif %}",
     "hatchling",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-cov",
diff --git a/python/rustjswasm/Makefile.jinja b/python/rustjswasm/Makefile.jinja
index ab83bb5..88d51f3 100644
--- a/python/rustjswasm/Makefile.jinja
+++ b/python/rustjswasm/Makefile.jinja
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ lint-rs:  ## run rust linter
 	make -C rust lint
 
 lint-docs:  ## lint docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat --check README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat --check README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 lint: lint-rs lint-js lint-py lint-docs  ## run project linters
 
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ fix-rs:  ## fix rust formatting
 	make -C rust fix
 
 fix-docs:  ## autoformat docs with mdformat and codespell
-	python -m mdformat README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
-	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m mdformat README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
+	python -m codespell_lib --write README.md $(wildcard docs/src) {% if add_wiki %}docs/wiki/{% endif %}
 
 fix: fix-rs fix-js fix-py fix-docs  ## run project autoformatters
 
diff --git a/python/rustjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python/rustjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 0c802eb..5413f5f 100644
--- a/python/rustjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python/rustjswasm/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ develop = [
     "hatch-rs{% if add_pyodide %}>=0.3.0{% endif %}",
     "hatchling",
     "mdformat",
+    "mdformat-frontmatter",
     "mdformat-tables>=1",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-cov",