Envolution questions

        I know you are working on the new project. A few questions to hold
me over until your next release. I'm interested in doing away with as many
modules as possible. I am going to use variations of the frontpage module
for content. Does anyone have a bare minimum version of envolution? How can
the[-php-] [-/php] tags be used in the frontpage template to execute script
from a file? Is that possible? Can I create a block or blocks in a file that
the userapi can use to display on the frontpage?
Thanks in advance for any help given.

                                 Ed