diff --git a/test/conftest.py b/test/conftest.py
index ea7eee6..95e2fca 100644
--- a/test/conftest.py
+++ b/test/conftest.py
@@ -68,6 +68,17 @@ def tst_distro(runner):
     return distro
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+def tst_distro_family(runner):
+    """Test session's distro_family"""
+    family = ''
+    with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+        run = runner(command=[
+            'grep', '-oP', r'ID_LIKE=\K.+', '/etc/os-release'], report=False)
+        family = run.out.strip()
+    return family
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def tst_sys():
     """Test session's uname value"""
diff --git a/test/test_alt.py b/test/test_alt.py
index 45c9055..e0f40f1 100644
--- a/test/test_alt.py
+++ b/test/test_alt.py
@@ -85,13 +85,15 @@ def test_relative_link(runner, paths, yadm_alt):
     '##a.$tst_arch', '##arch.$tst_arch', '##architecture.$tst_arch',
     '##o.$tst_sys', '##os.$tst_sys',
     '##d.$tst_distro', '##distro.$tst_distro',
+    '##f.$tst_distro_family', '##distro_family.$tst_distro_family',
     '##c.$tst_class', '##class.$tst_class',
     '##h.$tst_host', '##hostname.$tst_host',
     '##u.$tst_user', '##user.$tst_user',
     ])
 def test_alt_conditions(
         runner, paths,
-        tst_arch, tst_sys, tst_distro, tst_host, tst_user, suffix):
+        tst_arch, tst_sys, tst_distro, tst_distro_family, tst_host, tst_user,
+        suffix):
     """Test conditions supported by yadm alt"""
     yadm_dir, yadm_data = setup_standard_yadm_dir(paths)
 
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ def test_alt_conditions(
         tst_arch=tst_arch,
         tst_sys=tst_sys,
         tst_distro=tst_distro,
+        tst_distro_family=tst_distro_family,
         tst_class=tst_class,
         tst_host=tst_host,
         tst_user=tst_user,
diff --git a/test/test_unit_query_distro_family.py b/test/test_unit_query_distro_family.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf68319
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_unit_query_distro_family.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""Unit tests: query_distro_family"""
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'condition', ['os-release', 'os-release-quotes', 'missing'])
+def test_query_distro_family(runner, yadm, tmp_path, condition):
+    """Match ID_LIKE when present"""
+    test_family = 'testfamily'
+    os_release = tmp_path.joinpath('os-release')
+    if 'os-release' in condition:
+        quotes = '"' if 'quotes' in condition else ''
+        os_release.write_text(
+            f"testing\nID_LIKE={quotes}{test_family}{quotes}\nfamily")
+    script = f"""
+        YADM_TEST=1 source {yadm}
+        OS_RELEASE="{os_release}"
+        query_distro_family
+    """
+    run = runner(command=['bash'], inp=script)
+    assert run.success
+    assert run.err == ''
+    if 'os-release' in condition:
+        assert run.out.rstrip() == test_family
+    else:
+        assert run.out.rstrip() == ''
diff --git a/test/test_unit_score_file.py b/test/test_unit_score_file.py
index f7b821a..c89516b 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_score_file.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_score_file.py
@@ -18,17 +18,21 @@ CONDITION = {
         'labels': ['d', 'distro'],
         'modifier': 4,
         },
+    'distro_family': {
+        'labels': ['f', 'distro_family'],
+        'modifier': 8,
+        },
     'class': {
         'labels': ['c', 'class'],
-        'modifier': 8,
+        'modifier': 16,
         },
     'hostname': {
         'labels': ['h', 'hostname'],
-        'modifier': 16,
+        'modifier': 32,
         },
     'user': {
         'labels': ['u', 'user'],
-        'modifier': 32,
+        'modifier': 64,
         },
     }
 TEMPLATE_LABELS = ['t', 'template', 'yadm']
diff --git a/test/test_unit_set_local_alt_values.py b/test/test_unit_set_local_alt_values.py
index 947a31c..b177c2b 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_set_local_alt_values.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_set_local_alt_values.py
@@ -70,17 +70,20 @@ def test_set_local_alt_values(
         assert f"user='{tst_user}'" in run.out
 
 
-def test_distro(runner, yadm):
-    """Assert that local_distro is set"""
+def test_distro_and_family(runner, yadm):
+    """Assert that local_distro/local_distro_family are set"""
 
     script = f"""
         YADM_TEST=1 source {yadm}
         function config() {{ echo "$1"; }}
         function query_distro() {{ echo "testdistro"; }}
+        function query_distro_family() {{ echo "testfamily"; }}
         set_local_alt_values
         echo "distro='$local_distro'"
+        echo "distro_family='$local_distro_family'"
     """
     run = runner(command=['bash'], inp=script)
     assert run.success
     assert run.err == ''
-    assert run.out.strip() == "distro='testdistro'"
+    assert "distro='testdistro'" in run.out
+    assert "distro_family='testfamily'" in run.out
diff --git a/test/test_unit_template_default.py b/test/test_unit_template_default.py
index f503a39..36098e2 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_template_default.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_template_default.py
@@ -10,14 +10,16 @@ LOCAL_SYSTEM = "default_Test+@-!^System"
 LOCAL_HOST = "default_Test+@-!^Host"
 LOCAL_USER = "default_Test+@-!^User"
 LOCAL_DISTRO = "default_Test+@-!^Distro"
+LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY = "default_Test+@-!^Family"
 TEMPLATE = f'''
 start of template
-default class  = >{{{{yadm.class}}}}<
-default arch   = >{{{{yadm.arch}}}}<
-default os     = >{{{{yadm.os}}}}<
-default host   = >{{{{yadm.hostname}}}}<
-default user   = >{{{{yadm.user}}}}<
-default distro = >{{{{yadm.distro}}}}<
+default class         = >{{{{yadm.class}}}}<
+default arch          = >{{{{yadm.arch}}}}<
+default os            = >{{{{yadm.os}}}}<
+default host          = >{{{{yadm.hostname}}}}<
+default user          = >{{{{yadm.user}}}}<
+default distro        = >{{{{yadm.distro}}}}<
+default distro_family = >{{{{yadm.distro_family}}}}<
 {{% if yadm.class == "else1" %}}
 wrong else 1
 {{% else %}}
@@ -80,16 +82,27 @@ Included section for distro = {{{{yadm.distro}}}} ({{{{yadm.distro}}}} again)
 {{% if yadm.distro == "wrongdistro2" %}}
 wrong distro 2
 {{% endif %}}
+{{% if yadm.distro_family == "wrongfamily1" %}}
+wrong family 1
+{{% endif %}}
+{{% if yadm.distro_family == "{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}" %}}
+Included section for distro_family = \
+{{{{yadm.distro_family}}}} ({{{{yadm.distro_family}}}} again)
+{{% endif %}}
+{{% if yadm.distro_family == "wrongfamily2" %}}
+wrong family 2
+{{% endif %}}
 end of template
 '''
 EXPECTED = f'''
 start of template
-default class  = >{LOCAL_CLASS}<
-default arch   = >{LOCAL_ARCH}<
-default os     = >{LOCAL_SYSTEM}<
-default host   = >{LOCAL_HOST}<
-default user   = >{LOCAL_USER}<
-default distro = >{LOCAL_DISTRO}<
+default class         = >{LOCAL_CLASS}<
+default arch          = >{LOCAL_ARCH}<
+default os            = >{LOCAL_SYSTEM}<
+default host          = >{LOCAL_HOST}<
+default user          = >{LOCAL_USER}<
+default distro        = >{LOCAL_DISTRO}<
+default distro_family = >{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}<
 Included section from else
 Included section for class = {LOCAL_CLASS} ({LOCAL_CLASS} repeated)
 Multiple lines
@@ -98,6 +111,8 @@ Included section for os = {LOCAL_SYSTEM} ({LOCAL_SYSTEM} repeated)
 Included section for host = {LOCAL_HOST} ({LOCAL_HOST} again)
 Included section for user = {LOCAL_USER} ({LOCAL_USER} repeated)
 Included section for distro = {LOCAL_DISTRO} ({LOCAL_DISTRO} again)
+Included section for distro_family = \
+{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY} ({LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY} again)
 end of template
 '''
 
@@ -155,6 +170,7 @@ def test_template_default(runner, yadm, tmpdir):
         local_host="{LOCAL_HOST}"
         local_user="{LOCAL_USER}"
         local_distro="{LOCAL_DISTRO}"
+        local_distro_family="{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}"
         template_default "{input_file}" "{output_file}"
     """
     run = runner(command=['bash'], inp=script)
diff --git a/test/test_unit_template_esh.py b/test/test_unit_template_esh.py
index ee3888a..d4adc70 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_template_esh.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_template_esh.py
@@ -9,14 +9,16 @@ LOCAL_SYSTEM = "esh_Test+@-!^System"
 LOCAL_HOST = "esh_Test+@-!^Host"
 LOCAL_USER = "esh_Test+@-!^User"
 LOCAL_DISTRO = "esh_Test+@-!^Distro"
+LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY = "esh_Test+@-!^Family"
 TEMPLATE = f'''
 start of template
-esh class  = ><%=$YADM_CLASS%><
-esh arch   = ><%=$YADM_ARCH%><
-esh os     = ><%=$YADM_OS%><
-esh host   = ><%=$YADM_HOSTNAME%><
-esh user   = ><%=$YADM_USER%><
-esh distro = ><%=$YADM_DISTRO%><
+esh class         = ><%=$YADM_CLASS%><
+esh arch          = ><%=$YADM_ARCH%><
+esh os            = ><%=$YADM_OS%><
+esh host          = ><%=$YADM_HOSTNAME%><
+esh user          = ><%=$YADM_USER%><
+esh distro        = ><%=$YADM_DISTRO%><
+esh distro_family = ><%=$YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY%><
 <% if [ "$YADM_CLASS" = "wrongclass1" ]; then -%>
 wrong class 1
 <% fi -%>
@@ -71,22 +73,35 @@ Included section for distro = <%=$YADM_DISTRO%> (<%=$YADM_DISTRO%> again)
 <% if [ "$YADM_DISTRO" = "wrongdistro2" ]; then -%>
 wrong distro 2
 <% fi -%>
+<% if [ "$YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY" = "wrongfamily1" ]; then -%>
+wrong family 1
+<% fi -%>
+<% if [ "$YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY" = "{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}" ]; then -%>
+Included section for distro_family = \
+<%=$YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY%> (<%=$YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY%> again)
+<% fi -%>
+<% if [ "$YADM_DISTRO" = "wrongfamily2" ]; then -%>
+wrong family 2
+<% fi -%>
 end of template
 '''
 EXPECTED = f'''
 start of template
-esh class  = >{LOCAL_CLASS}<
-esh arch   = >{LOCAL_ARCH}<
-esh os     = >{LOCAL_SYSTEM}<
-esh host   = >{LOCAL_HOST}<
-esh user   = >{LOCAL_USER}<
-esh distro = >{LOCAL_DISTRO}<
+esh class         = >{LOCAL_CLASS}<
+esh arch          = >{LOCAL_ARCH}<
+esh os            = >{LOCAL_SYSTEM}<
+esh host          = >{LOCAL_HOST}<
+esh user          = >{LOCAL_USER}<
+esh distro        = >{LOCAL_DISTRO}<
+esh distro_family = >{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}<
 Included section for class = {LOCAL_CLASS} ({LOCAL_CLASS} repeated)
 Included section for arch = {LOCAL_ARCH} ({LOCAL_ARCH} repeated)
 Included section for os = {LOCAL_SYSTEM} ({LOCAL_SYSTEM} repeated)
 Included section for host = {LOCAL_HOST} ({LOCAL_HOST} again)
 Included section for user = {LOCAL_USER} ({LOCAL_USER} repeated)
 Included section for distro = {LOCAL_DISTRO} ({LOCAL_DISTRO} again)
+Included section for distro_family = \
+{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY} ({LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY} again)
 end of template
 '''
 
@@ -113,6 +128,7 @@ def test_template_esh(runner, yadm, tmpdir):
         local_host="{LOCAL_HOST}"
         local_user="{LOCAL_USER}"
         local_distro="{LOCAL_DISTRO}"
+        local_distro_family="{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}"
         template_esh "{input_file}" "{output_file}"
     """
     run = runner(command=['bash'], inp=script)
diff --git a/test/test_unit_template_j2.py b/test/test_unit_template_j2.py
index 6e4c5b0..7429f8d 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_template_j2.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_template_j2.py
@@ -10,14 +10,16 @@ LOCAL_SYSTEM = "j2_Test+@-!^System"
 LOCAL_HOST = "j2_Test+@-!^Host"
 LOCAL_USER = "j2_Test+@-!^User"
 LOCAL_DISTRO = "j2_Test+@-!^Distro"
+LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY = "j2_Test+@-!^Family"
 TEMPLATE = f'''
 start of template
-j2 class  = >{{{{YADM_CLASS}}}}<
-j2 arch   = >{{{{YADM_ARCH}}}}<
-j2 os     = >{{{{YADM_OS}}}}<
-j2 host   = >{{{{YADM_HOSTNAME}}}}<
-j2 user   = >{{{{YADM_USER}}}}<
-j2 distro = >{{{{YADM_DISTRO}}}}<
+j2 class         = >{{{{YADM_CLASS}}}}<
+j2 arch          = >{{{{YADM_ARCH}}}}<
+j2 os            = >{{{{YADM_OS}}}}<
+j2 host          = >{{{{YADM_HOSTNAME}}}}<
+j2 user          = >{{{{YADM_USER}}}}<
+j2 distro        = >{{{{YADM_DISTRO}}}}<
+j2 distro_family = >{{{{YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY}}}}<
 {{%- if YADM_CLASS == "wrongclass1" %}}
 wrong class 1
 {{%- endif %}}
@@ -72,22 +74,35 @@ Included section for distro = {{{{YADM_DISTRO}}}} ({{{{YADM_DISTRO}}}} again)
 {{%- if YADM_DISTRO == "wrongdistro2" %}}
 wrong distro 2
 {{%- endif %}}
+{{%- if YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY == "wrongfamily1" %}}
+wrong family 1
+{{%- endif %}}
+{{%- if YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY == "{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}" %}}
+Included section for distro_family = \
+{{{{YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY}}}} ({{{{YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY}}}} again)
+{{%- endif %}}
+{{%- if YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY == "wrongfamily2" %}}
+wrong family 2
+{{%- endif %}}
 end of template
 '''
 EXPECTED = f'''
 start of template
-j2 class  = >{LOCAL_CLASS}<
-j2 arch   = >{LOCAL_ARCH}<
-j2 os     = >{LOCAL_SYSTEM}<
-j2 host   = >{LOCAL_HOST}<
-j2 user   = >{LOCAL_USER}<
-j2 distro = >{LOCAL_DISTRO}<
+j2 class         = >{LOCAL_CLASS}<
+j2 arch          = >{LOCAL_ARCH}<
+j2 os            = >{LOCAL_SYSTEM}<
+j2 host          = >{LOCAL_HOST}<
+j2 user          = >{LOCAL_USER}<
+j2 distro        = >{LOCAL_DISTRO}<
+j2 distro_family = >{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}<
 Included section for class = {LOCAL_CLASS} ({LOCAL_CLASS} repeated)
 Included section for arch = {LOCAL_ARCH} ({LOCAL_ARCH} repeated)
 Included section for os = {LOCAL_SYSTEM} ({LOCAL_SYSTEM} repeated)
 Included section for host = {LOCAL_HOST} ({LOCAL_HOST} again)
 Included section for user = {LOCAL_USER} ({LOCAL_USER} repeated)
 Included section for distro = {LOCAL_DISTRO} ({LOCAL_DISTRO} again)
+Included section for distro_family = \
+{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY} ({LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY} again)
 end of template
 '''
 
@@ -115,6 +130,7 @@ def test_template_j2(runner, yadm, tmpdir, processor):
         local_host="{LOCAL_HOST}"
         local_user="{LOCAL_USER}"
         local_distro="{LOCAL_DISTRO}"
+        local_distro_family="{LOCAL_DISTRO_FAMILY}"
         template_{processor} "{input_file}" "{output_file}"
     """
     run = runner(command=['bash'], inp=script)
diff --git a/yadm b/yadm
index 73e6044..be020d7 100755
--- a/yadm
+++ b/yadm
@@ -210,23 +210,30 @@ function score_file() {
         score=0
         return
       fi
+    elif [[ "$label" =~ ^(f|distro_family)$ ]]; then
+      if [ "$value" = "$local_distro_family" ]; then
+        score=$((score + 8))
+      else
+        score=0
+        return
+      fi
     elif [[ "$label" =~ ^(c|class)$ ]]; then
       if [ "$value" = "$local_class" ]; then
-        score=$((score + 8))
+        score=$((score + 16))
       else
         score=0
         return
       fi
     elif [[ "$label" =~ ^(h|hostname)$ ]]; then
       if [ "$value" = "$local_host" ]; then
-        score=$((score + 16))
+        score=$((score + 32))
       else
         score=0
         return
       fi
     elif [[ "$label" =~ ^(u|user)$ ]]; then
       if [ "$value" = "$local_user" ]; then
-        score=$((score + 32))
+        score=$((score + 64))
       else
         score=0
         return
@@ -363,24 +370,25 @@ function template_default() {
   read -r -d '' awk_pgm << "EOF"
 # built-in default template processor
 BEGIN {
-  blank         = "[ 	]"
-  c["class"]    = class
-  c["arch"]     = arch
-  c["os"]       = os
-  c["hostname"] = host
-  c["user"]     = user
-  c["distro"]   = distro
-  c["source"]   = source
-  ifs           = "^{%" blank "*if"
-  els           = "^{%" blank "*else" blank "*%}$"
-  end           = "^{%" blank "*endif" blank "*%}$"
-  skp           = "^{%" blank "*(if|else|endif)"
-  vld           = conditions()
-  inc_start     = "^{%" blank "*include" blank "+\"?"
-  inc_end       = "\"?" blank "*%}$"
-  inc           = inc_start ".+" inc_end
-  prt           = 1
-  err           = 0
+  blank              = "[ 	]"
+  c["class"]         = class
+  c["arch"]          = arch
+  c["os"]            = os
+  c["hostname"]      = host
+  c["user"]          = user
+  c["distro"]        = distro
+  c["distro_family"] = distro_family
+  c["source"]        = source
+  ifs                = "^{%" blank "*if"
+  els                = "^{%" blank "*else" blank "*%}$"
+  end                = "^{%" blank "*endif" blank "*%}$"
+  skp                = "^{%" blank "*(if|else|endif)"
+  vld                = conditions()
+  inc_start          = "^{%" blank "*include" blank "+\"?"
+  inc_end            = "\"?" blank "*%}$"
+  inc                = inc_start ".+" inc_end
+  prt                = 1
+  err                = 0
 }
 END { exit err }
 { replace_vars() } # variable replacements
@@ -437,6 +445,7 @@ EOF
     -v host="$local_host" \
     -v user="$local_user" \
     -v distro="$local_distro" \
+    -v distro_family="$local_distro_family" \
     -v source="$input" \
     -v source_dir="$(dirname "$input")" \
     "$awk_pgm" \
@@ -456,6 +465,7 @@ function template_j2cli() {
   YADM_HOSTNAME="$local_host" \
   YADM_USER="$local_user"     \
   YADM_DISTRO="$local_distro" \
+  YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY="$local_distro_family" \
   YADM_SOURCE="$input"        \
   "$J2CLI_PROGRAM" "$input" -o "$temp_file"
 
@@ -473,6 +483,7 @@ function template_envtpl() {
   YADM_HOSTNAME="$local_host" \
   YADM_USER="$local_user"     \
   YADM_DISTRO="$local_distro" \
+  YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY="$local_distro_family" \
   YADM_SOURCE="$input"        \
   "$ENVTPL_PROGRAM" --keep-template "$input" -o "$temp_file"
 
@@ -491,6 +502,7 @@ function template_esh() {
   YADM_HOSTNAME="$local_host" \
   YADM_USER="$local_user"     \
   YADM_DISTRO="$local_distro" \
+  YADM_DISTRO_FAMILY="$local_distro_family" \
   YADM_SOURCE="$input"
 
   move_file "$input" "$output" "$temp_file"
@@ -526,6 +538,7 @@ function alt() {
   local local_host
   local local_user
   local local_distro
+  local local_distro_family
   set_local_alt_values
 
   # only be noisy if the "alt" command was run directly
@@ -644,6 +657,7 @@ function set_local_alt_values() {
   fi
 
   local_distro="$(query_distro)"
+  local_distro_family="$(query_distro_family)"
 
 }
 
@@ -1486,6 +1500,20 @@ function query_distro() {
   echo "$distro"
 }
 
+function query_distro_family() {
+  family=""
+  if [ -f "$OS_RELEASE" ]; then
+    while IFS='' read -r line || [ -n "$line" ]; do
+      if [[ "$line" = ID_LIKE=* ]]; then
+        family="${line#ID_LIKE=}"
+        family="${family//\"}"
+        break
+      fi
+    done < "$OS_RELEASE"
+  fi
+  echo "$family"
+}
+
 function process_global_args() {
 
   # global arguments are removed before the main processing is done