app1.sls

include:
  - appbase:
    - context:
      appname: app1

# do stuff specific to this app

app2.sls

include:
  - appbase:
    - context:
      appname: app2

# do stuff specific to this app

appbase.sls

{% set app = pillar['applications'][appname] -%}
#maybe since it would probably have to come in as a global to jinja, under a context dict
{% set app = pillar['applications'][context['appname']] -%}
{% set app_home = '/var/www/' + app['name'] -%}

{{app['name']}}-user:
  user.present:
    - name: app['user']
    - home: {{app_home}}

{{app_home}}:
  file.directory:
    - makedirs: True

{{app['name']}}-dependencies:
  pkg.installed:
    - names: {{app['dependencies']}}