How We Replaced a 310-Line Translation Layer with Native TemplateMark Parsing

TL;DR: We deleted 310 lines of template middleware by switching to native Accord Project TemplateMark grammar. Zero regressions.

The Problem

Our legal agreement templates needed to render in the browser. We had a translation layer converting TemplateMark grammar into an intermediate format — 310 lines of middleware that existed for no good reason.

The Approach

TemplateMark already has a formal grammar. We were translating to an intermediate format unnecessarily.

// Before: translate TemplateMark -> intermediate -> render
const intermediate = translateTemplate(templateMark);
const html = renderIntermediate(intermediate);

// After: render TemplateMark directly
const html = renderTemplateMark(templateMark);

Result

• 310 lines deleted
• Zero regressions across 6 agreement types
• Simpler mental model for contributors

Builder's Note

Spent most of the day convinced the tests would break. They didn't. Sometimes the best code you write is the code you delete.