Skip to main content1Validate the data contractConfirm the data JSON satisfies the Data Schema.
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2Validate the render contractCheck the template JSON against the Template Schema on its own.
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3Confirm version alignmentMake sure the contracts and references belong to the same release family.
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4Render only after both passUse rendering as the final output step rather than the debugging step.
The earlier the contract fails, the easier it is to explain and fix.
Validation-first authoring means the document is not considered ready until the data contract has passed and the template contract has passed.
Pattern
- Validate the data JSON against the data schema.
- Validate the template JSON against the template schema.
- Confirm the versions are aligned.
- Render only after both checks succeed.
Why It Matters
- It keeps the data contract and render contract separate.
- It prevents a template from hiding a bad data model.
- It makes failures easier to diagnose because the failure happens earlier and in the right place.
Use This When
- a document family is shared by multiple authors
- output quality matters more than fast drafting
- you need predictable behavior in automated pipelines