Thoughts on Atom Building in the Pattern Library

Two thoughts:

(1) Much of the complexity of the OP's example is due to the fact that the template language they use, Twig, does not abstract HTML. If they would use a higher level templating language, e.g. Jade (http://jade-lang.com/) much of the need to have such things as his proton pattern, would not even arise. Another attempt at a living styleguide generator, http://bedrock.mono.company/ does just that.

(2) The very necessity to discuss atom vs. molecule makes me think that maybe the distinction is not such a good idea after all. Harry Roberts in his ITCSS has just "components" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OKZOV-iLj4 . The other layer that Harry has, "objects", is subsumed under "atoms". This leads to another round of fruitless discussions.