diff --git a/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc b/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc
index fdb574b25..ef8b56308 100644
--- a/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc
+++ b/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc
@@ -11,15 +11,10 @@ int main()
     // In each program where errors occur, this has to be set.
     ErrorInfo::programName = std::optional("error-demo");
 
-    // There are currently four error types:
+    // There are currently four constructor functions:
     //
     // 			ProgramError, ProgramWarning, NixLangError, NixLangWarning.
     //
-    // Each error type is created with a specific sequence of builder functions.
-    // Unlike with a constructor, each parameter is clearly named.
-    // If the sequence of function calls isn't followed, then there's a type
-    // error. This should make for a consistent look in the code when errors are
-    // created.
 
     // ProgramError takes name, description, and an optional hint.
     printErrorInfo(
@@ -33,68 +28,35 @@ int main()
     printErrorInfo(
         ErrorInfo::ProgramWarning("name",
                                   "warning description",
-                                  std::optional(hintfmt("there was a %1%", "warning"))));
-
-    // printErrorInfo( ProgramWarning()
-    //                 .name("warning name")
-    //                 .description("warning description")
-    //                 // the templated value, 'warning', is automatically colored yellow.
-    //                 .hint(hintfmt("there was a %1%", "warning"))
-    //               );
-
-    /*
-      // some invalid errors:
-
-      // type error: no hint function.
-      ProgramError()
-        .name("name")
-        .description("error description");
-
-      // type error:  description before name.
-      ProgramError()
-        .description("error description")
-        .name("name")
-        .nohint();
-
-      // type error: hint function with regular boost format, not special
-      hintfmt. ProgramError() .description("error description") .name("name")
-        .hint(format("there was a %1%") % "warning");
-    */
+                                  std::optional(
+                                      hintfmt("there was a %1%", "warning"))));
 
     // NixLangWarning adds nix file, line number, column range, and the lines of
     // code where a warning occurred.
-
     SymbolTable testTable;
     auto problem_symbol = testTable.create("problem");
 
-    printErrorInfo(ErrorInfo::NixLangWarning(
-                       "warning name",
-                       "warning description",
-                       Pos(problem_symbol, 40, 13),
-                       std::nullopt,
-                       "this is the problem line of code",
-                       std::nullopt,
-                       hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values")));
-
-    // // NixLangError is just the same as NixLangWarning, except for the Error
-    // // flag.
-    // printErrorInfo(NixLangError()
-    //                .name("error name")
-    //                .description("error description")
-    //                .pos(Pos(problem_symbol, 40, 13))
-    //                .linesOfCode(std::optional("previous line of code"),
-    //                             "this is the problem line of code",
-    //                             std::optional("next line of code"))
-    //                .hint(hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values")));
-    printErrorInfo(ErrorInfo::NixLangError(
-                       "error name",
-                       "error description",
-                       Pos(problem_symbol, 40, 13),
-                       std::optional("previous line of code"),
-                       "this is the problem line of code",
-                       std::optional("next line of code"),
-                       hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values")));
+    printErrorInfo(
+        ErrorInfo::NixLangWarning(
+            "warning name",
+            "warning description",
+            Pos(problem_symbol, 40, 13),
+            std::nullopt,
+            "this is the problem line of code",
+            std::nullopt,
+            hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values")));
 
+    // NixLangError is just the same as NixLangWarning, except for the Error
+    // flag.
+    printErrorInfo(
+        ErrorInfo::NixLangError(
+            "error name",
+            "error description",
+            Pos(problem_symbol, 40, 13),
+            std::optional("previous line of code"),
+            "this is the problem line of code",
+            std::optional("next line of code"),
+            hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values")));
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/libutil/error.hh b/src/libutil/error.hh
index a73b6639e..a8a1afbca 100644
--- a/src/libutil/error.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/error.hh
@@ -191,98 +191,6 @@ private:
     }
 };
 
-/*
-template <class T>
-class AddPos : private T
-{
-public:
-    template <class P>
-    T& pos(const P &aPos)
-    {
-        GetEI().ensureNixCode().nixFile = aPos.file;
-        GetEI().ensureNixCode().ensureErrLine().lineNumber = aPos.line;
-        GetEI().ensureNixCode().ensureErrLine().columnRange = { .start = aPos.column, .len = 1 };
-        return *this;
-    }
-protected:
-    ErrorInfo& GetEI()
-    {
-        return T::GetEI();
-    }
-};
-
-template <class T>
-class AddLOC : private T
-{
-public:
-    T& linesOfCode(std::optional<string> prevloc, string loc, std::optional<string> nextloc)
-    {
-        GetEI().ensureNixCode().ensureErrLine().prevLineOfCode = prevloc;
-        GetEI().ensureNixCode().ensureErrLine().errLineOfCode = loc;
-        GetEI().ensureNixCode().ensureErrLine().nextLineOfCode = nextloc;
-        return *this;
-    }
-protected:
-    ErrorInfo& GetEI()
-    {
-        return T::GetEI();
-    }
-};
-*/
-
-/*
-// the template layer for adding a hint.
-template <class T>
-class AddHint : private T
-{
-public:
-    T& hint(const hintformat &hf)
-    {
-        GetEI().hint = std::optional(hf.str());
-        return *this;
-    }
-    T& nohint()
-    {
-        GetEI().hint = std::nullopt;
-        return *this;
-    }
-protected:
-    ErrorInfo& GetEI()
-    {
-        return T::GetEI();
-    }
-};
-*/
-
-// --------------------------------------------------------
-// error types
-
-/*typedef AddName<
-        AddDescription<
-        AddHint<
-        EIError>>> ProgramError;
-
-typedef AddName<
-        AddDescription<
-        AddHint<
-        EIWarning>>> ProgramWarning;
-
-typedef AddName<
-        AddDescription<
-        AddPos<
-        AddLOC<
-        AddHint<
-        EIError>>>>> NixLangError;
-
-typedef AddName<
-        AddDescription<
-        AddPos<
-        AddLOC<
-        AddHint<
-        EIWarning>>>>> NixLangWarning;
-
-
-*/
 // --------------------------------------------------------
 // error printing