ADR-0008: Test-Case to TCK Rename
Status
Accepted
Date
2026-05-13
Context
The product concept "test case" was too generic and caused multiple problems:
- Naming collision: Python's
unittest.Tckmade class naming awkward and confusing in code. - Conceptual ambiguity: users couldn't tell whether "test case" meant the overarching container or an individual test inside it.
- Weak product identity: the name didn't communicate that this is a Technology Compatibility Kit for certification testing.
The product scope (docs/developer/product-scope.md) defines these containers as conformance test packages that validate Tractus-X standard implementations against a specification version.
Decision
Rename the overarching container concept from "test-case" to "tck" (Technology Compatibility Kit).
Specific changes:
- YAML
kind: test-case→kind: tck - All Python class names:
Tck→Tck(e.g.,TckModel,TckCompiler) - All method/variable names:
test_case→tck - File extension:
.testpkg→.tckpkg - UI labels: "Test Case" → "TCK"
- Individual "test" tests within a TCK keep their name unchanged
No backward compatibility — this is a clean break at this early stage.
Consequences
Positive:
- Clearer product identity — users immediately understand this is certification tooling
- No naming collision with
unittest.Tck - Aligns terminology with industry-standard "TCK" concept (Java TCK, Jakarta TCK)
Negative:
- Breaking change for existing YAML files (must update
kind:field) - All documentation, examples, and tutorials must be updated