One Grammar for Names and Values

Context#

One field name carries two concepts, and one concept carries two names, across the record types, while values arrive as free text with colliding mini-languages that checks must parse instead of read.

Decision#

One naming grammar of eight word classes names every field: fixed identity words; active present-tense verbs for links to many records; singular role nouns for links to one record; <participle>By where the target acts on the record; closed-set nouns with kind for the record's own subtype; prose nouns for text; <condition>When for named conditions; and <participle>Because for reasons. The grammar carries no exemption list: only names an outside standard fixes are exempt, Gherkin given, when and then with the CloudEvents attributes. cites is the one verb for a reason link everywhere. A boolean is a present-tense predicate that is true about the record when true, with no is or has prefix. String mini-languages become objects. Spelling is American. A use case names the settings it reads in reads, decided in decision/0012-use-cases-read-their-settings. when keeps only its Gherkin meaning, and the value style is a set of provisions with its mechanical half checked.

Evidence with Confidence#

research/naming-grammar-evidence holds the 248-field inventory, the collisions and the word classes behind D9 to D18, read from the schemas and measured over the largest consumer, high confidence.