Document format for Accord Project contracts

[martinhalford]

Discussion 🗣

The issue of a standard document format for Accord Project was raised by @jeromesimeon.
Details can be found here: Cicero Issue #562

TL;DR

The current CTA compressed archive format assumes the Accord contract is a template that is editable and represents a contract type but is not a contract in and of itself.

The assertion is that there needs to be a file format which contains a contract instance and encapsulates all data, logic and legal artefacts (e.g. signatures) that represents the final, executed agreement.

Context

This could be related to the issue Identity management and digital certs #13.

This could be a "Lab" candidate - under the Apache definition as there is no existing codebase.

[martinhalford]

From TSC Meeting, 2 June 2021:

• @jeromesimeon has been excellent progress on issue and provided update.
• Details can be seen via Create a contract Instance directly from an archive #677 and refactor(core) Clearer separation between contract template and contract instance #676

[martinhalford]

From TSC Meeting, 26-Aug-2021

• Active work-in-progress following on GSoC project for Contract and Template signing.
• More details to follow as work continues.

[martinhalford]

From TSC Meeting, 30-Sep-2021

• Sanket and Martin have been doing work on SLC file format.
• Have added /signatures folder in file structure and have added state.json to track instantiation, signing and other interactions performed on contract.
• Demo to be given at next Tech WG call on 06-Oct-2021