diff --git a/sql/migrations/043_add_adapters_kind_column.sql b/sql/migrations/043_add_adapters_kind_column.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6083c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sql/migrations/043_add_adapters_kind_column.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+-- Migration 043: decouple adapter class-identity (kind) from instance-identity (name)
+--
+-- Until now config.adapters.name served two roles:
+--   1. Instance primary key  — the unique name used in runtime state, logs, dedup
+--      tables, NATS subjects, etc.
+--   2. Registry key          — the key used to look up the adapter class in the
+--      supervisor's in-memory registry (discover_adapters returns {class.name: cls}).
+--
+-- These roles must be split so that one adapter class can later back many
+-- operator-created instances (e.g. a generic HTTP adapter).  The new `kind`
+-- column holds the class identity (registry key), while `name` remains the
+-- unique instance identifier.  All built-in adapters have name == kind, so
+-- every existing row is back-filled with kind = name and behaviour is unchanged.
+--
+-- Idempotent: ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS is safe on re-run.
+-- No DEFAULT is set — future INSERT paths must always supply kind explicitly.
+
+ALTER TABLE config.adapters ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS kind TEXT;
+
+-- Back-fill: existing rows get kind = name (class identity == instance identity
+-- for all 23 built-in adapters shipped before v0.15.0).
+UPDATE config.adapters SET kind = name WHERE kind IS NULL;
+
+-- Enforce non-null going forward.
+ALTER TABLE config.adapters ALTER COLUMN kind SET NOT NULL;
diff --git a/src/central/adapter_discovery.py b/src/central/adapter_discovery.py
index e26729f..5be71f9 100644
--- a/src/central/adapter_discovery.py
+++ b/src/central/adapter_discovery.py
@@ -30,5 +30,7 @@ def discover_adapters() -> dict[str, type[SourceAdapter]]:
                 and attr is not SourceAdapter
                 and hasattr(attr, "name")
             ):
+                # attr.name is the *kind* (class identity); AdapterConfig.name
+                # is the instance identity.  For all built-ins kind == name.
                 registry[attr.name] = attr
     return registry
diff --git a/src/central/config_models.py b/src/central/config_models.py
index 557423a..8533238 100644
--- a/src/central/config_models.py
+++ b/src/central/config_models.py
@@ -30,7 +30,15 @@ class RegionConfig(BaseModel):
 class AdapterConfig(BaseModel):
     """Configuration for a single adapter."""
 
-    name: str = Field(description="Unique adapter identifier")
+    name: str = Field(description="Unique adapter identifier (instance identity)")
+    kind: str | None = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description=(
+            "Adapter class identifier (registry key / class identity). "
+            "Matches SourceAdapter.name on the class.  Defaults to `name` "
+            "for back-compat when the DB column is absent or NULL (pre-043)."
+        ),
+    )
     enabled: bool = Field(default=True, description="Whether adapter is active")
     cadence_s: int = Field(ge=10, description="Poll interval in seconds")
     settings: dict[str, Any] = Field(
@@ -41,6 +49,13 @@ class AdapterConfig(BaseModel):
     )
     updated_at: datetime = Field(description="Last configuration update time")
 
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def _backfill_kind(self) -> "AdapterConfig":
+        """Default kind to name when the DB column is NULL or absent (pre-043)."""
+        if self.kind is None:
+            self.kind = self.name
+        return self
+
     @property
     def is_paused(self) -> bool:
         """Check if adapter is currently paused."""
diff --git a/src/central/config_store.py b/src/central/config_store.py
index 8fe35fc..be3d8ce 100644
--- a/src/central/config_store.py
+++ b/src/central/config_store.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class ConfigStore:
         async with self._pool.acquire() as conn:
             row = await conn.fetchrow(
                 """
-                SELECT name, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at
+                SELECT name, kind, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at
                 FROM config.adapters
                 WHERE name = $1
                 """,
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class ConfigStore:
         async with self._pool.acquire() as conn:
             rows = await conn.fetch(
                 """
-                SELECT name, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at
+                SELECT name, kind, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at
                 FROM config.adapters
                 ORDER BY name
                 """
diff --git a/src/central/gui/routes.py b/src/central/gui/routes.py
index 7258fb4..32d078e 100644
--- a/src/central/gui/routes.py
+++ b/src/central/gui/routes.py
@@ -1451,7 +1451,7 @@ async def adapters_list(
     async with pool.acquire() as conn:
         rows = await conn.fetch(
             """
-            SELECT name, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at, last_error
+            SELECT name, kind, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at, last_error
             FROM config.adapters
             ORDER BY name
             """
@@ -1460,7 +1460,8 @@ async def adapters_list(
         adapters = []
         for row in rows:
             settings = row["settings"] or {}
-            adapter_cls = adapter_classes.get(row["name"])
+            # Resolve the class by kind (class identity), not instance name.
+            adapter_cls = adapter_classes.get(row["kind"])
 
             # Check if required API key is missing — resolve via the per-row
             # settings[api_key_field] (operator-selected alias), falling back
@@ -1540,14 +1541,10 @@ async def adapters_edit_form(
     pool = get_pool()
     operator = request.state.operator
 
-    # Look up the adapter class
-    adapter_classes = _adapter_classes()
-    adapter_cls = adapter_classes.get(name)
-
     async with pool.acquire() as conn:
         row = await conn.fetchrow(
             """
-            SELECT name, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at, last_error
+            SELECT name, kind, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at, last_error
             FROM config.adapters
             WHERE name = $1
             """,
@@ -1564,6 +1561,10 @@ async def adapters_edit_form(
         tile_url = sys_row["map_tile_url"] if sys_row else "https://{s}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png"
         tile_attribution = sys_row["map_attribution"] if sys_row else "© OpenStreetMap contributors"
 
+    # Look up the adapter class by kind (class identity), not instance name.
+    adapter_classes = _adapter_classes()
+    adapter_cls = adapter_classes.get(row["kind"])
+
     settings = row["settings"] or {}
 
     # Build adapter dict with class metadata
@@ -1609,6 +1610,7 @@ async def adapters_edit_form(
             settings_obj = adapter_cls.settings_schema(**settings)
             preview_cfg = AdapterConfig(
                 name=row["name"],
+                kind=row["kind"],
                 enabled=row["enabled"],
                 cadence_s=row["cadence_s"],
                 settings=settings,
@@ -1672,10 +1674,6 @@ async def adapters_edit_submit(
     if not form_csrf or form_csrf != request.state.csrf_token:
         raise CsrfValidationError("Invalid CSRF token")
 
-    # Look up the adapter class
-    adapter_classes = _adapter_classes()
-    adapter_cls = adapter_classes.get(name)
-
     # Parse common form fields
     enabled = "enabled" in form
     cadence_s_str = form.get("cadence_s", "")
@@ -1701,7 +1699,7 @@ async def adapters_edit_submit(
         # Get current adapter state
         row = await conn.fetchrow(
             """
-            SELECT name, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at, last_error
+            SELECT name, kind, enabled, cadence_s, settings, paused_at, updated_at, last_error
             FROM config.adapters
             WHERE name = $1
             """,
@@ -1711,6 +1709,10 @@ async def adapters_edit_submit(
         if row is None:
             return Response(status_code=404, content="Adapter not found")
 
+        # Look up the adapter class by kind (class identity), not instance name.
+        adapter_classes = _adapter_classes()
+        adapter_cls = adapter_classes.get(row["kind"])
+
         current_settings = row["settings"] or {}
 
         # Parse and validate settings via Pydantic if we have the adapter class
diff --git a/src/central/supervisor.py b/src/central/supervisor.py
index 7b269c6..7e79a50 100644
--- a/src/central/supervisor.py
+++ b/src/central/supervisor.py
@@ -355,10 +355,18 @@ class Supervisor:
                     )
 
     def _create_adapter(self, config: AdapterConfig) -> SourceAdapter:
-        """Create an adapter instance based on config name."""
-        cls = self._adapters.get(config.name)
+        """Create an adapter instance based on config kind (class identity).
+
+        config.kind names the adapter *class* in the registry (discover_adapters
+        keys by SourceAdapter.name on the class).  config.name is the unique
+        *instance* identifier and is unchanged here — runtime state, logs, and
+        dedup tables continue to key on config.name.
+        """
+        cls = self._adapters.get(config.kind)
         if cls is None:
-            raise ValueError(f"Unknown adapter type: {config.name}")
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Unknown adapter kind: {config.kind!r} (instance: {config.name!r})"
+            )
         return cls(
             config=config,
             config_store=self._config_store,
@@ -524,8 +532,9 @@ class Supervisor:
         # API key precondition — resolve via per-row settings[api_key_field]
         # (operator-selected alias), falling back to the class-attribute
         # default when settings hasn't been set. Returns None when no key
-        # is required.
-        adapter_cls = self._adapters.get(config.name)
+        # is required. Resolve the class by config.kind (class identity), not
+        # config.name (instance identity) — mirrors _create_adapter.
+        adapter_cls = self._adapters.get(config.kind)
         alias = resolve_api_key_alias(adapter_cls, config.settings)
         if alias is not None:
             key_value = await self._config_store.get_api_key(alias)
diff --git a/tests/test_adapter_config_kind.py b/tests/test_adapter_config_kind.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81b60d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_adapter_config_kind.py
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+"""Tests for AdapterConfig.kind and supervisor._create_adapter kind-based dispatch.
+
+All tests are pure-unit (no DB, no NATS) so they run anywhere.
+"""
+
+import os
+import tempfile
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+# Provide required env vars before importing central modules.
+os.environ.setdefault("CENTRAL_DB_DSN", "postgresql://test:test@localhost/test")
+os.environ.setdefault("CENTRAL_CSRF_SECRET", "testsecret12345678901234567890ab")
+os.environ.setdefault("CENTRAL_NATS_URL", "nats://localhost:4222")
+
+from central.config_models import AdapterConfig
+
+
+_NOW = datetime(2026, 1, 1, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+
+def _cfg(**kwargs) -> AdapterConfig:
+    """Build a minimal AdapterConfig with sensible defaults."""
+    defaults = {
+        "name": "usgs_quake",
+        "cadence_s": 120,
+        "updated_at": _NOW,
+    }
+    defaults.update(kwargs)
+    return AdapterConfig(**defaults)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# AdapterConfig.kind back-compat
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestAdapterConfigKind:
+    def test_kind_defaults_to_name_when_absent(self):
+        """When kind is not supplied, it falls back to name (pre-043 rows)."""
+        cfg = _cfg(name="usgs_quake")
+        assert cfg.kind == "usgs_quake"
+
+    def test_kind_defaults_to_name_when_none(self):
+        """When kind is explicitly None (NULL from DB), it falls back to name."""
+        cfg = _cfg(name="nws", kind=None)
+        assert cfg.kind == "nws"
+
+    def test_kind_preserved_when_set(self):
+        """When kind is explicitly supplied, it is kept as-is."""
+        cfg = _cfg(name="my_quake_instance", kind="usgs_quake")
+        assert cfg.kind == "usgs_quake"
+        assert cfg.name == "my_quake_instance"
+
+    def test_name_unchanged_when_kind_differs(self):
+        """Instance identity (name) is never overwritten by the kind back-fill."""
+        cfg = _cfg(name="my_custom_quake", kind="usgs_quake")
+        assert cfg.name == "my_custom_quake"
+
+    def test_kind_equals_name_for_builtin_pattern(self):
+        """Built-in adapters: name == kind both before and after the migration."""
+        cfg = _cfg(name="nws", kind="nws")
+        assert cfg.kind == cfg.name == "nws"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# supervisor._create_adapter resolves class by kind
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestCreateAdapterResolvesbyKind:
+    """Unit-test _create_adapter without a live Supervisor (no NATS, no DB)."""
+
+    def _make_supervisor_with_registry(self, registry: dict):
+        """Return a minimal Supervisor-like object with _adapters = registry."""
+        # Import lazily to avoid triggering the ENRICHMENT_CACHE_DB_PATH side
+        # effect before conftest patches it (conftest autouse fixture handles it
+        # in the full test run; here we patch manually).
+        from unittest.mock import patch
+        import central.supervisor as sup_mod
+
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as td:
+            with patch.object(sup_mod, "ENRICHMENT_CACHE_DB_PATH", Path(td) / "ec.db"):
+                with patch.object(sup_mod, "CURSOR_DB_PATH", Path(td) / "cursor.db"):
+                    supervisor = MagicMock()
+                    supervisor._adapters = registry
+                    supervisor._config_store = MagicMock()
+                    # Bind the real _create_adapter method to our mock object.
+                    supervisor._create_adapter = (
+                        sup_mod.Supervisor._create_adapter.__get__(supervisor)
+                    )
+                    return supervisor
+
+    def _make_mock_adapter_cls(self, class_name: str):
+        """Return a mock adapter class whose constructor returns a mock instance."""
+        instance = MagicMock()
+        instance.name = class_name  # class-level .name attribute
+
+        cls = MagicMock()
+        cls.return_value = instance
+        return cls
+
+    def test_resolves_class_by_kind_when_kind_differs_from_name(self):
+        """_create_adapter uses config.kind (class key), not config.name."""
+        usgs_cls = self._make_mock_adapter_cls("usgs_quake")
+        registry = {"usgs_quake": usgs_cls}
+        sup = self._make_supervisor_with_registry(registry)
+
+        cfg = _cfg(name="my_quake_instance", kind="usgs_quake")
+        result = sup._create_adapter(cfg)
+
+        # Class was looked up by kind and instantiated.
+        usgs_cls.assert_called_once()
+        assert result is usgs_cls.return_value
+
+    def test_builtin_pattern_kind_equals_name_still_works(self):
+        """Regression: existing adapters with name == kind construct correctly."""
+        usgs_cls = self._make_mock_adapter_cls("usgs_quake")
+        registry = {"usgs_quake": usgs_cls}
+        sup = self._make_supervisor_with_registry(registry)
+
+        cfg = _cfg(name="usgs_quake", kind="usgs_quake")
+        result = sup._create_adapter(cfg)
+
+        usgs_cls.assert_called_once()
+        assert result is usgs_cls.return_value
+
+    def test_raises_on_unknown_kind(self):
+        """_create_adapter raises ValueError mentioning both kind and instance name."""
+        registry = {}
+        sup = self._make_supervisor_with_registry(registry)
+
+        cfg = _cfg(name="my_instance", kind="nonexistent_adapter")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
+            sup._create_adapter(cfg)
+
+        msg = str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "nonexistent_adapter" in msg
+        assert "my_instance" in msg
+
+    def test_instance_identity_passed_through_to_constructor(self):
+        """The adapter constructor receives the full config (name = instance id)."""
+        some_cls = self._make_mock_adapter_cls("some_adapter")
+        registry = {"some_adapter": some_cls}
+        sup = self._make_supervisor_with_registry(registry)
+
+        cfg = _cfg(name="prod_instance_1", kind="some_adapter")
+        sup._create_adapter(cfg)
+
+        # Check the config passed to constructor has the instance name.
+        call_kwargs = some_cls.call_args
+        passed_config = call_kwargs[1].get("config") or call_kwargs[0][0]
+        assert passed_config.name == "prod_instance_1"
+
+
+class TestStartAdapterResolvesByKind:
+    """The api-key precondition in _start_adapter also resolves the class by kind.
+
+    _start_adapter is callable directly with mocks (no live DB), mirroring
+    tests/test_requires_api_key.py::TestSupervisorApiKeyPrecondition. A generic
+    instance where name != kind must still find its class via the registry's
+    kind key — otherwise the lookup returns None, resolve_api_key_alias treats
+    it as "no key required", and the adapter silently skips its api-key check
+    and starts. Resolving by kind keeps the precondition enforced.
+    """
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_precondition_refuses_when_key_missing_for_instance_named_differently(
+        self, tmp_path: Path
+    ):
+        from central.supervisor import Supervisor
+        from central.adapters.firms import FIRMSAdapter
+
+        mock_config_store = MagicMock()
+        mock_config_store.get_api_key = AsyncMock(return_value=None)  # key missing
+        mock_config_store.set_adapter_last_error = AsyncMock()
+
+        mock_nats = MagicMock()
+        mock_nats.publish = AsyncMock()
+
+        supervisor = Supervisor.__new__(Supervisor)
+        supervisor._config_store = mock_config_store
+        # Registry is keyed by class identity (kind == FIRMSAdapter.name == "firms").
+        supervisor._adapters = {"firms": FIRMSAdapter}
+        supervisor._adapter_states = {}
+        supervisor._nats = mock_nats
+        supervisor._cursor_db_path = tmp_path / "cursors.db"
+        supervisor._log = MagicMock()
+
+        # Instance name differs from kind — the generic-instance case.
+        config = _cfg(
+            name="my_firms_instance",
+            kind="firms",
+            enabled=True,
+            cadence_s=300,
+            settings={"api_key_alias": "firms", "satellites": ["VIIRS_SNPP_NRT"]},
+        )
+
+        await supervisor._start_adapter(config)
+
+        # The class WAS resolved by kind: requires_api_key fired, key was found
+        # missing, and the adapter refused to start. Had the lookup used
+        # config.name ("my_firms_instance", absent from the registry), the
+        # precondition would have been skipped and the adapter would have started.
+        mock_config_store.get_api_key.assert_called_once_with("firms")
+        mock_config_store.set_adapter_last_error.assert_called_once()
+        err_args = mock_config_store.set_adapter_last_error.call_args[0]
+        assert err_args[0] == "my_firms_instance"  # error keyed by instance id
+        assert "missing api key" in err_args[1].lower()
+        # Did not start.
+        assert "my_firms_instance" not in supervisor._adapter_states
+        mock_nats.publish.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_start_path_lookup_expression_uses_kind(self):
+        """Belt-and-suspenders: the start-path lookup keys on config.kind.
+
+        Direct assertion of the resolution expression (supervisor._adapters.get(
+        config.kind)) independent of the heavier _start_adapter flow above.
+        """
+        from central.adapters.firms import FIRMSAdapter
+
+        registry = {"firms": FIRMSAdapter}
+        config = _cfg(name="my_firms_instance", kind="firms")
+
+        # Resolving by kind finds the class; resolving by name would miss.
+        assert registry.get(config.kind) is FIRMSAdapter
+        assert registry.get(config.name) is None
diff --git a/tests/test_adapters.py b/tests/test_adapters.py
index 8ed0259..bf2fb9d 100644
--- a/tests/test_adapters.py
+++ b/tests/test_adapters.py
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ class TestAdaptersListAuthenticated:
 
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetch.return_value = [
-            {"name": "firms", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 300, "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms"}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
-            {"name": "nws", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 60, "settings": {"contact_email": "test@test.com"}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
-            {"name": "usgs_quake", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 120, "settings": {"feed": "all_hour"}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
+            {"name": "firms", "kind": "firms", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 300, "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms"}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
+            {"name": "nws", "kind": "nws", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 60, "settings": {"contact_email": "test@test.com"}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
+            {"name": "usgs_quake", "kind": "usgs_quake", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 120, "settings": {"feed": "all_hour"}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
         ]
 
         mock_pool = MagicMock()
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ class TestAdaptersEditForm:
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {
                 "name": "nws",
+                "kind": "nws",
                 "enabled": True,
                 "cadence_s": 60,
                 "settings": {"contact_email": "test@example.com", "region": {"north": 49, "south": 24, "east": -66, "west": -125}},
@@ -178,6 +179,7 @@ class TestAdaptersEditSubmit:
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {
             "name": "nws",
+            "kind": "nws",
             "enabled": True,
             "cadence_s": 60,
             "settings": {"contact_email": "old@example.com", "region": {"north": 49, "south": 24, "east": -66, "west": -125}},
@@ -227,6 +229,7 @@ class TestAdaptersEditSubmit:
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {
                 "name": "nws",
+                "kind": "nws",
                 "enabled": True,
                 "cadence_s": 60,
                 "settings": {"contact_email": "test@example.com", "region": {"north": 49, "south": 24, "east": -66, "west": -125}},
@@ -286,6 +289,7 @@ class TestAdaptersAudit:
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {
             "name": "nws",
+            "kind": "nws",
             "enabled": True,
             "cadence_s": 60,
             "settings": {"contact_email": "old@example.com", "region": {"north": 49, "south": 24, "east": -66, "west": -125}},
@@ -350,6 +354,7 @@ class TestAdaptersJsonbRegression:
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {
             "name": "nws",
+            "kind": "nws",
             "enabled": True,
             "cadence_s": 60,
             "settings": {"contact_email": "old@example.com", "region": {"north": 49, "south": 24, "east": -66, "west": -125}},  # dict, as asyncpg returns
@@ -402,6 +407,7 @@ class TestAdaptersJsonbRegression:
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {
             "name": "nws",
+            "kind": "nws",
             "enabled": True,
             "cadence_s": 60,
             "settings": {"contact_email": "old@example.com", "region": {"north": 49, "south": 24, "east": -66, "west": -125}},  # dict
@@ -443,7 +449,7 @@ class TestAdaptersJsonbRegression:
         mock_conn = MagicMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow = AsyncMock(side_effect=[
             # Adapter row
-            {"name": "firms", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 300, "settings": {},
+            {"name": "firms", "kind": "firms", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 300, "settings": {},
              "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
             # System row
             {"map_tile_url": "https://tile.example.com", "map_attribution": "Test"},
diff --git a/tests/test_gui_adapter_edit.py b/tests/test_gui_adapter_edit.py
index d0ee06c..27d9c76 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui_adapter_edit.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui_adapter_edit.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def _post_req(pairs, cadence_s="1800"):
 def _pool(settings=_SETTINGS):
     conn = AsyncMock()
     conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
-        {"name": "tomtom_incidents", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 1800, "settings": settings,
+        {"name": "tomtom_incidents", "kind": "tomtom_incidents", "enabled": True, "cadence_s": 1800, "settings": settings,
          "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
         {"map_tile_url": None, "map_attribution": None},
     ]
diff --git a/tests/test_migration_043.py b/tests/test_migration_043.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b01c94b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_migration_043.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""v0.15.0 migration 043: add kind column to config.adapters.
+
+No live Postgres required — asserts the migration SQL is structurally correct:
+adds the column idempotently, back-fills kind = name for pre-existing rows, and
+enforces NOT NULL going forward.
+"""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+_SQL = Path("sql/migrations/043_add_adapters_kind_column.sql").read_text()
+_NORM = " ".join(_SQL.split())  # whitespace-insensitive matching
+
+
+def test_uses_add_column_if_not_exists():
+    """Must be idempotent — safe to re-run after partial application."""
+    assert "ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS kind TEXT" in _NORM
+
+
+def test_backfills_kind_equals_name_for_null_rows():
+    """Existing rows must get kind = name so built-in adapters keep working."""
+    assert "UPDATE config.adapters SET kind = name WHERE kind IS NULL" in _NORM
+
+
+def test_enforces_not_null_after_backfill():
+    """kind must be NOT NULL once every row is back-filled."""
+    assert "ALTER COLUMN kind SET NOT NULL" in _NORM
+
+
+def test_does_not_add_default_clause():
+    """No DEFAULT — future INSERT paths must always supply kind explicitly."""
+    # The ADD COLUMN line should not contain DEFAULT
+    add_line = next(
+        (line for line in _SQL.splitlines() if "ADD COLUMN" in line), ""
+    )
+    assert "DEFAULT" not in add_line.upper()
+
+
+def test_does_not_drop_any_columns():
+    """Pure additive migration — must not drop anything."""
+    upper = _NORM.upper()
+    assert "DROP COLUMN" not in upper
+    assert "DROP TABLE" not in upper
+
+
+def test_explains_name_vs_kind_split_in_comment():
+    """Header comment must explain the instance-vs-class identity split."""
+    assert "instance" in _SQL.lower()
+    assert "class" in _SQL.lower()
diff --git a/tests/test_region_picker.py b/tests/test_region_picker.py
index 41fcbce..9a29762 100644
--- a/tests/test_region_picker.py
+++ b/tests/test_region_picker.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class TestRegionPickerInTemplate:
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {  # Adapter row
                 "name": "firms",
+                "kind": "firms",
                 "enabled": True,
                 "cadence_s": 300,
                 "settings": {
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ class TestRegionValidation:
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {
             "name": "firms",
+            "kind": "firms",
             "enabled": True,
             "cadence_s": 300,
             "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms", "satellites": ["VIIRS_SNPP_NRT"], "region": {"north": 49.5, "south": 31.0, "east": -102.0, "west": -124.5}},
@@ -153,6 +155,7 @@ class TestRegionValidation:
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {
                 "name": "firms",
+                "kind": "firms",
                 "enabled": True,
                 "cadence_s": 300,
                 "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms", "satellites": ["VIIRS_SNPP_NRT"], "region": {"north": 49.5, "south": 31.0, "east": -102.0, "west": -124.5}},
@@ -209,6 +212,7 @@ class TestRegionValidation:
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {
                 "name": "firms",
+                "kind": "firms",
                 "enabled": True,
                 "cadence_s": 300,
                 "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms", "satellites": ["VIIRS_SNPP_NRT"], "region": {"north": 49.5, "south": 31.0, "east": -102.0, "west": -124.5}},
@@ -265,6 +269,7 @@ class TestRegionValidation:
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {
                 "name": "firms",
+                "kind": "firms",
                 "enabled": True,
                 "cadence_s": 300,
                 "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms", "satellites": ["VIIRS_SNPP_NRT"], "region": {"north": 49.5, "south": 31.0, "east": -102.0, "west": -124.5}},
@@ -323,6 +328,7 @@ class TestRegionAuditLog:
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
         mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {
             "name": "firms",
+            "kind": "firms",
             "enabled": True,
             "cadence_s": 300,
             "settings": {
diff --git a/tests/test_requires_api_key.py b/tests/test_requires_api_key.py
index 50f6118..a727211 100644
--- a/tests/test_requires_api_key.py
+++ b/tests/test_requires_api_key.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class TestRoutesApiKeyMissing:
         mock_pool = MagicMock()
         mock_conn = MagicMock()
         mock_conn.fetch = AsyncMock(return_value=[
-            {"name": "firms", "enabled": False, "cadence_s": 300, "settings": {}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
+            {"name": "firms", "kind": "firms", "enabled": False, "cadence_s": 300, "settings": {}, "paused_at": None, "updated_at": None, "last_error": None},
         ])
         mock_conn.fetchval = AsyncMock(return_value=None)  # No API key exists
         mock_conn.__aenter__ = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_conn)
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ class TestAdaptersEditSubmitErrorRerender:
             # First call: adapter row
             {
                 "name": "firms",
+                "kind": "firms",
                 "enabled": False,
                 "cadence_s": 300,
                 "settings": {"api_key_alias": "firms", "satellites": ["VIIRS_SNPP_NRT"]},