requirements-writing

User stories structure requirements as narratives describing who wants what and why, paired with acceptance criteria—testable conditions using Gherkin syntax (Given/When/Then) that verify the story is complete. This format links features to business needs while ensuring they're verifiable via testing frameworks like Cucumber and RSpec.

User stories describe requirements in business language ('as a [role], I want [feature] so that [benefit]'), while Gherkin scenarios translate those stories into executable test steps using Given/When/Then syntax. Together they document what to build and how to verify it works.

Write acceptance criteria in Gherkin format that maps directly to user story goals, then verify each criterion can be automated in RSpec or Cucumber. Trace each scenario back to the business problem it solves, ensuring requirements remain feasible within technical and economic constraints.

Yes. User stories and Gherkin scenarios work for both defining new features and documenting current system behavior. This approach creates verifiable documentation that captures functional and non-functional requirements, making behavior explicit and testable.

No. Gherkin scenarios serve dual purpose as both executable requirements documentation and test specifications. This single format reduces duplication, keeps requirements and tests synchronized, and ensures acceptance criteria remain verifiable throughout development.