spec-driven-development

Spec-driven development standardizes the software development lifecycle by mandating a formal specification phase before code implementation. Use it for new project initialization, architectural changes, and ambiguous feature requirements to prevent architectural drift.

To define technical specifications before writing code, document your objectives, tech stacks, project structure, and success criteria. This structured documentation ensures human engineers and AI are perfectly aligned on the definition of done before implementation begins.

A gated workflow prevents architectural drift by enforcing a four-phase process: Specify, Plan, Tasks, and Implement. This sequence forces structured documentation and validation before any implementation begins, eliminating wasted effort from hidden misunderstandings.

Yes, you can use spec-driven development for complex features touching multiple modules. It is specifically designed for these use cases, helping you define the objective, tech stack, and success criteria to maintain alignment across the project.

You surface technical assumptions during project planning by explicitly identifying and validating them within the formal specification phase. This prevents hidden misunderstandings and ensures alignment between human intent and technical execution before implementation starts.

The best way to align AI and human engineers is to enforce a gated workflow requiring a structured, human-validated specification before implementation. This ensures both parties agree on objectives, tech stacks, and success criteria, defining done accurately.