spec-driven-development

To prevent scope creep during complex feature development, enforce a mandatory specification phase to document architectural boundaries, technical plans, and task breakdowns before implementing any code. This structured approach validates requirements upfront to eliminate ambiguity and wasted effort.

The best way to document assumptions for ambiguous project requirements is drafting a structured specification document that defines objectives, tech stack choices, and success criteria. This creates a shared source of truth ensuring alignment before the implementation phase begins.

Implement a gated workflow for architectural changes by applying a four-phase process: Specify, Plan, Tasks, and Implement. This requires human validation at every stage, ensuring that technical plans and task breakdowns are approved before proceeding to the actual code implementation.

You need a structured specification before code implementation when tackling complex feature development, architectural changes, or ambiguous project requirements. Drafting objectives and technical plans first ensures alignment between human and agent, preventing costly rework later.

Spec-driven development is not intended for simple bug fixes or minor updates. It is designed for complex feature development and architectural changes where a mandatory specification phase is required to validate ambiguous requirements and prevent scope creep.