spec-driven-development

To turn vague ideas into structured software requirements, draft a specification covering objective, commands, project structure, code style, testing strategy, boundaries, and acceptance criteria. This structured spec clarifies ambiguous requirements and prevents guesswork before coding begins.

You need to write a specification for new projects, multi-file features, architectural decisions, and any task expected to take longer than a single focused session. Creating a specification removes ambiguity and prevents misaligned implementations before any code is written.

Break down a project plan into small executable tasks by applying a gated workflow that transitions from planning to taskization. This process divides plans into small tasks with specific acceptance criteria and verification steps to minimize risky, multi-file edits.

The best way to prevent rework on ambiguous requirements is using a gated, four-phase workflow: Specify, Plan, Tasks, and Implement. Human review gates before advancing ensure alignment and produce a reviewable spec with clear acceptance criteria.

Define acceptance criteria and testing strategy by filling the core sections of a structured specification template. This template explicitly requires listing verification steps and success boundaries, ensuring objective measurement before the implementation phase begins.