Spec-Driven Development

To write a design specification before coding, use a structured workflow that interrogates project goals, constraints, and success criteria to produce a formal spec document for user approval prior to implementation.

Spec-driven development is a phased workflow that interrogates requirements to build a complete design specification before writing any code. Use it for software features requiring upfront problem definition and formal approval.

A software design spec template should include goals, requirements, non-requirements, architecture, edge cases, and acceptance criteria to ensure complete problem definition and traceability before implementation.

To get user approval before implementation, follow a phased workflow that separates spec documentation from coding, requiring explicit user approval of the design specification before any implementation begins.

Spec-driven development applies to any software project or feature that requires upfront problem definition, spec documentation, and formal approvals, regardless of overall project scale.

Defining requirements and edge cases before writing code ensures deliberate progress and traceability, preventing scope creep by formally documenting goals, constraints, and acceptance criteria during the interrogation phase.