spec-driven-workflow

A spec-first development workflow turns feature ideas into approved specifications before any code is written. By making the specification the source of truth and defining acceptance criteria upfront, it prevents scope creep, reduces rework, and keeps feature delivery deterministic.

To write acceptance criteria for a software feature, you define traceable Given/When/Then criteria that cover structured requirements and edge cases. This ensures the behavior, boundary cases, and contract details are fully validated before implementation begins.

You can generate test stubs by deriving tests directly from the approved specification and its acceptance criteria. Once the feature behavior and boundary cases are defined, the workflow helps produce deterministic test cases to guide implementation.

Defining API contracts before implementation reduces rework by validating data-model details and edge-case coverage early. Establishing a complete, approved specification ensures development remains scope-safe and deterministic rather than based on guesses.

The best way to turn product intent into deterministic test cases is through a spec-first workflow that requires structured requirements, validation checks, and traceable Given/When/Then criteria. This ensures the generated tests accurately reflect the approved feature behavior.

You should avoid a spec-driven approach for feature planning if your project cannot afford the upfront time to gather structured requirements, author complete specifications, and define validation checks before writing code, as skipping these steps breaks the deterministic workflow.