speckit-git-validate

Git branch name validation checks the active branch against sequential numeric or timestamp-based prefixes to ensure compliance with feature-branch naming rules before review. It confirms the prefix matches the expected format and looks for the corresponding spec directory.

Spec Kit repository branch-to-spec traceability links a feature branch prefix to a matching specs/ directory. You need it when your workflow requires verifying that a branch name corresponds to an existing spec before allowing validation or shipping.

To check if a specs directory exists for your git branch prefix, validate the branch name to extract its sequential or timestamp prefix, then search for a matching specs/ directory within the repository to confirm spec existence.

You can validate branch naming rules when git is unavailable by using a graceful fallback that checks the SPECIFY_FEATURE environment variable. If git is missing and the variable is unset, the validation warns and skips.

Limitations of branch validation gating include skipping the process entirely when git is not installed and relying on the SPECIFY_FEATURE environment variable as a fallback, which may not reflect the actual active branch state.