specsafe-explore

To assess technical feasibility before writing a feature specification, you should conduct pre-specification exploration by researching existing solutions, evaluating options with pros and cons, and running optional prototyping spikes to test assumptions. This process prevents wasted development effort on unviable requirements.

A feasibility spike is an optional prototyping step used during pre-specification exploration to test technical assumptions for new feature development. You need one when evaluating unclear requirements or unproven technical integrations to ensure the chosen architectural path is viable before committing to a full build.

To research existing solutions and libraries before committing to a complex feature build, guide your team through structured problem understanding, evaluate available options with documented pros and cons, and estimate the effort required. This structured exploration ensures you recommend a viable path forward.

The best way to document pre-specification exploration findings is to guide the creation of structured exploration notes that record problem understanding, research findings, feasibility assessments, and effort estimates. This documentation clarifies requirements and recommends a clear path forward for development.

To clarify ill-defined requirements before starting software development, engage in pre-specification research to understand the core problem, identify stakeholders, and outline constraints. This structured approach prevents wasted development effort on features that are technically unfeasible or poorly defined.