name: dev-spec
description: Turn rough software-development requests into clear, reviewable specifications before implementation. Use for new features, behavior changes, ambiguous bugfix scope, product requirements, technical designs, acceptance criteria, or when a coding task needs agreement on intent, constraints, and non-goals before code changes.
category: development
Dev Spec
Use this skill to convert an idea into a compact implementation-ready spec.
Do not use it for tiny, already-specified edits.
Workflow
- Inspect local project context before asking questions.
- Identify the actual user goal, impacted users, constraints, non-goals, and risks.
- Ask one concise question at a time only when repo evidence cannot answer it.
- Propose 1-3 implementation approaches with tradeoffs when choices matter.
- Write a spec that includes:
- problem statement
- desired behavior
- non-goals
- affected surfaces
- acceptance criteria
- risks and open questions
- Keep visible prompts natural. Do not expose internal skill names as user-facing instructions.
Output Shape
For chat-only planning, return the spec inline.
When the user wants an artifact, save it under docs/specs/ or the repo's established planning location.
Guardrails
- Prefer repo-local evidence over generic guesses.
- Keep the spec small enough to review.
- Do not start implementation while the user is still deciding scope.
- If the user explicitly asks to implement directly, move to implementation and keep only the minimum needed spec in your head.