# Spec Driven Development

> Specification creation and management for the Pilot Shell methodology. Covers semantic search, clarifying questions, structured spec generation, and iterative refinement.

- Skill: `a5c-ai/spec-driven-development` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add a5c-ai/spec-driven-development`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/a5c-ai/spec-driven-development/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: a5c-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/a5c-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/a5c-ai/spec-driven-development

---


- Search for files and code related to the task description
- Identify existing patterns that the spec should follow
- Map the impact area of proposed changes
- Generate SEARCH-CONTEXT.md with findings

### 2. Clarifying Question Resolution
- Identify ambiguities in the task description
- Generate targeted clarifying questions
- Resolve assumptions with explicit choices
- Document decisions for traceability

### 3. Spec Generation
- Structure specs with: title, goals, tasks, acceptance criteria
- Decompose into atomic, testable tasks
- Define dependency graphs between tasks
- Include rollback plans and risk assessments
- Generate SPEC.md document

### 4. Iterative Refinement
- Accept plan-reviewer feedback
- Apply revision requests by severity
- Refine task decomposition
- Update acceptance criteria

## Spec Structure

```markdown
# Specification: [Title]

## Goals
- [ ] Goal 1 with measurable outcome

## Tasks
### Task 1: [Description]
- **Acceptance Criteria**: ...
- **Test Strategy**: RED->GREEN->REFACTOR
- **Complexity**: low/medium/high
- **Dependencies**: [task-ids]

## Assumptions
- Assumption 1 (validated: yes/no)

## Risks
- Risk 1: Mitigation strategy
```