Spec Forge Journeys

Spec Forge Journeys

Use this stage to refine the behavior of each major journey in progressive review batches.

This stage answers: what happens step by step, which states and alternate paths exist, what rules apply, and which code touchpoints the journey implies.

Shared Operating Rules

• This skill runs only in Plan mode. If the runtime is not Plan mode, stop and tell the user to switch before continuing.
• Confirm both chat language and file language before journey questions.
• Keep decisions in chat. YAML remains the persisted source of truth, but the user should not need to inspect files directly.
• Approvals happen from chat summaries, then get persisted into YAML.

Required Shared CLI Commands

• spec-forge-cli resolve
• spec-forge-cli apply
• spec-forge-cli artifact get
• spec-forge-cli artifact put
• spec-forge-cli artifact merge
• spec-forge-cli approve
• spec-forge-cli focus
• spec-forge-cli gate check
• spec-forge-cli stage advance

Required UX Contract

Read ../spec-forge/assets/contracts/ux-contracts.yaml before collecting parameters.

At the start of the stage, run:

spec-forge-cli resolve --target <target-dir> --skill spec-forge-journeys --stage journeys --write

If the runtime is not Plan mode, stop and ask the user to switch before collecting inputs or showing any choice dialog.

Use chat summaries as the approval surface; YAML remains the persisted contract for the stage.

Entry Gate

Required Inputs

• Approved architecture artifacts
• The current journey index and batch policy

Workflow

1. Resolve invocation UX first with: spec-forge-cli resolve --target <target-dir> --skill spec-forge-journeys --stage journeys --write Confirm chat language and file language before stage-specific journey questions. Then collect only the next missing parameter, one step at a time, and record every accepted answer or choice with spec-forge-cli apply ....
2. Select the next review batch with: spec-forge-cli focus --target <target-dir> --spec-id <spec-id> --stage journeys --max-items 1 --write
3. Focus on one journey at a time unless the batch contains a tiny pair of tightly coupled sibling flows.
4. For each selected journey, create or update .spec-forge/specs/<spec-id>/journeys/<journey-id>.yaml. Use spec-forge-cli artifact get to inspect the current artifact when needed, then persist detail with spec-forge-cli artifact merge for incremental patches or spec-forge-cli artifact put for a full replacement.
5. Record the relevant discussion_roles for that journey. Common roles are:
   • product-manager
   • ux-architect
   • qa-lead
   • tech-lead
6. Fill the journey artifact progressively:
   • trigger, actors, and preconditions
   • main flow
   • alternate flows
   • loading, empty, error, and success states
   • business rules and edge cases
   • linked components
   • code touchpoints and public contracts
   • observability expectations
7. Keep review light:
   • no more than 3 tightly related questions in a turn
   • no more than one primary journey per review turn
   • defer component internals to the components stage
8. Update .spec-forge/specs/<spec-id>/journeys/batches.yaml so each batch reflects real review status, using spec-forge-cli artifact merge --file journeys/batches.yaml or spec-forge-cli artifact put --file journeys/batches.yaml.
9. Present a concise journey summary in chat for each finished journey and ask for explicit approval there. Summarize the batch status in chat before approving the batch file as well. Do not ask the user to inspect YAML files directly. Use a choice dialog when the runtime supports it; otherwise fall back to a compact numbered menu. When the user approves the chat summary, record it with:
   • spec-forge-cli approve --target <target-dir> --spec-id <spec-id> --file journeys/<journey-id>.yaml
   • spec-forge-cli approve --target <target-dir> --spec-id <spec-id> --file journeys/batches.yaml
10. Run:

• spec-forge-cli gate check --target <target-dir> --spec-id <spec-id> --stage journeys --write
• spec-forge-cli stage advance --target <target-dir> --spec-id <spec-id> --stage journeys

Outputs

• .spec-forge/specs/<spec-id>/journeys/batches.yaml
• .spec-forge/specs/<spec-id>/journeys/<journey-id>.yaml
• .spec-forge/specs/<spec-id>/gates/journeys.yaml

Exit Gate

Guardrails

• Do not skip a journey because it feels obvious.
• Do not jump into component internals except for identifying touchpoints.
• Do not review too many flows at once.
• Do not leave open high-risk journey questions hidden inside prose.
• Do not collect missing required parameters in one large batch.
• Do not continue in non-Plan mode.
• Do not ask the user to inspect YAML files directly. Summarize journey content in chat instead.

Next Step

Continue with ../spec-forge-components/SKILL.md.