Notion Spec To Implementation

Spec to Implementation

Convert a Notion spec into linked implementation plans, tasks, and ongoing status updates.

Quick start

1. Locate the spec with Notion:search, then fetch it with Notion:fetch.
2. Parse requirements and ambiguities using reference/spec-parsing.md.
3. Create a plan page with Notion:notion-create-pages (pick a template: quick vs. full).
4. Find the task database, confirm schema, then create tasks with Notion:notion-create-pages.
5. Link spec ↔ plan ↔ tasks; keep status current with Notion:notion-update-page.

Tool-call guardrails

• Notion tool availability can vary by workspace. If a Notion MCP call returns Tool <name> not found, treat that tool as unavailable for the rest of the current task. Do not retry it with different arguments or call it again later; use Notion:search and Notion:fetch where sufficient.
• Use one literal search query per Notion:search call and include filters: {} when no narrower filter is needed. Run separate searches for alternate phrasings instead of putting or in a single query string.
• Only send Notion page, database, or data-source URLs/IDs to Notion:fetch; external connected-source search results are not fetch targets.
• Create plans and task pages with explicit parent and pages fields. For task databases, fetch first and use the returned collection://... data source ID.
• To append an implementation section to a spec, fetch the current section text first, then use Notion:notion-update-page with command: "update_content", properties: {}, and exact old_str / new_str content. For property-only edits, use command: "update_properties" with content_updates: []; the current deployed schema expects both top-level fields even when one is unused.

Workflow

0) If Notion tools are unavailable, pause and ask the user to connect the Notion app:

1. Enable the bundled Notion app for this plugin or session.
2. Complete the Notion auth flow if Codex prompts for it.
3. Restart Codex or the current session if the tools still do not appear.

After the app is connected, finish your answer and tell the user to retry so they can continue with Step 1.

1) Locate and read the spec

• Search first (Notion:search); if multiple hits, ask the user which to use.
• Fetch the page (Notion:fetch) and scan for requirements, acceptance criteria, constraints, and priorities. See reference/spec-parsing.md for extraction patterns.
• Capture gaps/assumptions in a clarifications block before proceeding.

2) Choose plan depth

• Simple change → use reference/quick-implementation-plan.md.
• Multi-phase feature/migration → use reference/standard-implementation-plan.md.
• Create the plan via Notion:notion-create-pages, include: overview, linked spec, requirements summary, phases, dependencies/risks, and success criteria. Link back to the spec.

3) Create tasks

• Find the task database (Notion:search → Notion:fetch to confirm the data source and required properties). Patterns in reference/task-creation.md.
• Size tasks to 1–2 days. Use reference/task-creation-template.md for content (context, objective, acceptance criteria, dependencies, resources).
• Set properties: title/action verb, status, priority, relations to spec + plan, due date/story points/assignee if provided.
• Create pages with Notion:notion-create-pages using the database’s data_source_id.

4) Link artifacts

• Plan links to spec; tasks link to both plan and spec.
• Optionally update the spec with a short “Implementation” section pointing to the plan and tasks using Notion:notion-update-page.

5) Track progress

• Use the cadence in reference/progress-tracking.md.
• Post updates with reference/progress-update-template.md; close phases with reference/milestone-summary-template.md.
• Keep checklists and status fields in plan/tasks in sync; note blockers and decisions.

References and examples

• reference/ — parsing patterns, plan/task templates, progress cadence (e.g., spec-parsing.md, standard-implementation-plan.md, task-creation.md, progress-tracking.md).
• examples/ — end-to-end walkthroughs (e.g., ui-component.md, api-feature.md, database-migration.md).