Build Spec Generator

Build Spec Generator

Converts a workflow description (ideally one that scored BUILD from /workflow-fit-scorer) into a structured build spec at the specificity level that Claude Code, n8n, Make, or Workspace Agents needs to scaffold something that actually runs — not a demo.

Trigger

Use when the user says "/build-spec-generator", "generate a build spec for this workflow", "I need a spec I can hand to an agent builder", or after /workflow-fit-scorer returns a BUILD verdict.

Phase 1: Intake

If the user arrives directly (not from workflow-fit-scorer), collect:

1. Workflow description — what it does, start to finish
2. Trigger — what starts a run? (schedule, inbound message, event, manual)
3. Primary platform target — Claude Code / n8n / Make / Workspace Agents / other

If the user arrives from workflow-fit-scorer with a BUILD verdict, these should already be known. Confirm with: "I'll generate the build spec based on what you've described. Anything to add before I start?"

Phase 2: Spec Drafting

Generate each section of the spec in order. Do not skip sections or mark them "TBD" — if information is genuinely unknown, say so and ask before proceeding.

Section 1 — Trigger & Schedule

Specify exactly what fires a run:

• Event-driven (inbound email matching pattern X, new row in sheet Y, webhook from Z)
• Scheduled (cron expression + timezone)
• Manual (slash command, button, API call)

Include: trigger source, filter criteria (if event-driven), and the expected frequency.

Section 2 — Input Contract

For each input the workflow consumes:

• Name — what is it called?
• Source — where does it come from? (Gmail thread, Notion page, Slack message, form submission)
• Format — text, JSON, CSV, file attachment?
• Required / optional — what happens if it's missing?

Section 3 — Output Contract

For each output the workflow produces:

• Name — what is it called?
• Destination — where does it go? (Slack channel, Notion DB, email reply, CRM field)
• Format — message, document, structured record, file?
• Owner — who reviews or acts on it?

Section 4 — Tool Connectors

List every external tool the workflow touches. For each:

• Tool name
• Operation type (read, write, read+write)
• Auth requirement (OAuth, API key, service account)
• Available MCP or native connector?

Section 5 — Step Sequence

Ordered list of steps. Each step:

• Input → transformation/action → output
• Decision points: what happens on each branch?
• Error cases: what breaks here, and what should happen when it does?

Keep it at the level of "fetch most recent Gong transcript → extract deal stage, next steps, blockers → post formatted summary to Slack #deals-{owner}". Not pseudocode, not prose.

Section 6 — Success Criteria

The quality-check rubric an LLM judge (or human reviewer) will use to score each run's output. Must be specific enough to answer YES/NO per criterion:

• "Output contains all 3 required fields (summary, blockers, next step)"
• "No fabricated data — every claim traces to the source document"
• "Slack message is under 200 words"
• "Run completed within 90 seconds"

Minimum 3 criteria. Aim for 5.

Section 7 — Escalation Conditions

When should the agent stop and wait for a human? Examples:

• Source data is missing or ambiguous
• Confidence below threshold
• Output would modify something irreversible (send email, update live record)
• Error rate exceeds N consecutive failures

For each escalation condition, specify the escalation target (Slack DM, email, log-only) and the default hold behavior (pause and wait, retry after delay, fail with alert).

Section 8 — Platform Variants (optional but recommended)

If the target platform is still undecided, add a 2-line note per relevant platform:

• Claude Code — requires: MCP servers for X, Y; recommend scheduled-agent-harness
• n8n — native connectors available for X; custom HTTP node needed for Y
• Workspace Agents — fits ChatGPT Plus/Enterprise; limited to approved connector list
• Make — router modules handle the branching; webhook trigger available natively

Phase 3: Output

Produce the full spec as a structured markdown document the user can copy into a task brief or hand to an agent builder. Use the section headers above verbatim.

End with:

READY TO BUILD CHECKLIST
========================
[ ] All inputs have confirmed sources
[ ] All tool connectors have auth paths identified
[ ] Success criteria are specific enough for a judge to score YES/NO
[ ] Escalation conditions cover the top 3 failure modes
[ ] Platform target is confirmed

Next step: Hand this spec to Claude Code (/l5-sprint or Agent Teams), n8n builder, or Workspace Agents scaffolding.

What This Does NOT Do

• Does not score the workflow's automation fit — that is /workflow-fit-scorer.
• Does not select the model or AI provider — use /model-router or /failure-mode-tool-router.
• Does not implement the workflow — it produces the spec that an agent builder or human developer uses.
• Does not validate the spec against prior patterns or known failure modes — use /spec-gap-detector for that.

Source

Artifact shape from Nate Kadlac newsletter (2026-04-27): the "Build Spec Generator" is Nate's Prompt 2 (paywalled) reconstructed from the teaser's stated outputs — trigger, I/O contract, tool connectors, success criteria, escalation conditions, quality-check rubric.