Spec Writer

Spec Writer

Create or refine planning artifacts when the change has moved beyond exploration.

Required Inputs

Read .spec-superflow.yaml (especially dp_0_decisions, dp_0_confirmed) and any existing planning artifacts. If dp_0_confirmed is not true, stop and route back to workflow-start for DP-0.

Config Check

Run: ssf runtime config --get artifacts.order — generate in configured order (default: proposal → specs → design → tasks). Run with artifacts.skip — skip any listed artifacts.

Artifact Roles

• proposal.md: why and scope
• specs/: required behavior (testable)
• design.md: architecture decisions and trade-offs (not line-by-line)
• tasks.md: dependency-aware implementation steps

Working Rules

Honor DP-0: Read dp_0_decisions, respect confirmed constraints, don't silently expand scope. Pause on unconfirmed decisions.

proposal.md

Must state: observed problem, what changes, in/out scope, impact areas, and proof of completion. Prefer concrete facts over empty adjectives such as “better”, “robust”, or “efficient”.

specs/

Every requirement must be testable. Use SHALL or MUST. Every requirement must have at least one #### Scenario: with WHEN/THEN. Group under ADDED/MODIFIED/REMOVED Requirements headers.

design.md

Must have: relevant facts and constraints, goals and non-goals, decisions (Choice + Rationale + Alternatives + Consequences), and risks with verification evidence. Do not invent stakeholders, migration steps, or open questions when they do not affect the decision.

tasks.md

Must include a delivery/proof map and dependency-aware tasks. Each task names the affected path or bounded area, the observable outcome, and the evidence command. Keep RED/GREEN details, review receipts, and dispatch mechanics in the execution contract/task brief; do not inflate reader-facing tasks into five ritual substeps.

Artifact Generation

When DP-0 has made the scope clear, generate the configured planning pack (proposal, delta specs from templates/spec.md, design, and tasks) in order without pausing between individual artifacts. Validate the pack, then request one DP-2 review. Pause earlier only when the missing decision can change user-visible behavior, compatibility, security, delivery scope, or the selected design; or when artifacts state incompatible scope.

Validation Checklist

proposal.md

• ## Why > 50 chars, ## What Changes, ## Scope (In/Out), ## Impact, no TBD/TODO; claims name an observed problem and a completion proof

specs/

• SHALL/MUST for required behavior, #### Scenario: with WHEN/THEN per requirement, grouped under delta headers, no contradictions

design.md

• facts/constraints, goals/non-goals, ## Decisions (≥1, with Choice+Rationale+Alternatives+Consequences), risks and verification

tasks.md

• delivery/proof map, numbered tasks, affected paths or bounded areas, observable outcomes, no placeholders, every requirement mapped, explicit dependencies
• Must use the template checkbox format (one - [ ] per task on its own line); the guard enforces this format when entering execution

If any artifact fails validation, fix before handing off to contract-builder.

DP-2: Artifact Review Gate

Present a concise summary of all 4 artifacts, then ask one DP-2 question for material adjustments. For Full changes, run one independent five-question blind reader check (problem, command boundary, invalidation boundary, continuation boundary, and document flow) before recording approval; repair only answers the reader cannot derive. After approval:

ssf state set <change-dir> dp_2_result "approved: <summary>"
ssf state set <change-dir> dp_2_timestamp $(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)

After the artifacts are done and DP-2 is recorded, advance the state:

ssf state transition <change-dir> specifying

Handoff Rule

Do not start implementation after writing planning artifacts. Once stable, validated, and DP-2 is recorded, hand off to contract-builder.

Exception Handling

• Parse failures: Report specific file/error; don't generate from corrupted templates
• Missing templates: Fall back to artifact structure defined in this skill
• User interruption: Artifacts on disk are the recovery checkpoint; resume from first missing/incomplete one
• Validation failure: Fix before handoff — do not hand off broken artifacts

Standard User-Facing Handoff

End every user-facing phase report with this concise handoff. Only a successfully persisted closing state and abandoned are terminal.

Normal report

• Current stage: <detected workflow stage>.
• Completed / blocker: <completed work>.
• Next stage: <next workflow stage or skill>.
• Entry condition: <what must be true to enter it>.

Blocked report

• Current stage: <detected workflow stage>.
• Completed / blocker: <blocking fact or missing evidence>.
• Next stage: <stage that resumes after the blocker>.
• Entry condition: <the approval, artifact, validation, or fix required>.

Approval-wait report

• Current stage: <detected workflow stage>.
• Completed / blocker: <work ready for the named decision>.
• Next stage: <stage that follows approval>.
• Entry condition: <explicit user approval or recorded decision>.

Successful terminal report

• Current stage: successfully persisted closing or abandoned.
• Completed / blocker: <persisted terminal outcome>.
• Next stage: none.
• Entry condition: no further transition exists.