Spec Clarify

Spec Clarify Skill

Resolve ambiguities and markers by updating spec documents directly with tracked changes.

When to Use

Use for:

• Resolving markers before task-dispatch (especially for Initiatives)
• Clarifying ambiguous requirements discovered post-validation
• Addressing gaps identified in ambiguity_scan

Don't use for:

• Initial validation (use spec-validate)
• Changing fundamental scope (re-run spec-validate)

Workflow

Step 1: Load and Scan

1. Find active spec in ./specs/active/*/
2. Read validation.yaml from spec directory
3. Run ambiguity scan:
   • Check ambiguity_scan section for areas with status: partial or status: missing
   • These become clarification candidates alongside open markers
4. Collect open markers where status: open
5. Merge candidates: ambiguity gaps + open markers (deduplicate by area)
6. If no candidates: report "No unresolved items" and exit

Step 2: Present Candidates

For each candidate (prioritized by impact), use AskUserQuestion:

Header: ${AREA}
Question: ${DESCRIPTION}
multiSelect: false
Options:
- [Generated options based on context]
- Defer: Skip for now

Prioritization: Scope > Behavior > Data Model > Constraints > Edge Cases > Integration > Terminology

Step 3: Update Spec Documents Directly

When a clarification is resolved, update the relevant section in the source document:

Update approach:

1. Read the target section
2. Integrate the clarification naturally into existing content
3. Do NOT create a separate "## Clarifications" section

Step 4: Record Clarification Session

Create a new session entry in clarification_sessions:

clarification_sessions:
  - id: S00${N}
    timestamp: ${ISO_TIMESTAMP}
    questions:
      - id: Q001
        question: "${QUESTION}"
        answer: "${ANSWER}"
        area: ${TAXONOMY_AREA}
        doc_updates:
          - file: spec.md
            section: Requirements
            action: modified

doc_updates tracks exactly which files/sections changed for audit trail.

Step 5: Update Ambiguity Scan Status

For each resolved clarification from ambiguity gaps:

1. Update ambiguity_scan.${area}.status to clear
2. Remove the resolved gap from ambiguity_scan.${area}.gaps

Step 6: Update Markers

For each resolved marker:

1. Change status: open to status: resolved
2. Add resolution: "${USER_ANSWER}"

Step 7: Re-check Gates (Initiatives Only)

For Initiative specs:

1. Re-evaluate gates in validation.yaml
2. Update gate status if resolution changes assessment
3. Report gate status

Doc Update Mapping

Example Session

[Load validation.yaml]
[Run ambiguity scan]
- scope: partial (1 gap)
- data_model: missing (2 gaps)
[Check markers]
- M001 (Constraints): open

Candidates:
1. Scope: "User role boundaries unclear"
2. Data Model: "Schema for notifications not defined"
3. Data Model: "Retention policy not specified"
4. Constraints: "Authentication method not specified"

---
Header: Scope
Question: What user roles exist and what are their boundaries?

Options:
- Admin/User: Two-tier with admin full access
- Role-based: Granular permissions per feature
- Defer: Skip for now

User selects: Admin/User

[Update spec.md#requirements]
Added: "Two-tier role system: Admin (full access), User (standard permissions)"

[Record session]
clarification_sessions:
  - id: S001
    timestamp: 2025-01-15T10:30:00Z
    questions:
      - id: Q001
        question: "What user roles exist and what are their boundaries?"
        answer: "Two-tier: Admin (full access), User (standard permissions)"
        area: scope
        doc_updates:
          - file: spec.md
            section: Requirements
            action: modified

[Update ambiguity_scan]
scope:
  status: clear
  gaps: []

---
Header: Constraints
Question: Which authentication method should be used?
...

Integration

Invoked by: /spec.clarify command

Related skills:

• spec-validate - Initial validation (creates ambiguity_scan and markers)
• spec-create - Document creation (references markers)
• task-dispatch - Checks for blocking markers before dispatch