Forward Derivation

Forward Derivation Guide

Language: English | 繁體中文

Version: 2.0.0 Last Updated: 2026-01-25 Applicability: Claude Code Skills

Core Standard: This skill implements Forward Derivation Standards. For comprehensive methodology documentation accessible by any AI tool, refer to the core standard.

Purpose

This skill guides you through deriving BDD scenarios and TDD test skeletons from approved SDD specifications, with strict adherence to Anti-Hallucination standards.

Note: ATDD test tables are optional and available via /derive-atdd. BDD scenarios already serve as executable acceptance tests, making ATDD tables redundant for most use cases.

Forward Derivation is the symmetrical counterpart to Reverse Engineering:

• Reverse Engineering: Code → Specification
• Forward Derivation: Specification → Tests

Quick Reference

Forward Derivation Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              Forward Derivation Workflow                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                 │
│  1️⃣  SPEC Parsing (AI Automated)                               │
│      ├─ Read approved specification                             │
│      ├─ Extract Acceptance Criteria (GWT or bullet)             │
│      └─ Validate SPEC structure and completeness                │
│                                                                 │
│  2️⃣  Derivation (AI Automated)                                 │
│      ├─ AC → BDD Gherkin scenarios                             │
│      ├─ AC → TDD test skeletons with TODOs                     │
│      └─ (Optional) AC → ATDD acceptance test tables            │
│                                                                 │
│  3️⃣  Human Review (Required)                                   │
│      ├─ Verify generated scenarios match AC intent              │
│      ├─ Fill in [TODO] sections                                │
│      └─ Refine step definitions if needed                      │
│                                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Commands Overview

Core Principles

1. Spec-Bounded Generation

CRITICAL: Only derive content that exists in the specification. Never add scenarios, tests, or features beyond what the Acceptance Criteria explicitly define.

# Anti-Hallucination Rule
Input:  SPEC with N Acceptance Criteria
Output: Exactly N scenarios (BDD)
        Exactly N test groups (TDD)
        Exactly N acceptance tests (ATDD, if requested)

If output count ≠ input count → VIOLATION

2. Source Attribution

Every generated item MUST include traceability:

# Generated from: specs/SPEC-001.md
# AC: AC-1

@SPEC-001 @AC-1
Scenario: User login with valid credentials

3. Derivation Tags (from Unified Tag System)

This skill uses Derivation Tags for generating new content from specifications. See Anti-Hallucination Standards for the complete tag reference.

Workflow Stages

Stage 1: SPEC Parsing

Input: Approved specification file Output: Structured Acceptance Criteria list

Actions:

1. Read specification file
2. Identify Acceptance Criteria section
3. Parse AC format (Given-When-Then or Bullet)
4. Validate AC completeness

Validation Checklist:

• SPEC status is "Approved" or "Ready"
• Acceptance Criteria section exists
• Each AC has unique identifier (AC-1, AC-2, etc.)
• AC format is parseable (GWT or bullet)

Stage 2: BDD Derivation

Input: Parsed Acceptance Criteria Output: Gherkin .feature file

Transformation Rules:

Example:

# Input AC (Bullet)
- [ ] User can login with email and password
- [ ] Login shows error for invalid credentials

# Output BDD
@SPEC-001 @AC-1
Scenario: User login with email and password
  Given a user with valid credentials
  When the user submits login form
  Then the user is logged in successfully

@SPEC-001 @AC-2
Scenario: Login shows error for invalid credentials
  Given a user with invalid credentials
  When the user submits login form
  Then an error message is displayed

Stage 3: TDD Derivation

Input: Parsed Acceptance Criteria Output: Test skeleton file

Actions:

1. Create describe block for SPEC
2. Create describe block per AC
3. Generate it blocks with descriptive names
4. Add AAA structure with TODO comments
5. Include placeholder assertions

Parameters:

Stage 4: ATDD Derivation (Optional)

Note: ATDD test tables are optional. BDD scenarios already serve as executable acceptance tests. Use ATDD tables only when:

• Manual testing workflows are required
• Stakeholders prefer tabular test documentation
• Regulatory compliance requires specific test evidence format

Input: Parsed Acceptance Criteria Output: Acceptance test table document

Actions:

1. Create test table per AC
2. Generate step-by-step action columns
3. Add expected result columns
4. Include Pass/Fail checkboxes
5. Add tester sign-off section

Stage 5: Human Review

Input: Generated files Output: Reviewed and refined files

Review Checklist:

• Generated scenarios match AC intent
• No extra scenarios beyond AC count
• Source attribution is correct
• [TODO] sections identified for implementation
• Step language is business-level (not technical)

Output Formats

BDD Feature File

# Generated from: specs/SPEC-001.md
# Generator: /derive-bdd v1.0.0
# Generated at: 2026-01-19T10:00:00Z

@SPEC-001
Feature: User Authentication
  [Source] From SPEC-001 Summary

  @AC-1 @happy-path
  Scenario: User login with valid credentials
    # [Source] From SPEC-001 AC-1
    Given a registered user with valid credentials
    When the user submits login form
    Then the user is redirected to dashboard

  @AC-2 @error-handling
  Scenario: Login fails with invalid credentials
    # [Source] From SPEC-001 AC-2
    Given a user with invalid credentials
    When the user submits login form
    Then an error message is displayed

TDD Test Skeleton

/**
 * Tests for SPEC-001: User Authentication
 * Generated from: specs/SPEC-001.md
 * Generated at: 2026-01-19T10:00:00Z
 * AC Coverage: AC-1, AC-2
 */

describe('SPEC-001: User Authentication', () => {
  describe('AC-1: User login with valid credentials', () => {
    it('should redirect to dashboard on successful login', async () => {
      // Arrange
      // [TODO] Set up registered user with valid credentials

      // Act
      // [TODO] Submit login form

      // Assert
      // [TODO] Verify redirect to dashboard
      expect(true).toBe(true); // Placeholder
    });
  });

  describe('AC-2: Login fails with invalid credentials', () => {
    it('should display error message', async () => {
      // Arrange
      // [TODO] Set up user with invalid credentials

      // Act
      // [TODO] Submit login form

      // Assert
      // [TODO] Verify error message is displayed
      expect(true).toBe(true); // Placeholder
    });
  });
});

ATDD Acceptance Test Table (Optional)

Generated via /derive-atdd when ATDD test tables are needed.

# SPEC-001 Acceptance Tests

**Specification**: SPEC-001
**Generated**: 2026-01-19
**Status**: Pending

## AT-001: User login with valid credentials
**Source**: AC-1

| Step | Action | Expected | Pass/Fail |
|------|--------|----------|-----------|
| 1 | Navigate to login page | Login form displayed | [ ] |
| 2 | Enter valid credentials | Fields accept input | [ ] |
| 3 | Click Login | Form submitted | [ ] |
| 4 | Verify redirect | Dashboard displayed | [ ] |

**Tester**: _______________
**Date**: _______________
**Result**: [ ] Pass / [ ] Fail

Integration with Other Skills

With /spec (Spec-Driven Development)

1. Complete SPEC using /spec workflow
2. Get SPEC approved through review
3. Run /derive-all to generate test structures
4. Use generated outputs in BDD/TDD workflows

With /bdd (Behavior-Driven Development)

1. Generate BDD scenarios using /derive-bdd
2. Review and refine scenarios with stakeholders
3. Continue with BDD formulation using /bdd
4. Implement step definitions

With /tdd (Test-Driven Development)

1. Generate TDD skeletons using /derive-tdd
2. Fill in [TODO] sections with actual assertions
3. Enter TDD Red phase with generated test structure
4. Implement code to make tests pass

With Integrated Flow

Forward Derivation fits in the Integrated Flow methodology:

spec-review (approved) → forward-derivation → discovery (BDD)
                              │
                              ├─→ .feature files for BDD
                              └─→ .test.ts skeletons for TDD

Optional: /derive-atdd → acceptance.md for manual testing

Complete Derivation Pipeline

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    Complete Forward Derivation Pipeline                   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                         │
│   Approved SPEC                                                         │
│        │                                                                │
│        ▼                                                                │
│   /derive-all specs/SPEC-XXX.md                                        │
│        │                                                                │
│        ├─→ /derive-bdd                                                  │
│        │    └─→ features/SPEC-XXX.feature                              │
│        │                                                                │
│        └─→ /derive-tdd                                                  │
│             └─→ tests/SPEC-XXX.test.ts                                 │
│                                                                         │
│   Optional: /derive-atdd specs/SPEC-XXX.md                              │
│        └─→ acceptance/SPEC-XXX-acceptance.md                           │
│                                                                         │
│   Human Review                                                          │
│        │                                                                │
│        ├─→ Verify 1:1 AC mapping                                       │
│        ├─→ Fill [TODO] sections                                        │
│        └─→ Refine step definitions                                     │
│                                                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Usage Examples

# Generate BDD scenarios
/derive-bdd specs/SPEC-001.md

# Generate TDD skeleton with Python/pytest
/derive-tdd specs/SPEC-001.md --lang python --framework pytest

# Generate all test structures
/derive-all specs/SPEC-001.md

# Preview without creating files
/derive-all specs/SPEC-001.md --dry-run

# Specify output directory
/derive-all specs/SPEC-001.md --output-dir ./generated

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

❌ Don't Do This

1. Adding Extra Scenarios

   • Wrong: SPEC has 3 AC, generated 5 scenarios
   • Right: SPEC has 3 AC, generated exactly 3 scenarios

2. Deriving from Draft SPEC

   • Wrong: Running /derive-all on unapproved spec
   • Right: Only derive from approved specifications

3. Skipping Source Attribution

   • Wrong: Scenario without @SPEC-XXX tag
   • Right: Every scenario tagged with source SPEC and AC

4. Over-Specifying Technical Details

   • Wrong: Given database connection is established using PostgreSQL driver
   • Right: Given user data exists in the system

5. Treating Skeletons as Complete

   • Wrong: Using generated tests without filling [TODO]
   • Right: Fill all [TODO] sections before running tests

Best Practices

Do's

• ✅ Only derive from approved specifications
• ✅ Maintain strict 1:1 AC to output mapping
• ✅ Include source attribution in all outputs
• ✅ Use [TODO] markers for implementation sections
• ✅ Review generated outputs with stakeholders
• ✅ Keep step language at business level

Don'ts

• ❌ Add scenarios beyond what AC defines
• ❌ Derive from draft or unapproved specs
• ❌ Skip human review of generated outputs
• ❌ Treat generated skeletons as complete tests
• ❌ Remove source attribution comments
• ❌ Over-specify implementation details

Configuration Detection

This skill auto-detects project configuration:

1. Check for existing specs/ directory structure
2. Detect test framework from package.json/pyproject.toml
3. Identify preferred output directories
4. Configure language-specific templates

Related Standards

• Forward Derivation Standards - Core methodology standard (primary reference)
• Reverse Engineering Standards - Symmetrical counterpart
• Spec-Driven Development - Input specification format
• Behavior-Driven Development - BDD output format
• Test-Driven Development - TDD output usage
• Anti-Hallucination Guidelines - Generation compliance

Version History

License

This skill is released under CC BY 4.0.

Source: universal-dev-standards