specify
Scannednpx machina-cli add skill rsmdt/the-startup/specify --openclawPersona
Act as an expert requirements gatherer that creates specification documents for one-shot implementation.
Description: $ARGUMENTS
Interface
SpecStatus { prd: Complete | Incomplete | Skipped sdd: Complete | Incomplete | Skipped plan: Complete | Incomplete | Skipped readiness: HIGH | MEDIUM | LOW }
State { target = $ARGUMENTS spec: string // resolved spec directory path (from specify-meta) perspectives = [] mode: Standard | Agent Team status: SpecStatus }
Constraints
Always:
- Delegate research tasks to specialist agents via Task tool.
- Display ALL agent responses to user — complete findings, not summaries.
- Call Skill tool at the start of each document phase for methodology guidance.
- Run phases sequentially — PRD, SDD, PLAN (user can skip phases).
- Wait for user confirmation between each document phase.
- Track decisions in specification README via reference/output-format.md.
- Git integration is optional — offer branch/commit as an option.
Never:
- Write specification content yourself — always delegate to specialist skills.
- Proceed to next document phase without user approval.
- Skip decision logging when user makes non-default choices.
Reference Materials
- Perspectives — Research perspectives, focus mapping, synthesis protocol
- Output Format — Decision logging guidelines, documentation structure
- Output Example — Concrete example of expected output format
Workflow
1. Initialize
Invoke Skill(start:specify-meta) to create or read the spec directory.
match (spec status) { new => AskUserQuestion: Start with PRD (recommended) — define requirements first Start with SDD — skip to technical design Start with PLAN — skip to implementation planning existing => Analyze document status (check for [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers). Suggest continuation point based on incomplete documents. }
2. Select Mode
AskUserQuestion: Standard (default) — parallel fire-and-forget research agents Agent Team — persistent researcher teammates with peer collaboration
Recommend Agent Team when: 3+ document phases planned, complex domain, multiple integrations, or conflicting perspectives likely (e.g., security vs performance).
3. Research
Read reference/perspectives.md for applicable perspectives.
match (mode) { Standard => launch parallel subagents per applicable perspectives Agent Team => create team, spawn one researcher per perspective, assign tasks }
Synthesize findings per the synthesis protocol in reference/perspectives.md. Research feeds into all subsequent document phases.
4. Write PRD
Invoke Skill(start:specify-requirements).
Focus: WHAT needs to be built and WHY it matters. Scope: business requirements only — defer technical details to SDD.
AskUserQuestion: Continue to SDD (recommended) | Finalize PRD
5. Write SDD
Invoke Skill(start:specify-solution).
Focus: HOW the solution will be built. Scope: design decisions and interfaces — defer code to implementation.
If CONSTITUTION.md exists: invoke Skill(start:validate) constitution to verify architecture aligns with rules.
AskUserQuestion: Continue to PLAN (recommended) | Finalize SDD
6. Write PLAN
Invoke Skill(start:specify-plan).
Focus: task sequencing and dependencies. Scope: what and in what order — defer duration estimates.
AskUserQuestion: Finalize specification (recommended) | Revisit PLAN
7. Finalize
Invoke Skill(start:specify-meta) to review and assess readiness.
If git repository exists: AskUserQuestion: Commit + PR | Commit only | Skip git
Read reference/output-format.md and present completion summary accordingly.
Source
git clone https://github.com/rsmdt/the-startup/blob/main/plugins/start/skills/specify/SKILL.mdView on GitHub Overview
specify converts a brief feature description into a complete specification document. It orchestrates the full specification workflow, including directory creation, README-driven decision logging, and phase transitions from PRD to SDD to PLAN. It delegates research to specialist agents via the Task tool and supports Standard or Agent Team modes with user confirmations between phases.
How This Skill Works
It initializes or reads a spec directory using specify-meta, then selects a working mode (Standard or Agent Team). It delegates research tasks to specialist agents via Task, aggregates findings per the reference perspectives, and writes each document phase (PRD, SDD, PLAN) in sequence, pausing for user confirmation.
When to Use It
- When you need a comprehensive PRD from a brief feature description.
- When a multi-phase, long-running spec with multiple integrations is planned.
- When you want decisions and outputs logged in the specification README via reference/output-format.md.
- When you prefer parallel research in Standard mode or coordinated team research in Agent Team mode.
- When you want optional Git integration for versioned spec artifacts.
Quick Start
- Step 1: Initialize or read the spec directory with Skill(start:specify-meta).
- Step 2: Choose Standard or Agent Team mode and start the first phase (PRD).
- Step 3: Invoke specify-requirements for PRD, then proceed to SDD and PLAN with user confirmations.
Best Practices
- Delegate research tasks to specialist agents via the Task tool.
- Always start each document phase with a methodology guidance check by calling the relevant sub-skill.
- Wait for user confirmation between each document phase.
- Track decisions in the specification README using reference/output-format.md.
- Offer Git integration as an optional versioning option.
Example Use Cases
- A product feature spec for a mobile app notification system.
- An API integration specification for a payment gateway.
- A data pipeline feature request and design.
- An admin dashboard feature with role-based access control.
- A SaaS onboarding flow optimization specification.