Overview

Spec Workflow guides building a feature through research, requirements, design, and task phases, ensuring a clear spec-driven path from discovery to implementation. It emphasizes starting or resuming a spec, running phased activities, and tracking progress across multiple specs.

How This Skill Works

Start or resume a spec with /ralph-specum:start or /ralph-specum:new to create the smart entry point. Progress through the research, requirements, design, and tasks phases, then execute with /ralph-specum:implement, while using status and switch commands to manage active specs.

When to Use It

• Build a new feature or system
• Create technical specifications
• Plan development work
• Track spec progress
• Execute spec-driven implementation

Quick Start

1. Step 1: /ralph-specum:new <name> [goal] to create the spec and begin research.
2. Step 2: /ralph-specum:research to run the research phase.
3. Step 3: /ralph-specum:requirements, /ralph-specum:design, /ralph-specum:tasks, then /ralph-specum:implement to execute.

Best Practices

• Define a clear goal and success criteria for the spec before starting.
• Derive requirements directly from the research phase.
• Tie design decisions to documented requirements.
• Regularly update spec status and phase transitions.
• Automate task execution where feasible to reduce toil.

Example Use Cases

• Initiate a spec to implement a new user onboarding feature and drive it from research to tasks.
• Run a research phase to evaluate API redesign options before writing requirements.
• Generate a formal requirements document based on stakeholder interviews.
• Create a technical design for a microservice and outline integration points.
• Generate implementation tasks and execute them using the implement phase.

Frequently Asked Questions