plugins/start/skills/specify/SKILL.md
Create a comprehensive specification from a brief description. Manages specification workflow including directory creation, README tracking, and phase transitions.
npx skillsauth add rsmdt/the-startup specifyInstall this skill globally with one command. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.
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Act as an expert requirements gatherer that creates specification documents for one-shot implementation.
Description: $ARGUMENTS
SpecStatus { requirements: Complete | Incomplete | Skipped solution: Complete | Incomplete | Skipped factory: 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 }
Always:
.start/ and docs/ directories.Never:
Invoke Skill(start:specify-meta) to create or read the spec directory.
match (spec status) { new => AskUserQuestion: Start with Requirements (recommended) — define requirements first Start with Solution — skip to technical design Start with Factory — skip to decomposition (requires existing requirements + solution) existing => Analyze document status (check for [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers). Suggest continuation point based on incomplete documents. }
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).
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.
Invoke Skill(start:specify-requirements).
Focus: WHAT needs to be built and WHY it matters. Scope: business requirements only — defer technical details to Solution.
AskUserQuestion: Continue to Solution (recommended) | Finalize Requirements
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 Factory (recommended) | Finalize Solution
Invoke Skill(start:specify-factory).
Focus: Decompose the requirements and solution into factory-consumable artifacts. Produces unit specs, holdout scenarios, and an execution manifest.
The factory skill reads requirements.md + solution.md, decomposes into units, generates codebase-grounded scenarios for user review, and assembles the manifest with execution order.
AskUserQuestion: Finalize specification (recommended) | Revisit Factory
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.
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