spec-kit/templates/commands/specify.md

description, scripts

description	scripts
Create or update the feature specification from a natural language feature description.	sh ps scripts/bash/create-new-feature.sh --json "{ARGS}" scripts/powershell/create-new-feature.ps1 -Json "{ARGS}"

User Input

$ARGUMENTS

You MUST consider the user input before proceeding (if not empty).

Outline

The text the user typed after /specify in the triggering message is the feature description. Assume you always have it available in this conversation even if {ARGS} appears literally below. Do not ask the user to repeat it unless they provided an empty command.

Given that feature description, do this:

1. Run the script {SCRIPT} from repo root and parse its JSON output for BRANCH_NAME and SPEC_FILE. All file paths must be absolute. IMPORTANT You must only ever run this script once. The JSON is provided in the terminal as output - always refer to it to get the actual content you're looking for.

2. Load templates/spec-template.md to understand required sections.

3. Follow this execution flow:

   1. Parse user description from Input If empty: ERROR "No feature description provided"
   2. Extract key concepts from description Identify: actors, actions, data, constraints
   3. For each unclear aspect: Mark with [NEEDS CLARIFICATION: specific question]
   4. Fill User Scenarios & Testing section If no clear user flow: ERROR "Cannot determine user scenarios"
   5. Generate Functional Requirements Each requirement must be testable Mark ambiguous requirements
   6. Identify Key Entities (if data involved)
   7. Return: SUCCESS (spec ready for planning)

4. Write the specification to SPEC_FILE using the template structure, replacing placeholders with concrete details derived from the feature description (arguments) while preserving section order and headings.

5. Report completion with branch name, spec file path, and readiness for the next phase.

NOTE: The script creates and checks out the new branch and initializes the spec file before writing.

General Guidelines

Quick Guidelines

• Focus on WHAT users need and WHY.
• Avoid HOW to implement (no tech stack, APIs, code structure).
• Written for business stakeholders, not developers.
• DO NOT create any checklists that are embedded in the spec. That will be a separate command.

Section Requirements

• Mandatory sections: Must be completed for every feature
• Optional sections: Include only when relevant to the feature
• When a section doesn't apply, remove it entirely (don't leave as "N/A")

For AI Generation

When creating this spec from a user prompt:

1. Mark all ambiguities: Use [NEEDS CLARIFICATION: specific question] for any assumption you'd need to make
2. Don't guess: If the prompt doesn't specify something (e.g., "login system" without auth method), mark it
3. Think like a tester: Every vague requirement should fail the "testable and unambiguous" checklist item
4. Common underspecified areas:
   • User types and permissions
   • Data retention/deletion policies
   • Performance targets and scale
   • Error handling behaviors
   • Integration requirements
   • Security/compliance needs