Files
spec-kit/presets/README.md
Manfred Riem abf4aebdb3 feat(presets): pluggable preset system with template/command overrides, catalog, and resolver
- Rename 'template packs' to 'presets' to avoid naming collision with core templates
- PresetManifest, PresetRegistry, PresetManager, PresetCatalog, PresetResolver in presets.py
- Extract CommandRegistrar to agents.py as shared infrastructure
- CLI: specify preset list/add/remove/search/resolve/info
- CLI: specify preset catalog list/add/remove
- --preset option on specify init
- Priority-based preset stacking (--priority, lower = higher precedence)
- Command overrides registered into all detected agent directories (17+ agents)
- Extension command safety: skip registration if target extension not installed
- Multi-catalog support: env var, project config, user config, built-in defaults
- resolve_template() / Resolve-Template in bash/PowerShell scripts
- Self-test preset: overrides all 6 core templates + 1 command
- Scaffold with 4 examples: core/extension template and command overrides
- Preset catalog (catalog.json, catalog.community.json)
- Documentation: README.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, PUBLISHING.md
- 110 preset tests, 253 total tests passing
2026-03-10 14:17:44 -05:00

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# Presets
Presets are stackable, priority-ordered collections of template and command overrides for Spec Kit. They let you customize both the artifacts produced by the Spec-Driven Development workflow (specs, plans, tasks, checklists, constitutions) and the commands that guide the LLM in creating them — without forking or modifying core files.
## How It Works
When Spec Kit needs a template (e.g. `spec-template`), it walks a resolution stack:
1. `.specify/templates/overrides/` — project-local one-off overrides
2. `.specify/presets/<preset-id>/templates/` — installed presets (sorted by priority)
3. `.specify/extensions/<ext-id>/templates/` — extension-provided templates
4. `.specify/templates/` — core templates shipped with Spec Kit
If no preset is installed, core templates are used — exactly the same behavior as before presets existed.
For detailed resolution and command registration flows, see [ARCHITECTURE.md](ARCHITECTURE.md).
## Command Overrides
Presets can also override the commands that guide the SDD workflow. Templates define *what* gets produced (specs, plans, constitutions); commands define *how* the LLM produces them (the step-by-step instructions).
When a preset includes `type: "command"` entries, the commands are automatically registered into all detected agent directories (`.claude/commands/`, `.gemini/commands/`, etc.) in the correct format (Markdown or TOML with appropriate argument placeholders). When the preset is removed, the registered commands are cleaned up.
## Quick Start
```bash
# Search available presets
specify preset search
# Install a preset from the catalog
specify preset add healthcare-compliance
# Install from a local directory (for development)
specify preset add --dev ./my-preset
# Install with a specific priority (lower = higher precedence)
specify preset add healthcare-compliance --priority 5
# List installed presets
specify preset list
# See which template a name resolves to
specify preset resolve spec-template
# Get detailed info about a preset
specify preset info healthcare-compliance
# Remove a preset
specify preset remove healthcare-compliance
```
## Stacking Presets
Multiple presets can be installed simultaneously. The `--priority` flag controls which one wins when two presets provide the same template (lower number = higher precedence):
```bash
specify preset add enterprise-safe --priority 10 # base layer
specify preset add healthcare-compliance --priority 5 # overrides enterprise-safe
specify preset add pm-workflow --priority 1 # overrides everything
```
Presets **override**, they don't merge. If two presets both provide `spec-template`, the one with the lowest priority number wins entirely.
## Catalog Management
Presets are discovered through catalogs. By default, Spec Kit uses the official and community catalogs:
```bash
# List active catalogs
specify preset catalog list
# Add a custom catalog
specify preset catalog add https://example.com/catalog.json --name my-org --install-allowed
# Remove a catalog
specify preset catalog remove my-org
```
## Creating a Preset
See [scaffold/](scaffold/) for a scaffold you can copy to create your own preset.
1. Copy `scaffold/` to a new directory
2. Edit `preset.yml` with your preset's metadata
3. Add or replace templates in `templates/`
4. Test locally with `specify preset add --dev .`
5. Verify with `specify preset resolve spec-template`
## Environment Variables
| Variable | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `SPECKIT_PRESET_CATALOG_URL` | Override the catalog URL (replaces all defaults) |
## Configuration Files
| File | Scope | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| `.specify/preset-catalogs.yml` | Project | Custom catalog stack for this project |
| `~/.specify/preset-catalogs.yml` | User | Custom catalog stack for all projects |
## Future Considerations
The following enhancements are under consideration for future releases:
- **Composition strategies** — Allow presets to declare a `strategy` per template instead of the default `replace`:
| Type | `replace` | `prepend` | `append` | `wrap` |
|------|-----------|-----------|----------|--------|
| **template** | ✓ (default) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| **command** | ✓ (default) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| **script** | ✓ (default) | — | — | ✓ |
For artifacts and commands (which are LLM directives), `wrap` would inject preset content before and after the core template using a `{CORE_TEMPLATE}` placeholder. For scripts, `wrap` would run custom logic before/after the core script via a `$CORE_SCRIPT` variable.
- **Script overrides** — Enable presets to provide alternative versions of core scripts (e.g. `create-new-feature.sh`) for workflow customization. A `strategy: "wrap"` option could allow presets to run custom logic before/after the core script without fully replacing it.