Agent skill

spec-workflow

This skill should be used when the user asks to "build a feature", "create a spec", "start spec-driven development", "run research phase", "generate requirements", "create design", "plan tasks", "implement spec", "check spec status", "triage a feature", "create an epic", "decompose a large feature", or needs guidance on spec-driven development workflow, phase ordering, or epic orchestration.

View SKILL.md on GitHub Repository
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Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/tree/main/plugins/ralph-specum/skills/spec-workflow

SKILL.md

Spec Workflow

Spec-driven development transforms feature requests into structured specs through sequential phases, then executes them task-by-task.

Decision Tree: Where to Start

Situation Command
New feature, want guidance /ralph-specum:start <name> <goal>
New feature, skip interviews /ralph-specum:start <name> <goal> --quick
Large feature needing decomposition /ralph-specum:triage <goal>
Resume existing spec /ralph-specum:start (auto-detects)
Jump to specific phase /ralph-specum:<phase>

Single Spec Flow

start/new -> research -> requirements -> design -> tasks -> implement

Each phase produces a markdown artifact in ./specs/<name>/. Normal mode pauses for approval between phases. Quick mode runs all phases then auto-starts execution.

Phase Commands

Command Agent Output Purpose
/ralph-specum:research research-analyst research.md Explore feasibility, patterns, context
/ralph-specum:requirements product-manager requirements.md User stories, acceptance criteria
/ralph-specum:design architect-reviewer design.md Architecture, components, interfaces
/ralph-specum:tasks task-planner tasks.md POC-first task breakdown
/ralph-specum:implement spec-executor commits Autonomous task-by-task execution

Epic Flow (Multi-Spec)

For features too large for a single spec, use epic triage to decompose into dependency-aware specs.

triage -> [spec-1, spec-2, spec-3...] -> implement each in order

Entry points:

  • /ralph-specum:triage <goal> -- create or resume an epic
  • /ralph-specum:start -- detects active epics, suggests next unblocked spec

File structure:

specs/
  _epics/<epic-name>/
    epic.md            # Triage output (vision, specs, dependency graph)
    research.md        # Exploration + validation research
    .epic-state.json   # Progress tracking across specs
    .progress.md       # Learnings and decisions

Management Commands

Command Purpose
/ralph-specum:status Show all specs and progress
/ralph-specum:switch <name> Change active spec
/ralph-specum:cancel Cancel active execution
/ralph-specum:refactor Update spec files after execution

Common Workflows

Quick prototype

bash
/ralph-specum:start my-feature "Build X" --quick
# Runs all phases automatically, starts execution

Guided development

bash
/ralph-specum:start my-feature "Build X"
# Interactive interviews at each phase
# Review and approve each artifact
/ralph-specum:implement

Large feature

bash
/ralph-specum:triage "Build entire auth system"
# Decomposes into: auth-core, auth-oauth, auth-rbac
/ralph-specum:start  # Picks next unblocked spec

References

  • references/phase-transitions.md -- Detailed phase flow, state transitions, quick mode behavior, phase skipping

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