SpecKit Validator Skill

Purpose

Automatically validates specification files (spec.md) for completeness, quality, and readiness for architecture and implementation phases. Implements FR-004 from the feature specification.

How It Works

Step 1: Locate Specification

• Search for specs/*/spec.md files in the repository
• If specific feature directory provided, validate that spec.md
• Report if spec.md not found

Step 2: Validate Mandatory Sections

Check for required sections per Speckit specification template:

• User Scenarios & Testing (mandatory)

  • User stories with acceptance scenarios
  • Independent test criteria
  • Edge cases identified

• Requirements (mandatory)

  • Functional requirements
  • Key entities

• Success Criteria (mandatory)

  • Measurable outcomes

• Scope (mandatory)

  • In scope
  • Out of scope

• Assumptions (optional but recommended)

• Dependencies (optional but recommended)

• References (optional)

Step 3: Check for Clarification Markers

• Grep for [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers
• Report all instances with line numbers
• Specification not ready if any markers remain

Step 4: Validate Testable Criteria

• Check that each user story has clear acceptance scenarios
• Verify success criteria are measurable (contain numbers/percentages)
• Ensure requirements have validation criteria

Step 5: Check Scope Boundaries

• Verify "In Scope" section exists and is populated
• Verify "Out of Scope" section exists (clear boundaries)
• Check that scope is clearly bounded (not open-ended)

Step 6: Generate Validation Report

Report format:

✅ Specification Validation Report

File: specs/{feature-id}/spec.md

Mandatory Sections:
- [✓/✗] User Scenarios & Testing
- [✓/✗] Requirements (Functional Requirements)
- [✓/✗] Success Criteria
- [✓/✗] Scope (In/Out)

Quality Checks:
- [✓/✗] No [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers
- [✓/✗] All requirements testable
- [✓/✗] Scope clearly bounded
- [✓/✗] Success criteria measurable

Status: READY / NOT READY

Issues Found:
1. [Issue description with line number]
2. [Issue description with line number]

Recommendations:
- [Specific action to resolve each issue]

Examples

Example 1: Complete Specification

User Query: "Is my spec complete?"

Skill Actions:

1. Read specs/005-create-a-specification/spec.md
2. Check all mandatory sections present
3. Grep for [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] - none found
4. Validate testable criteria - all pass
5. Check scope boundaries - clearly defined

Result:

✅ Specification Validation: READY

File: specs/005-create-a-specification/spec.md

All mandatory sections present ✓
No clarification markers found ✓
All requirements testable ✓
Scope clearly bounded ✓

Your specification is ready for /speckit.plan!

Example 2: Incomplete Specification

User Query: "Check spec.md"

Skill Actions:

1. Read specs/004-feature/spec.md
2. Missing "Success Criteria" section
3. Found 3 [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers
4. Some requirements not testable

Result:

✗ Specification Validation: NOT READY

Issues Found:
1. Missing mandatory section: Success Criteria
2. Found 3 [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers:
   - Line 42: "[NEEDS CLARIFICATION] How should errors be handled?"
   - Line 78: "[NEEDS CLARIFICATION] What is the performance target?"
   - Line 103: "[NEEDS CLARIFICATION] Which authentication method?"
3. Requirements lack testable criteria:
   - FR-003: No validation method specified
   - FR-007: Vague acceptance criteria

Recommendations:
1. Add Success Criteria section with measurable outcomes
2. Resolve all [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers using /speckit.clarify
3. Add specific validation criteria to FR-003 and FR-007

Run /speckit.clarify to resolve clarification markers.

Integration

Uses

• Read: Load spec.md file contents
• Grep: Search for [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] markers and section headers
• Glob: Find spec.md files if location not specified
• TodoWrite: Track validation issues if fixing specification

Updates

• None (read-only validation)

Invokes

• Can suggest using /speckit.clarify command if clarifications needed

Validation Logic

# Find specification
find specs/ -name "spec.md"

# Check for mandatory sections
grep "## User Scenarios & Testing" spec.md
grep "## Requirements" spec.md
grep "## Success Criteria" spec.md
grep "## Scope" spec.md

# Check for clarification markers
grep -n "\[NEEDS CLARIFICATION\]" spec.md

# Check for testable criteria
grep -A 5 "Acceptance Scenarios:" spec.md
grep -E "[0-9]+%" spec.md  # Measurable success criteria

Constitutional Compliance

• Specification-Driven: Enforces spec completion before proceeding (Principle II)
• Quality Focus: Ensures high-quality specifications for better outcomes
• Read-Only: No modifications to specs, only validation