Skills spec-workflow-guide
Use when medium-to-large changes need explicit requirements, technical design, and task planning before implementation, especially for multi-module work, unclear acceptance criteria, or architecture-heavy requests.
install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/skills
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/openclaw/skills "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/skills/binggg/spec-workflow-guide" ~/.claude/skills/openclaw-skills-spec-workflow-guide && rm -rf "$T"
OpenClaw · Install into ~/.openclaw/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/openclaw/skills "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills && cp -r "$T/skills/binggg/spec-workflow-guide" ~/.openclaw/skills/openclaw-skills-spec-workflow-guide && rm -rf "$T"
manifest:
skills/binggg/spec-workflow-guide/SKILL.mdsource content
Standalone Install Note
If this environment only installed the current skill, start from the CloudBase main entry and use the published
cloudbase/references/... paths for sibling skills.
- CloudBase main entry:
https://cnb.cool/tencent/cloud/cloudbase/cloudbase-skills/-/git/raw/main/skills/cloudbase/SKILL.md - Current skill raw source:
https://cnb.cool/tencent/cloud/cloudbase/cloudbase-skills/-/git/raw/main/skills/cloudbase/references/spec-workflow/SKILL.md
Keep local
references/... paths for files that ship with the current skill directory. When this file points to a sibling skill such as auth-tool or web-development, use the standalone fallback URL shown next to that reference.
Spec Workflow
Activation Contract
Use this first when
- The request is a new feature, multi-step product change, cross-module integration, or architecture/design task.
- Acceptance criteria are unclear and need to be made explicit before implementation.
- The work involves multiple files, user flows, database design, or UI design that needs staged confirmation.
Read before writing code if
- You are unsure whether the task should go straight to coding or should first go through requirements, design, and task planning.
- The request mentions a new page, a new system, a redesign, a workflow, or a multi-module refactor.
Then also read
- Frontend page or visual design work ->
(standalone fallback:../ui-design/SKILL.md
)https://cnb.cool/tencent/cloud/cloudbase/cloudbase-skills/-/git/raw/main/skills/cloudbase/references/ui-design/SKILL.md - Advanced data-model work ->
(standalone fallback:../data-model-creation/SKILL.md
)https://cnb.cool/tencent/cloud/cloudbase/cloudbase-skills/-/git/raw/main/skills/cloudbase/references/data-model-creation/SKILL.md
Do NOT use for
- Small bug fixes with clear scope.
- One-file documentation updates.
- Straightforward config changes.
- Tiny refactors where the user already gave exact implementation instructions.
Common mistakes / gotchas
- Jumping into coding before acceptance criteria are explicit.
- Skipping user confirmation between requirements, design, and tasks.
- Writing vague tasks that do not map back to user-visible outcomes.
- Treating UI work as purely technical implementation without clarifying design intent.
Minimal checklist
- Decide whether the change really needs the full spec flow.
- If yes, stop and produce requirements first.
- If the change is small, low-risk, and acceptance is already clear, allow direct execution without forcing spec artifacts.
- Use EARS-style acceptance criteria.
- Get confirmation before moving to the next phase.
When to use this skill
Use this workflow for structured development when you need to:
- Define or refine a new feature
- Design complex architecture
- Coordinate changes across modules
- Plan database or UI-heavy work
- Improve requirement quality and acceptance boundaries
Decision rule
Use the full workflow when
- The task is medium or large
- The impact spans multiple modules
- Acceptance boundaries are fuzzy
- The user wants disciplined planning before implementation
Skip the full workflow when
- The task is small, low-risk, and already precise
- Goal, scope, and acceptance are already clear enough to execute directly
- The user explicitly wants a direct code change with no planning phase
Core workflow
Phase 1: Requirements
Create
specs/<spec_name>/requirements.md.
What to do:
- Restate the problem and scope
- Write user stories
- Write acceptance criteria in EARS style
- Clarify business rules, constraints, and non-goals
EARS pattern:
While <optional precondition>, when <optional trigger>, the <system name> shall <system response>
Example:
When the user submits the form, the booking system shall validate required fields before creating the record.
Phase 2: Design
Create
specs/<spec_name>/design.md.
What to do:
- Describe architecture and module boundaries
- Explain technology choices and trade-offs
- Define data model, API, security, and testing strategy as needed
- Use Mermaid only when a diagram materially improves clarity
Phase 3: Tasks
Create
specs/<spec_name>/tasks.md.
What to do:
- Break the design into executable tasks
- Keep tasks specific and reviewable
- Link each task back to the relevant requirement
- Update task status as work progresses
Task format:
# Implementation Plan - [ ] 1. Task title - Specific work item - Another concrete step - _Requirement: 1
Phase 4: Execution
Only start implementation after the user confirms the task plan.
During execution:
- Keep task status current
- Finish one meaningful unit at a time
- Preserve traceability from change -> task -> requirement
Working rules for the agent
- Ask follow-up questions when the request is underspecified; do not guess core product behavior.
- Require confirmation between requirements, design, and task breakdown.
- Pull in
early when the change includes end-user pages or visual decisions.ui-design - Keep documents concise but testable.
- Prefer user-visible outcomes over implementation-detail task names.
Output expectations
-> problem, scope, user stories, EARS acceptance criteriarequirements.md
-> architecture, technical approach, data/API/security/test notesdesign.md
-> actionable implementation checklist tied to requirementstasks.md