name: specify description: | Turn a goal into an implementation plan (spec.md). Simplified layer chain: L0:Goal → L1:Context → L2:Decisions → L3:Requirements → L4:Tasks. Evidence-based clarity scoring at L2. User approves at L2, L3, L4. Output is a single spec.md file written with the Write tool. Use when: "/specify", "specify", "plan this" allowed-tools:

• Read
• Grep
• Glob
• Agent
• Bash
• Write
• AskUserQuestion

metadata: version: "1.0.0"

/specify — Spec Generator

Generate a spec.md through a structured derivation chain. Each layer builds on the previous — no skipping, no out-of-order writes.

Core Rules

1. Write tool is the writer — All spec output goes to {specDir}/spec.md via the Write tool. No CLI, no JSON.
2. Append, don't overwrite — Read existing spec.md before writing. Append new sections or update specific sections in place using Edit.
3. Reference before writing — Read the reference file for the current layer (references/L*) before constructing content.
4. Validate at layer transitions — After writing each layer, read spec.md and verify required sections exist.
5. One layer at a time — Complete and validate each layer before advancing.

Spec Directory

The spec is written to a project-relative directory:

specs/{name}/spec.md

{name} = kebab-case derived from the goal.

Create the directory at Session Init:

mkdir -p specs/{name}

Layer Flow

Execute layers sequentially. Read each reference file just-in-time.

Session Init (before L0)

mkdir -p specs/{name}

Then create spec.md with initial content via Write tool.

User Approval Protocol

Three approval gates (L2, L3, L4). Each uses the same pattern:

AskUserQuestion(
  question: "Review the {items} above. Ready to proceed?",
  options: [
    { label: "Approve", description: "Looks good — proceed to next layer" },
    { label: "Revise", description: "I want to change something" },
    { label: "Abort", description: "Stop specification" }
  ]
)

• Approve → advance to next layer
• Revise → user provides corrections, update spec.md sections, re-present (loop until approved)
• Abort → stop

Checklist Before Stopping

• [ ] spec.md at specs/{name}/spec.md
• [ ] ## Goal section populated
• [ ] ## Confirmed Goal section populated
• [ ] ## Non-goals section populated (or "(none)")
• [ ] ## Research section populated
• [ ] ## Decisions section populated with at least one decision
• [ ] ## Constraints section populated (or "(none)")
• [ ] ## Requirements section with every requirement having at least 1 sub-requirement with GWT
• [ ] ## Tasks section with every task having Fulfills linking to requirements
• [ ] Plan Summary presented to user
• [ ] Approved by and Approved at written to Meta section after final approval