Skip to content

GitHub spec-kit

Overview

GitHub spec-kit is a toolkit designed to implement "Spec-Driven Development" - a novel software development approach that prioritizes specifications and intent before implementation. Released by the GitHub team, it provides a structured workflow that integrates seamlessly with AI coding agents.

Key Features

Structured Development Process

The toolkit uses slash commands to guide developers through a methodical development process:

  • /speckit.constitution - Define project principles and guidelines
  • /speckit.specify - Create detailed specifications
  • /speckit.plan - Develop technical implementation plans
  • /speckit.tasks - Break down work into actionable tasks
  • /speckit.implement - Execute the implementation

AI Agent Integration

spec-kit supports multiple AI coding agents:

  • Claude
  • GitHub Copilot
  • Gemini
  • Cursor
  • Other AI assistants

This allows developers to leverage AI throughout the entire development workflow while maintaining structure and intent.

Core Philosophy

The approach emphasizes:

  • Intent-driven development - Focus on "what" and "why" before "how"
  • Specification-first approach - Define requirements and goals clearly
  • Multi-step refinement - Iterative improvement of project specifications
  • Product scenario focus - Prioritize user needs over technical implementation details

Development Flexibility

spec-kit works across:

  • Different technology stacks
  • Various development approaches (traditional to AI-native)
  • Both greenfield (new) and brownfield (existing) projects
  • Multiple organizational contexts

Use Cases

Organizations can use spec-kit to:

  • Reduce undifferentiated code writing
  • Improve project planning and specification quality
  • Integrate AI agents into formal development processes
  • Maintain consistency across development teams
  • Focus engineering effort on unique product scenarios

Getting Started

Visit the GitHub spec-kit repository for installation instructions and detailed documentation.