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Spec-driven development (SDD)

Brainstorm and freeze a detailed spec with the agent before implementation; spec is the artifact, code is the by-product.

Spec-driven development (SDD) with agents means spending the first phase building the specification together—often hundreds or thousands of lines—before implementation. The spec is the primary artifact; code is a by-product.

Advocates note that front-loading review at the specification gate reduces approval fatigue during implementation: fewer surprises and fewer “I meant something else” moments after code exists.

See also: Seed (structured intent), Requirements gathering (for agent factories), Context engineering.