What comes BEFORE the prompt?
Spec-Driven Development methodology for teams using AI tools. Write detailed specifications first, then let AI build exactly what you need—no bloat, no surprises.
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The AI Code Quality Crisis
Your developers are using Copilot, Cursor, and Claude Code. But are they shipping better code?
More Issues in AI Code
AI-generated code has 1.7x more issues than human-written code, according to GitClear research.
Say Reviews Take MORE Time
38% of developers report AI code review takes MORE effort than reviewing human code.
"Prompt Engineering"
- Vague requirements lead to over-engineered solutions
- AI guesses at edge cases and security needs
- Code reviews become debugging sessions
Spec-First Development
- Detailed specs define EXACTLY what to build
- AI generates focused, testable code
- Code reviews validate against specs, not guesswork
The Spec-Driven Development Process
Three steps to transform how your team works with AI tools
Write the Spec
Define goals, boundaries, interfaces, and expected behavior. Make requirements testable and unambiguous.
Generate Tests
Give the spec to AI. Let it generate comprehensive test cases that validate the requirements.
Build the Code
AI writes implementation to pass the tests. Code review focuses on spec compliance, not guessing intent.
The Results
Less code review time
Fewer security issues
Feature bloat surprises
Testable requirements
Common Questions
Does this slow down development?
No—it speeds it up. Writing specs takes 15-30 minutes. Debugging vague AI output takes hours. Teams report 40% faster delivery once they adopt spec-first workflows.
We already write tickets. Isn't that enough?
User stories and tickets are for planning. Specs are for implementation. A spec defines boundaries, edge cases, error handling, and testable acceptance criteria—level of detail AI needs to build correctly.
What if requirements change mid-sprint?
Update the spec, regenerate tests, let AI adjust the code. Because everything flows from the spec, changes are systematic—not ad-hoc prompt tweaks across multiple files.
How is this different from TDD?
Spec-Driven Development includes TDD but starts earlier. Specs come BEFORE tests (which come before code). It's the missing methodology for "what comes BEFORE the prompt."
Stop Guessing. Start Specifying.
Get the free SDD Starter Kit and learn the methodology that reduces AI code review burden by 40%.
No spam. Just practical methodology that reduces AI code review by 40%.