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mattpocock/to-spec

Turn the current conversation into a spec and publish it to the project issue tracker: no interview, just synthesis of what you've already discussed.

What is to-spec?

to-spec is a Claude Code agent skill that turn the current conversation into a spec and publish it to the project issue tracker: no interview, just synthesis of what you've already discussed.

Works with~Claude Code~Codex CLI~Cursor
npx skills add https://github.com/mattpocock/skills/tree/main/skills/engineering/to-spec

Installed? Explore more Coding & Development skills: steipete/bluebubbles, steipete/eightctl, steipete/blucli · View all 6 →

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Documentation

This skill takes the current conversation context and codebase understanding and produces a spec. Do NOT interview the user; just synthesize what you already know.

The issue tracker and triage label vocabulary should have been provided to you. If not, tell the user to run /setup-matt-pocock-skills.

Process

  1. Explore the repo to understand the current state of the codebase, if you haven't already. Use the project's domain glossary vocabulary throughout the spec, and respect any ADRs in the area you're touching.

  2. Sketch out the seams at which you're going to test the feature. Existing seams should be preferred to new ones. Use the highest seam possible. If new seams are needed, propose them at the highest point you can. The fewer seams across the codebase, the better - the ideal number is one.

Check with the user that these seams match their expectations.

  1. Write the spec using the template below, then publish it to the project issue tracker. Apply the ready-for-agent triage label - no need for additional triage.

Problem Statement

The problem that the user is facing, from the user's perspective.

Solution

The solution to the problem, from the user's perspective.

User Stories

A LONG, numbered list of user stories. Each user story should be in the format of:

  1. As an , I want a , so that

This list of user stories should be extremely extensive and cover all aspects of the feature.

Implementation Decisions

A list of implementation decisions that were made. This can include:

  • The modules that will be built/modified
  • The interfaces of those modules that will be modified
  • Technical clarifications from the developer
  • Architectural decisions
  • Schema changes
  • API contracts
  • Specific interactions

Do NOT include specific file paths or code snippets. They may end up being outdated very quickly.

Exception: if a prototype produced a snippet that encodes a decision more precisely than prose can (state machine, reducer, schema, type shape), inline it within the relevant decision and note briefly that it came from a prototype. Trim to the decision-rich parts, not a working demo, just the important bits.

Testing Decisions

A list of testing decisions that were made. Include:

  • A description of what makes a good test (only test external behavior, not implementation details)
  • Which modules will be tested
  • Prior art for the tests (i.e. similar types of tests in the codebase)

Out of Scope

A description of the things that are out of scope for this spec.

Further Notes

Any further notes about the feature.

Individual skills in this repo

This repo contains 20 individual skills — each has its own dedicated page.

mattpocock/ask-matt

Ask which skill or flow fits your situation. A router over the skills in this repo.

mattpocock/caveman

Ultra-compressed communication mode. Cuts token usage ~75% by dropping filler, articles, and pleasantries while keeping full technical accuracy. Use when user says "caveman mode", "talk like caveman", "use caveman", "less tokens", "be brief", or invokes /caveman.

mattpocock/claude-handoff

Hand the current conversation off to a fresh background agent that picks up the work immediately.

mattpocock/codebase-design

Shared vocabulary for designing deep modules. Use when the user wants to design or improve a module's interface, find deepening opportunities, decide where a seam goes, make code more testable or AI-navigable, or when another skill needs the deep-module vocabulary.

mattpocock/design-an-interface

Generate multiple radically different interface designs for a module using parallel sub-agents. Use when user wants to design an API, explore interface options, compare module shapes, or mentions "design it twice".

mattpocock/diagnose

Disciplined diagnosis loop for hard bugs and performance regressions. Reproduce → minimise → hypothesise → instrument → fix → regression-test. Use when user says "diagnose this" / "debug this", reports a bug, says something is broken/throwing/failing, or describes a performance regression.

mattpocock/diagnosing-bugs

Diagnosis loop for hard bugs and performance regressions. Use when the user says "diagnose"/"debug this", or reports something broken/throwing/failing/slow.

mattpocock/domain-modeling

Build and sharpen a project's domain model. Use when the user wants to pin down domain terminology or a ubiquitous language, record an architectural decision, or when another skill needs to maintain the domain model.

mattpocock/edit-article

Edit and improve articles by restructuring sections, improving clarity, and tightening prose. Use when user wants to edit, revise, or improve an article draft.

mattpocock/git-guardrails-claude-code

Set up Claude Code hooks to block dangerous git commands (push, reset --hard, clean, branch -D, etc.) before they execute. Use when user wants to prevent destructive git operations, add git safety hooks, or block git push/reset in Claude Code.

mattpocock/grilling

Grill the user relentlessly about a plan or design. Use when the user wants to stress-test a plan before building, or uses any 'grill' trigger phrases.

mattpocock/grill-me

Interview the user relentlessly about a plan or design until reaching shared understanding, resolving each branch of the decision tree. Use when user wants to stress-test a plan, get grilled on their design, or mentions "grill me".

mattpocock/grill-with-docs

Grilling session that challenges your plan against the existing domain model, sharpens terminology, and updates documentation (CONTEXT.md, ADRs) inline as decisions crystallise. Use when user wants to stress-test a plan against their project's language and documented decisions.

mattpocock/handoff

Compact the current conversation into a handoff document for another agent to pick up.

mattpocock/implement

Implement a piece of work based on a PRD or set of issues.

mattpocock/implement-spec

Implement a specification in code.

mattpocock/improve-codebase-architecture

Scan a codebase for deepening opportunities, present them as a visual HTML report, then grill through whichever one you pick.

mattpocock/loop-me

Grill me about specs for the workflows I want to build, within this workspace.

mattpocock/migrate-to-shoehorn

Migrate test files from `as` type assertions to @total-typescript/shoehorn. Use when user mentions shoehorn, wants to replace `as` in tests, or needs partial test data.

mattpocock/obsidian-vault

Search, create, and manage notes in the Obsidian vault with wikilinks and index notes. Use when user wants to find, create, or organize notes in Obsidian.

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