AI Engineering
Spec Engineering
Why an explicit product and implementation spec gives an AI coding loop something reliable to execute.
A useful specification is not paperwork. It is a compression layer between intent and implementation.
The job of a spec
A spec names the user, the change, the constraints, and the evidence that proves the work is done. That makes it useful to humans and coding agents alike.
What to include
- the problem in plain language
- non-negotiable constraints
- acceptance checks
- known risks and exclusions
The result
The loop becomes less about prompting harder and more about giving an agent a testable target.