Show HN: Spec-Driven Development Workflow for Claude Code

17 pointssermakarevich3d ago3 comments

Spec Driven Development approach allows to squeeze more from coding agents thanks to few strong concepts: - decomposition across two dimensions. first you generate specs in multiple steps (requirements, code analysis, design), than you split task into multiple subtasks and implement them one by one - you clear context between every step - after spec generation and after subtask implementation. this helps keep cost low and context clear and focused which boost performance - specs written to disk help with information persistency - delivering specs layer by layer help to catch early when agent got you wrong

Repo with claude plugin for spec driven development: https://github.com/sermakarevich/sddw

3 comments

aaronbrethorst3d ago

I'd love to see a comparison with other spec-driven development tools for Claude, like OpenSpec and Superpowers. How does this compare and contrast with them?

sermakarevichOP3d ago

I think those tools would be good as well. The point of sddw for me was to be able to adjust sdd to typical size of your projects. GSD was great but probably for gigantic projects only. For mid - its overkill of tokens.

siliconc0w3d ago

I've been using agent flywheel workflow which is similar. Still not completely sold - it feels a bit like using power tools to shape wood but the final product needs a lot of sanding and polishing.

I thought initially this meant that the spec wasn't detailed enough but the problem is more agent adherence and laziness.

sermakarevichOP2d ago

I am trying to simplify and decompose task, keep my context clean/focused and validate my instructions in this case.

I look at this as if there is a boundary of complexity behind which agents become behaving funky - we just need to find it. Its obvious that with simple tasks and clear instructions, agents don't have issues with adherence. This starts happening at some point when complexity is too high. We need to find this boundary and try to push it with approaches available on our side

sermakarevichOP3d ago

Agentic coding works especially great for me when application is platform-like. You have core and you extend it with a standardized plugins. When few plugins are already there - its hard to distinguish if next plugin is written by agent or by a human.

Also sddw works nicely with fleet of agent: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48226033. I just insert the sequence of sddw steps into the queue and take a nap.

dwb3d ago

Exactly. A detailed-enough spec is just code that you can’t run. If models and agents got to a point where doing a good job in Claude Code plan mode meant that I didn’t have to keep an eye on them in implementation, then I would be interested in some bigger spec-driven thing like this. That is still far from the case today for me.

CompeAnansi2d ago

This flywheel workflow? https://github.com/wsauret/flywheel

siliconc0w2d ago

https://agent-flywheel.com/ (largely just the core workflow)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

3 comments

aaronbrethorst3d ago

I'd love to see a comparison with other spec-driven development tools for Claude, like OpenSpec and Superpowers. How does this compare and contrast with them?

sermakarevichOP3d ago

siliconc0w3d ago

I've been using agent flywheel workflow which is similar. Still not completely sold - it feels a bit like using power tools to shape wood but the final product needs a lot of sanding and polishing.

I thought initially this meant that the spec wasn't detailed enough but the problem is more agent adherence and laziness.

sermakarevichOP2d ago

I am trying to simplify and decompose task, keep my context clean/focused and validate my instructions in this case.

sermakarevichOP3d ago

Also sddw works nicely with fleet of agent: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48226033. I just insert the sequence of sddw steps into the queue and take a nap.

dwb3d ago

CompeAnansi2d ago

This flywheel workflow? https://github.com/wsauret/flywheel

siliconc0w2d ago

https://agent-flywheel.com/ (largely just the core workflow)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse