feature-spec▌
pproenca/dot-skills · updated Apr 8, 2026
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Comprehensive feature specification and planning guide for software engineers, product managers, and technical leads. Contains 42 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact to prevent scope creep and ensure project success.
Software Engineering Feature Specification and Planning Best Practices
Comprehensive feature specification and planning guide for software engineers, product managers, and technical leads. Contains 42 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact to prevent scope creep and ensure project success.
When to Apply
Reference these guidelines when:
- Writing PRDs or feature specifications
- Defining requirements or user stories
- Managing scope and preventing scope creep
- Prioritizing features and backlog items
- Handling change requests
- Aligning stakeholders on project goals
Rule Categories by Priority
| Priority | Category | Impact | Prefix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scope Definition | CRITICAL | scope- |
| 2 | Requirements Clarity | CRITICAL | req- |
| 3 | Prioritization Frameworks | HIGH | prio- |
| 4 | Acceptance Criteria | HIGH | accept- |
| 5 | Stakeholder Alignment | MEDIUM-HIGH | stake- |
| 6 | Technical Specification | MEDIUM | tech- |
| 7 | Change Management | MEDIUM | change- |
| 8 | Documentation Standards | LOW | doc- |
Quick Reference
1. Scope Definition (CRITICAL)
scope-define-boundaries- Define explicit scope boundariesscope-document-assumptions- Document all assumptions explicitlyscope-work-breakdown- Break scope into measurable work itemsscope-define-mvp- Define MVP before full feature setscope-stakeholder-signoff- Get stakeholder signoff on scope
2. Requirements Clarity (CRITICAL)
req-specific-measurable- Write specific, measurable requirementsreq-user-stories- Structure requirements as user storiesreq-avoid-solution-language- Avoid solution-specific languagereq-functional-nonfunctional- Separate functional and non-functionalreq-consistent-terminology- Use consistent terminologyreq-traceability- Maintain requirements traceability
3. Prioritization Frameworks (HIGH)
prio-moscow-method- Use MoSCoW prioritization methodprio-rice-scoring- Apply RICE scoring for objectivityprio-value-vs-effort- Map value vs effort explicitlyprio-dependencies-first- Identify and order dependenciesprio-kano-model- Apply Kano model for feature classification
4. Acceptance Criteria (HIGH)
accept-given-when-then- Use Given-When-Then formataccept-testable-criteria- Write testable acceptance criteriaaccept-edge-cases- Include edge cases in acceptanceaccept-definition-of-done- Define clear definition of doneaccept-avoid-over-specification- Avoid over-specification
5. Stakeholder Alignment (MEDIUM-HIGH)
stake-identify-stakeholders- Identify all stakeholders earlystake-early-feedback- Gather feedback early and oftenstake-conflict-resolution- Resolve conflicts explicitlystake-communication-plan- Establish communication cadencestake-success-metrics- Align on success metrics
6. Technical Specification (MEDIUM)
tech-system-context- Document system context and dependenciestech-api-contracts- Define API contracts before implementationtech-data-model- Specify data models and schema changestech-error-handling- Plan error handling and recoverytech-performance-requirements- Specify performance requirementstech-security-considerations- Document security considerations
7. Change Management (MEDIUM)
change-formal-process- Use formal change request processchange-impact-assessment- Assess full impact before approvalchange-version-tracking- Version all specification documentschange-scope-freeze- Implement scope freeze periodschange-defer-log- Maintain deferred items log
8. Documentation Standards (LOW)
doc-single-source- Maintain single source of truthdoc-consistent-templates- Use consistent document templatesdoc-decision-records- Document key decisions with contextdoc-accessible-format- Keep documentation accessibledoc-glossary-terms- Define project terminology
How to use feature-spec on Cursor
AI-first code editor with Composer
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
- ›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
- ›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with
node --version) - ›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add feature-spec
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
The skills CLI fetches feature-spec from GitHub repository pproenca/dot-skills and configures it for Cursor.
Select Cursor when prompted
The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
Reload or restart Cursor to activate feature-spec. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /feature-spec) or your agent's skill management interface.
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.
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Use Cases▌
User Story & Requirements Generation
Create detailed user stories, acceptance criteria, and feature specs
Example
Generate user stories for 'password reset feature' with acceptance criteria, edge cases, and test scenarios
Reduce spec writing time by 50%, ensure comprehensive coverage
Competitive Analysis
Research competitors, compare features, identify gaps
Example
Analyze 5 competitor products, create feature comparison matrix, suggest differentiation opportunities
Complete competitive research in 2 hours instead of 2 days
Roadmap Prioritization
Evaluate features using frameworks (RICE, ICE, Kano) and create prioritized backlogs
Example
Score 20 feature ideas using RICE framework, generate prioritized roadmap with rationale
Make data-driven prioritization decisions faster
Stakeholder Communication
Draft PRDs, status updates, and stakeholder presentations
Example
Create executive summary of Q3 roadmap, monthly progress report, feature launch announcement
Save 3-5 hours/week on communication overhead
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client
- ›Access to product documentation and roadmap tools (Jira, Notion, etc.)
- ›Understanding of product management frameworks (RICE, Jobs-to-be-Done, etc.)
- ›Stakeholder contact information and communication channels
Time Estimate
30-60 minutes to see productivity improvements
Installation Steps
- 1.Install product management skill
- 2.Start with user story generation for known feature
- 3.Progress to competitive analysis: research 2-3 competitors
- 4.Use for roadmap prioritization: apply RICE/ICE scoring
- 5.Draft stakeholder communications and refine based on feedback
- 6.Build template library for recurring PM tasks
- 7.Share effective prompts with product team
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠Not validating competitive research—verify facts before sharing
- ⚠Accepting user stories without involving engineering team
- ⚠Over-relying on frameworks without qualitative judgment
- ⚠Not customizing outputs to company culture and communication style
- ⚠Skipping stakeholder validation of generated requirements
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Validate research and competitive analysis with real data
- +Collaborate with engineering when generating technical requirements
- +Customize frameworks and templates to your company context
- +Use skill for first drafts, refine with stakeholder input
- +Document successful prompt patterns for PM tasks
- +Combine AI efficiency with human judgment and intuition
✗ Don't
- −Don't publish competitive analysis without fact-checking
- −Don't finalize user stories without engineering review
- −Don't make prioritization decisions solely on AI scoring
- −Don't skip customer validation of generated requirements
- −Don't ignore company-specific context and culture
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Provide context: company goals, constraints, customer feedback
- ★Ask for alternatives: 'Show 3 ways to prioritize this roadmap'
- ★Request stakeholder-specific formatting: 'Executive summary vs. engineering spec'
- ★Use skill for 70% generation + 30% customization to company needs
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use for user story writing, competitive research, roadmap prioritization, stakeholder communication, and PRD drafting. Best for reducing repetitive documentation and research work.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid for strategic product vision (requires deep customer empathy), pricing decisions (needs market and financial expertise), or when face-to-face customer discovery is more valuable than speed.
Learning Path▌
- 1Basic: user stories, feature specs, status updates
- 2Intermediate: competitive analysis, prioritization frameworks, PRDs
- 3Advanced: product strategy, go-to-market planning, OKR setting
- 4Expert: product vision, market positioning, business model innovation
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
Ratings
4.5★★★★★33 reviews- ★★★★★Chaitanya Patil· Dec 28, 2024
We added feature-spec from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Noor Gill· Dec 20, 2024
I recommend feature-spec for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
- ★★★★★Lucas Garcia· Dec 16, 2024
feature-spec reduced setup friction for our internal harness; good balance of opinion and flexibility.
- ★★★★★Maya Kim· Dec 12, 2024
feature-spec fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
- ★★★★★Jin Desai· Dec 8, 2024
Keeps context tight: feature-spec is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
- ★★★★★Piyush G· Nov 19, 2024
Useful defaults in feature-spec — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Sophia Anderson· Nov 7, 2024
Registry listing for feature-spec matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.
- ★★★★★Kiara Abbas· Nov 3, 2024
feature-spec is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Min Sanchez· Oct 22, 2024
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: feature-spec is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
- ★★★★★Noor Mensah· Oct 22, 2024
Useful defaults in feature-spec — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
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