Spec Validation

Systematic quality validation for specifications using structured checklists and self-evaluation patterns.

When to Use

• After drafting *_FEATURE.md specifications
• Reviewing PRDs for completeness
• Validating requirements before handoff
• Self-checking document quality

Core Principle

The best form of feedback is clearly defined rules, then explaining which rules failed and why.

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Validation Framework

1. Completeness Check

Section	Required Elements	Validation Question
Problem	Specific pain point	Is the problem measurable, not vague?
Users	Primary + secondary	Are personas defined with proficiency?
Scope	In-scope + non-goals	Are explicit exclusions documented?
Success	Quantified metrics	Can we measure success after 30 days?
Risks	Scenarios + mitigations	Is worst-case documented with exit strategy?

2. Clarity Check

Criterion	Test	Fix
No TBD/TODO	Search for "TBD", "TODO", "??", "TBC"	Resolve or escalate
Acronyms defined	All acronyms in glossary	Add definitions
Edge cases covered	Each use case has edge cases	Document behavior
Error messages actionable	User can self-resolve at 3 AM	Add context/guidance

3. Consistency Check

Check	Method	Resolution
Policy contradictions	Compare rules pairwise	Document precedence
Trade-off conflicts	Map priority vs constraint	Make explicit choice
Priority ambiguity	Count must-have items	Limit to 3-5 MVP items

4. Feasibility Check

Aspect	Validation	Owner
Technical constraints	Engineering review	Tech Lead
Dependencies	Identify external blockers	PM
Timeline	Scope vs deadline match	PM + Eng
Risks	Mitigation plans exist	PM

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Self-Evaluation Pattern

Use mcp__sequential-thinking__sequentialthinking for systematic review:

# Structured self-evaluation
mcp__sequential-thinking__sequentialthinking(
    thought="Reviewing spec for completeness: checking problem statement",
    thoughtNumber=1,
    totalThoughts=5,
    nextThoughtNeeded=True
)

Sequential Review Steps

1. Problem Clarity: Is the root problem specific and measurable?
2. User Definition: Are primary users and stakeholders identified?
3. Scope Boundaries: Are in-scope and non-goals explicit?
4. Success Criteria: Can we objectively measure success?
5. Risk Coverage: Are failure scenarios and rollback documented?

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Validation Report Template

## Spec Validation Report: {FEATURE_NAME}

### Summary
- **Overall Status**: PASS / NEEDS REVISION
- **Critical Issues**: {count}
- **Warnings**: {count}

### Completeness (X/5 sections)
| Section | Status | Issue |
|---------|--------|-------|
| Problem | PASS/FAIL | {detail if fail} |
| Users | PASS/FAIL | {detail if fail} |
| Scope | PASS/FAIL | {detail if fail} |
| Success | PASS/FAIL | {detail if fail} |
| Risks | PASS/FAIL | {detail if fail} |

### Clarity Issues
- [ ] {Issue 1}
- [ ] {Issue 2}

### Consistency Issues
- [ ] {Contradiction 1}

### Open Questions (Require Stakeholder Input)
1. {Question needing clarification}

### Recommendations
1. {Specific fix recommendation}

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Common Validation Failures

Failure	Detection	Resolution
Vague success metric	"Improve", "faster", "better"	Quantify with numbers
Missing non-goals	No explicit exclusions	Ask "What are we NOT doing?"
Undefined edge cases	Happy path only	Apply "3 AM Test"
Policy contradiction	Rule A conflicts with Rule B	Document precedence
Stakeholder conflict	User A vs User B needs	Explicit prioritization

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Integration Points

After requirements-discovery

Discovery Interview Complete
    -> Draft *_FEATURE.md
    -> spec-validation (this skill)
    -> Identify gaps
    -> Follow-up questions
    -> Final draft

Before implementation

*_FEATURE.md Finalized
    -> spec-validation final check
    -> Engineering review
    -> Implementation begins

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Quick Checklist (Copy/Paste)

### Pre-Finalization Checklist
- [ ] Problem is specific, not vague
- [ ] Success metrics are quantified
- [ ] Non-goals are explicitly stated
- [ ] No TBD/TODO items remain
- [ ] Acronyms defined
- [ ] Edge cases documented
- [ ] Error messages are user-actionable
- [ ] No policy contradictions
- [ ] Trade-offs explicitly documented
- [ ] Priorities clear (must-have vs nice-to-have)
- [ ] Technical constraints validated
- [ ] Dependencies identified
- [ ] Risks have mitigation plans