Specify Workflow

IMPORTANT: All tasker working files go in $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/. Do NOT create any other directories like project-planning/, planning/, or schemas/ at the target project root. The .tasker/ directory is the ONLY location for tasker artifacts (including .tasker/schemas/ for JSON schemas).

An agent-driven interactive workflow that transforms ideas into actionable specifications with extracted capabilities, ready for /plan to decompose into tasks.

Core Principles

1. Workflows and invariants before architecture - Never discuss implementation until behavior is clear
2. Decision-dense, not prose-dense - Bullet points over paragraphs
3. No guessing — Uncertainty becomes Open Questions
4. Minimal facilitation — Decide only when required
5. Specs are living; ADRs are historical
6. Less is more — Avoid ceremony

Artifacts

Required Outputs (in TARGET project)

• README — {TARGET}/README.md (project overview - what it is, how to use it)
• Spec Packet — {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.md (human-readable)
• Capability Map — {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.capabilities.json (machine-readable, for /plan)
• Behavior Model (FSM) — {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>/ (state machine artifacts, for /plan and /execute)
• ADR files — {TARGET}/docs/adrs/ADR-####-<slug>.md (0..N)

Working Files (in target project's .tasker/)

• Session state — $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json (persistent, primary resume source)
• Spec draft — $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md (working draft, written incrementally)
• Discovery file — $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md (append-only log)
• Stock-takes — $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/stock-takes.md (append-only log of vision evolution)
• Decision registry — $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/decisions.json (index of decisions/ADRs)
• Spec Review — $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-review.json (weakness analysis)

Archive

After completion, artifacts can be archived using tasker archive for post-hoc analysis.

---

MANDATORY: Phase Order

Initialization → Scope → Clarification Loop (Discovery) → Synthesis → Architecture Sketch → Decisions/ADRs → Gate → Spec Review → Export

NEVER skip or reorder these phases.

---

Phase 0 — Initialization

Goal

Establish project context and session state before specification work begins.

STEP 1: Auto-Detect Session State (MANDATORY FIRST)

Before asking the user anything, check for existing session state files.

1a. Determine Target Directory

Check in order:

1. If user provided a path in their message, use that
2. If CWD contains .tasker/state.json, use CWD
3. Otherwise, ask:

What is the target project directory?

1b. Check for Existing Session

TARGET_DIR="<determined-path>"
STATE_FILE="$TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json"

if [ -f "$STATE_FILE" ]; then
    # Read state to determine if session is in progress
    PHASE=$(jq -r '.phase.current' "$STATE_FILE")
    if [ "$PHASE" != "complete" ] && [ "$PHASE" != "null" ]; then
        echo "RESUME: Found active session at phase '$PHASE'"
        # AUTO-RESUME - skip to Step 1c
    else
        echo "NEW: Previous session completed. Starting fresh."
        # Proceed to Step 2 (new session)
    fi
else
    echo "NEW: No existing session found."
    # Proceed to Step 2 (new session)
fi

1c. Auto-Resume Protocol (if active session found)

If .tasker/state.json exists and phase.current != "complete":

1. Read state.json to get current phase and step
2. Inform user (no question needed):

   Resuming specification session for "{spec_session.spec_slug}"
   Current phase: {phase.current}, step: {phase.step}
   

3. Read required working files for the current phase (see Resume Protocol section)
4. Jump directly to the current phase - do NOT re-run earlier phases

This is automatic. Do not ask the user whether to resume.

---

STEP 2: New Session Setup (only if no active session)

2a. No Guessing on Reference Materials

You MUST NOT:

• Scan directories to infer what files exist
• Guess spec locations from directory structure
• Read files to detect existing specs
• Make any assumptions about what the user has

The user tells you everything. You ask, they answer.

2b. Ask About Reference Materials

Ask using AskUserQuestion:

Do you have existing specification reference materials (PRDs, requirements docs, design docs, etc.)?

Options:

• No reference materials — Starting from scratch
• Yes, I have reference materials — I'll provide the location(s)

If "Yes, I have reference materials":

Ask for the location(s):

Where are your reference materials located? (Provide path(s) - can be files or directories)

Free-form text input. User provides path(s) (e.g., docs/specs/, requirements.md, PRD.pdf).

Validate path exists:

EXISTING_SPEC_PATH="<user-provided-path>"
if [ ! -e "$TARGET_DIR/$EXISTING_SPEC_PATH" ] && [ ! -e "$EXISTING_SPEC_PATH" ]; then
    echo "Warning: Path not found. Please verify the path."
fi

2c. Initialize Session State

Create .tasker/ directory structure in target project:

TASKER_DIR="$TARGET_DIR/.tasker"
mkdir -p "$TASKER_DIR"/{inputs,artifacts,tasks,bundles,reports,fsm-draft,adrs-draft}

Create $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "version": "3.0",
  "target_dir": "<absolute-path>",
  "phase": {
    "current": "initialization",
    "completed": [],
    "step": null
  },
  "created_at": "<timestamp>",
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "spec_session": {
    "project_type": "new|existing",
    "existing_spec_path": "<path-from-step-2-or-null>",
    "spec_slug": "<slug>",
    "spec_path": "<target>/docs/specs/<slug>.md",
    "started_at": "<timestamp>",
    "resumed_from": null
  },
  "scope": null,
  "clarify": null,
  "synthesis": null,
  "architecture": null,
  "decisions": null,
  "review": null
}

CRITICAL: Update state.json after EVERY significant action. This enables resume from any point.

The phase-specific state objects are populated as each phase progresses (see phase definitions below).

If user provided existing spec path in Step 2b, store it in spec_session.existing_spec_path for reference during Scope phase.

Output (New Session Only)

For new sessions (Step 2 path):

• .tasker/ directory structure created in target project
• Session state initialized in $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json
• Existing spec path captured (if provided)
• Proceed to Phase 1 (Scope)

For resumed sessions (Step 1c path):

• State already exists - no initialization needed
• Jump directly to phase.current phase
• Read working files as specified in Resume Protocol

---

Phase 1 — Scope

Goal

Establish bounds before discovery.

Pre-Scope: Load Existing Spec (if provided)

If spec_session.existing_spec_path was set during initialization:

1. Read the existing spec file to understand prior context
2. Extract initial answers for the scope questions below (Goal, Non-goals, Done means)
3. Present extracted context to user for confirmation/refinement rather than asking from scratch

if [ -n "$EXISTING_SPEC_PATH" ]; then
    echo "Loading existing spec from: $EXISTING_SPEC_PATH"
    # Read and analyze existing spec
    # Pre-fill scope questions with extracted information
fi

Required Questions (AskUserQuestion)

Ask these questions using AskUserQuestion tool with structured options. If existing spec was loaded, present extracted answers for confirmation rather than blank questions:

Question 1: Goal

What are we building?

Free-form text input.

Question 2: Non-goals

What is explicitly OUT of scope?

Free-form text input (allow multiple items).

Question 3: Done Means

What are the acceptance bullets? (When is this "done"?)

Free-form text input (allow multiple items).

Question 4: Tech Stack

What tech stack should be used?

Free-form text input. Examples:

• "Python 3.12+ with FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Redis"
• "TypeScript, Next.js, Prisma, Supabase"
• "Go with Chi router, SQLite"
• "Whatever fits best" (let /specify recommend based on requirements)

If user says "whatever fits best" or similar:

• Note this for Phase 2 (Clarify) to recommend based on gathered requirements
• Ask clarifying questions: "Any language preferences?", "Cloud provider constraints?", "Team expertise?"

Question 5: Entry Point (CRITICAL for W8/I6 compliance)

How will users invoke this? What makes it available?

Options to present:

• CLI command — User runs a command (specify command name)
• API endpoint — User calls an HTTP endpoint (specify URL pattern)
• Claude Code skill — User invokes /skillname (specify trigger)
• Library/module — No direct invocation, imported by other code
• Other — Custom activation mechanism

If user selects CLI/API/Skill: Follow up: "What specific steps are needed to make this available to users?"

If user selects Library/module: Note in spec: "Installation & Activation: N/A - library/module only"

Why this matters: Specs that describe invocation without activation mechanism cause W8 weakness and I6 invariant failure. Capturing this early prevents dead entry points.

Output

1. Update State (MANDATORY)

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "scope",
    "completed": ["initialization"],
    "step": "complete"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "scope": {
    "goal": "<user-provided-goal>",
    "non_goals": ["<item1>", "<item2>"],
    "done_means": ["<criterion1>", "<criterion2>"],
    "tech_stack": "<tech-stack-or-TBD>",
    "entry_point": {
      "type": "cli|api|skill|library|other",
      "trigger": "<command-name or /skillname or endpoint>",
      "activation_steps": ["<step1>", "<step2>"]
    },
    "completed_at": "<timestamp>"
  }
}

2. Write Spec Draft (MANDATORY)

Write initial spec sections to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md:

# Spec: {Title}

## Goal
{goal from scope}

## Non-goals
{non_goals from scope}

## Done means
{done_means from scope}

## Tech Stack
{tech_stack from scope}

## Installation & Activation
**Entry Point:** {entry_point.trigger from scope}
**Type:** {entry_point.type from scope}

**Activation Steps:**
{entry_point.activation_steps from scope, numbered list}

**Verification:**
<!-- To be filled in during Clarify or Synthesis -->

<!-- Remaining sections will be added by subsequent phases -->

IMPORTANT: All spec content is built in this file, NOT in conversation context. Read from this file when you need prior spec content.

---

Phase 2 — Clarify (Ralph Iterative Discovery Loop)

Purpose

Exhaustively gather requirements via structured questioning.

Setup

1. Initialize Clarify State in state.json (MANDATORY)

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "clarify",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope"],
    "step": "starting"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "clarify": {
    "current_category": "core_requirements",
    "current_round": 1,
    "categories": {
      "core_requirements": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 },
      "users_context": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 },
      "integrations": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 },
      "edge_cases": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 },
      "quality_attributes": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 },
      "existing_patterns": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 },
      "preferences": { "status": "not_started", "rounds": 0 }
    },
    "pending_followups": [],
    "requirements_count": 0,
    "stock_takes_count": 0,
    "started_at": "<timestamp>"
  }
}

2. Create Discovery File

Create $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md:

# Discovery: {TOPIC}
Started: {timestamp}

## Category Status

| Category | Status | Rounds | Notes |
|----------|--------|--------|-------|
| Core requirements | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |
| Users & context | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |
| Integrations | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |
| Edge cases | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |
| Quality attributes | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |
| Existing patterns | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |
| Preferences | ○ Not Started | 0 | — |

## Discovery Rounds

3. Create Stock-Takes File

Create $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/stock-takes.md:

# Stock-Takes: {TOPIC}
Started: {timestamp}

This file tracks how the vision evolves as discovery progresses.

---

CRITICAL: Resume Capability

On resume (after compaction or restart):

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json to get clarify state
2. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md to get discovery history
3. Resume from clarify.current_category and clarify.current_round
4. If clarify.pending_followups is non-empty, continue follow-up loop first

DO NOT rely on conversation context for clarify progress. Always read from files.

Loop Rules

• No iteration cap - Continue until goals are met

• Category Focus Mode - Work on ONE category at a time until it's complete or explicitly deferred

• Each iteration:

  1. Read discovery file
  2. Select ONE incomplete category to focus on (priority: Core requirements → Users & context → Integrations → Edge cases → Quality attributes → Existing patterns → Preferences)
  3. Ask 2–4 questions within that focused category
  4. Get user answers
  5. Run Follow-up Sub-loop (see below) - validate and drill down on answers
  6. Only after follow-ups are complete: update discovery file, extract requirements, update category status
  7. Repeat within same category until goal is met OR user says "move on from this category"

• Clarity Before Progress - If user response is anything except a direct answer (counter-question, confusion, pushback, tangential), provide clarification FIRST. Do NOT present new questions until prior questions have direct answers.

• Stop ONLY when:

  • ALL category goals are met (see checklist), OR
  • User says "enough", "stop", "move on", or similar

Follow-up Sub-loop (MANDATORY)

After receiving answers to a question round, DO NOT immediately move to the next round. First, validate each answer:

Answer Validation Triggers

For each answer, check if follow-up is required:

Trigger	Example	Required Follow-up
Vague quantifier	"several users", "a few endpoints"	"How many specifically?"
Undefined scope	"and so on", "etc.", "things like that"	"Can you list all items explicitly?"
Weak commitment	"probably", "maybe", "I think"	"Is this confirmed or uncertain?"
Missing specifics	"fast response", "secure"	"What's the specific target? (e.g., <100ms)"
Deferred knowledge	"I'm not sure", "don't know yet"	"Should we make a default assumption, or is this blocking?"
Contradicts earlier answer	Conflicts with prior round	"Earlier you said X, now Y. Which is correct?"

Sub-loop Process

For each answer in current round:
  1. Check against validation triggers
  2. If trigger found:
     a. Add to pending_followups in state.json
     b. Ask ONE follow-up question (not batched)
     c. Wait for response
     d. Remove from pending_followups, re-validate the new response
     e. Repeat until answer is concrete OR user explicitly defers
  3. Only after ALL answers validated → proceed to next round

MANDATORY: Persist Follow-up State

Before asking a follow-up question, update state.json:

{
  "clarify": {
    "pending_followups": [
      {
        "question_id": "Q3.2",
        "original_answer": "<user's vague answer>",
        "trigger": "vague_quantifier",
        "followup_question": "<the follow-up question being asked>"
      }
    ]
  }
}

After receiving follow-up response, remove from pending_followups and update the round in clarify-session.md.

Follow-up Question Format

Use AskUserQuestion with context from the original answer:

{
  "question": "You mentioned '{user_quote}'. {specific_follow_up_question}",
  "header": "Clarify",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Specify", "description": "I'll provide a specific answer"},
    {"label": "Not critical", "description": "This detail isn't important for the spec"},
    {"label": "Defer", "description": "I don't know yet, note as open question"}
  ]
}

Handling Non-Direct Responses (MANDATORY)

If the user's response is anything other than a direct answer, assume clarification is required. Do NOT present new questions until the original question is resolved.

Response Type	Example	Required Action
Counter-question	"What do you mean by X?"	Answer their question, then re-ask yours
Confusion	"I'm not sure what you're asking"	Rephrase the question with more context
Pushback	"Why do you need to know that?"	Explain why this matters for the spec
Tangential	Talks about something else	Acknowledge, then redirect to the question
Partial answer	Answers part, ignores rest	Note the partial, ask about the unanswered part
Meta-comment	"This is getting detailed"	Acknowledge, offer to simplify or defer

Process:

1. Detect non-direct response
2. Address the user's concern/question FIRST
3. Only after clarity achieved → re-present the original question (or confirm it's now answered)
4. Do NOT batch new questions until all prior questions have direct answers

Example:

Agent: "What authentication method should users use?"
User: "What options are there?"

[NON-DIRECT: User asked a counter-question]

Agent: "Common options are: (1) Email/password, (2) OAuth (Google, GitHub),
       (3) Magic link, (4) SSO/SAML. Which fits your use case?"
User: "Email/password for now, maybe OAuth later."

[NOW DIRECT: Can proceed]

When NOT to Follow Up

• User explicitly says "that's all I know" or "let's move on"
• The answer is already concrete and specific
• The detail is genuinely non-blocking (implementation detail, not spec-level)
• You've already asked 2 follow-ups on the same answer (avoid interrogation)

Example Interaction

Agent: "What integrations are required?"
User: "We need to connect to a few external services and maybe some APIs."

[FOLLOW-UP REQUIRED: "a few" is vague, "maybe" is weak commitment]

Agent: "You mentioned 'a few external services'. Can you list all the external systems this will integrate with?"
User: "Stripe for payments, SendGrid for email, and our internal user service."

[ANSWER NOW CONCRETE: specific services named]

Agent: "You said 'maybe some APIs'. Are there additional API integrations beyond Stripe, SendGrid, and the user service?"
User: "No, that's all."

[CATEGORY GOAL PROGRESS: Integrations now has concrete list]

Category Checklist (Goal-Driven Coverage)

Each category has concrete "done" criteria. Track completion in the discovery file.

Category	Goal (Done When)
Core requirements	Primary workflows enumerated with inputs, outputs, and happy path steps
Users & context	User roles identified, expertise levels known, access patterns clear
Integrations / boundaries	All external systems named, data flows mapped, API contracts sketched
Edge cases / failures	Error handling defined for each workflow step, retry/fallback behavior specified
Quality attributes	Performance targets have numbers (or explicit "not critical"), security requirements stated
Existing patterns	Relevant prior art identified OR confirmed none exists, conventions to follow listed
Preferences / constraints	Tech stack decided, deployment target known, timeline/resource constraints stated

Tracking Format

Update discovery file with completion status:

## Category Status

| Category | Status | Notes |
|----------|--------|-------|
| Core requirements | ✓ Complete | 3 workflows defined |
| Users & context | ✓ Complete | 2 roles: admin, user |
| Integrations | ⋯ In Progress | DB confirmed, auth TBD |
| Edge cases | ○ Not Started | — |
| Quality attributes | ○ Not Started | — |
| Existing patterns | ✓ Complete | Follow auth module pattern |
| Preferences | ⋯ In Progress | Python confirmed, framework TBD |

Completion Criteria

A category is complete when:

1. The goal condition is satisfied (see table above)
2. User has confirmed or provided the information
3. All answers have passed follow-up validation (no vague quantifiers, no weak commitments, no undefined scope)
4. No obvious follow-up questions remain for that category
5. User has explicitly confirmed or the agent has verified understanding

Do NOT mark complete if:

• User said "I don't know" without a fallback decision
• Information is vague (e.g., "fast" instead of "<100ms")
• Dependencies on other categories are unresolved
• Follow-up validation has not been run on all answers
• Any answer contains unresolved triggers (vague quantifiers, weak commitments, etc.)

Category Transition Rules

Before moving to a new category:

1. Summarize what was learned in the current category
2. Confirm with user: "I've captured X, Y, Z for [category]. Does that cover everything, or is there more?"
3. Run Stock-Take (see below)
4. Only then move to the next incomplete category

This prevents the feeling of being "rushed" through categories.

Stock-Taking (Big Picture Synthesis)

Purpose

As questions are answered and categories complete, periodically synthesize the "big picture" - what's emerging, the shape of the vision. This helps users see how their answers are building toward something coherent and provides calibration moments.

Trigger

Stock-take is triggered after each category completes (before transitioning to the next category). This creates a natural rhythm of ~5-7 stock-takes during Phase 2.

Content

A stock-take is NOT a list of answers. It's a synthesis of meaning - what's taking shape:

1. What we're building (1-2 sentences, evolving as understanding deepens)
2. Key constraints/boundaries that have emerged from answers
3. The shape becoming visible (patterns, tensions, tradeoffs surfacing)
4. Direction check - light confirmation the vision still feels right

Format

**Taking stock** (after {category_name}):

{1-3 sentence synthesis of what's emerging - not a summary of answers, but the picture forming}

{Any notable patterns, tensions, or tradeoffs becoming visible}

Does this still capture where we're heading?

Example

After completing "Integrations" category:

Taking stock (after Integrations):

We're building a CLI skill system where specs drive task decomposition. The emphasis is on preventing incomplete handoffs - every behavior must trace back to stated requirements. The system is self-contained except for Git (for state persistence) and Claude Code (as the execution runtime).

There's tension between thoroughness and workflow friction that keeps surfacing - users want comprehensive specs but not interrogation.

Does this still capture where we're heading?

Tone

• Reflective, not interrogative
• Synthesizing, not summarizing
• Calibrating, not gate-checking

The question at the end is light - "Does this still feel right?" not "Please confirm items 1-7."

Process

After category completion:

1. Read accumulated state from spec-draft.md (scope), clarify-session.md (discovery so far)
2. Synthesize the emerging picture (not regurgitate answers)
3. Present the stock-take to user
4. Listen for any course correction or "that's not quite right"
5. Append to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/stock-takes.md
6. Update state.json with stock_takes_count

Stock-Takes File Format

Append each stock-take to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/stock-takes.md:

---

## Stock-Take {N} — After {Category Name}
*{timestamp}*

{The synthesis content}

**User response:** {confirmed | adjusted: brief note}

---

State Update

After each stock-take, update state.json:

{
  "clarify": {
    "stock_takes_count": N
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

When NOT to Stock-Take

• Early exit: If user says "move on" mid-category, skip stock-take for that category
• Minor category: If a category yielded very little new information, stock-take can be brief or combined with next
• User impatience: If user explicitly wants to skip calibration, respect that

AskUserQuestion Format

Primary Questions (Category-Focused)

Use AskUserQuestion with 2-4 questions per iteration, all within the same category:

questions:
  - question: "How should the system handle [specific scenario]?"
    header: "Edge case"  # Keep headers consistent within a round
    options:
      - label: "Option A"
        description: "Description of approach A"
      - label: "Option B"
        description: "Description of approach B"
    multiSelect: false

IMPORTANT: Do NOT mix categories in a single question batch. If you're asking about "Edge cases", all 2-4 questions should be about edge cases.

Follow-up Questions (Single Question)

For follow-ups during the validation sub-loop, ask ONE question at a time:

questions:
  - question: "You mentioned '{user_quote}'. Can you be more specific about X?"
    header: "Clarify"
    options:
      - label: "Specify"
        description: "I'll provide details"
      - label: "Not critical"
        description: "This isn't spec-relevant"
      - label: "Defer"
        description: "Note as open question"
    multiSelect: false

Open-ended Questions

For open-ended questions, use free-form with context:

questions:
  - question: "What integrations are required?"
    header: "Integrations"
    options:
      - label: "REST API"
        description: "Standard HTTP/JSON endpoints"
      - label: "Database direct"
        description: "Direct database access"
      - label: "Message queue"
        description: "Async via queue (Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc.)"
    multiSelect: true

Updating Discovery File AND State (MANDATORY)

After each Q&A round AND its follow-ups are complete:

1. Append to Discovery File

Append to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md:

### Round N — [Category Name]

**Questions:**
1. [Question text]
2. [Question text]

**Answers:**
1. [User's answer]
2. [User's answer]

**Follow-ups:**
- Q1 follow-up: "[follow-up question]" → "[user response]"
- Q2: No follow-up needed (answer was specific)

**Requirements Discovered:**
- REQ-NNN: [Req 1]
- REQ-NNN: [Req 2]

**Category Status:** [✓ Complete | ⋯ In Progress | User deferred]

2. Update State (MANDATORY after every round)

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "step": "round_N_complete"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "clarify": {
    "current_category": "<category>",
    "current_round": N+1,
    "categories": {
      "<category>": { "status": "in_progress|complete", "rounds": N }
    },
    "pending_followups": [],
    "requirements_count": <total REQ count>
  }
}

3. Update Category Status Table

Also update the Category Status table at the top of clarify-session.md to reflect current state.

NOTE: Do NOT proceed to next round until both files are updated. This ensures resumability.

Completion Signal

When ALL category goals are met:

1. Verify all categories show "✓ Complete" in the status table
2. Confirm no blocking questions remain
3. Update state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "clarify",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope"],
    "step": "complete"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "clarify": {
    "status": "complete",
    "completed_at": "<timestamp>",
    "categories": { /* all marked complete */ },
    "requirements_count": <final count>
  }
}

4. Output:

<promise>CLARIFIED</promise>

If user requests early exit: Accept it, mark incomplete categories in state.json with status: "deferred", and note in discovery file for Phase 3 to flag as assumptions.

---

Phase 3 — Synthesis (Derived, Not Asked)

Purpose

Derive structured requirements AND capabilities from discovery. No new information introduced here.

This phase produces TWO outputs:

1. Spec sections (human-readable) - Workflows, invariants, interfaces
2. Capability map (machine-readable) - For /plan to consume

CRITICAL: State-Driven, Not Context-Driven

On entry to Phase 3:

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json to confirm clarify.status == "complete"
2. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md for ALL discovery content
3. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md for existing spec sections (Goal, Non-goals, etc.)

DO NOT rely on conversation context for discovery content. Read from files.

Initialize Synthesis State

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "synthesis",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify"],
    "step": "starting"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "synthesis": {
    "status": "in_progress",
    "spec_sections": {
      "workflows": false,
      "invariants": false,
      "interfaces": false,
      "open_questions": false
    },
    "capability_map": {
      "domains_count": 0,
      "capabilities_count": 0,
      "behaviors_count": 0,
      "steel_thread_identified": false
    },
    "fsm": {
      "machines_count": 0,
      "states_count": 0,
      "transitions_count": 0,
      "invariants_validated": false
    }
  }
}

Process

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md completely
2. Extract and organize into spec sections (update spec-draft.md after each)
3. Decompose into capabilities using I.P.S.O.A. taxonomy
4. Everything must trace to a specific discovery answer

---

Part A: Spec Sections

Workflows

Numbered steps with variants and failures:

## Workflows

### 1. [Primary Workflow Name]
1. User initiates X
2. System validates Y
3. System performs Z
4. System returns result

**Variants:**
- If [condition], then [alternative flow]

**Failures:**
- If [error], then [error handling]

**Postconditions:**
- [State after completion]

Invariants

Bulleted rules that must ALWAYS hold:

## Invariants
- [Rule that must never be violated]
- [Another invariant]

Interfaces

Only if a boundary exists:

## Interfaces
- [Interface description]

(or "No new/changed interfaces" if none)

Open Questions

Classified by blocking status:

## Open Questions

### Blocking
- [Question that affects workflows/invariants/interfaces]

### Non-blocking
- [Question about internal preferences only]

Part A Output: Update Files (MANDATORY)

After synthesizing each spec section:

1. Append section to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md:

## Workflows
[Synthesized workflows content]

## Invariants
[Synthesized invariants content]

## Interfaces
[Synthesized interfaces content]

## Open Questions
[Synthesized open questions content]

2. Update state.json after EACH section:

{
  "synthesis": {
    "spec_sections": {
      "workflows": true,
      "invariants": true,
      "interfaces": false,
      "open_questions": false
    }
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

---

Part A.5: Behavior Model Compilation (FSM)

After synthesizing Workflows, Invariants, and Interfaces, compile the Behavior Model (state machine).

Purpose

The FSM serves two purposes:

1. QA during implementation - Shapes acceptance criteria, enables transition/guard coverage verification
2. Documentation - Human-readable diagrams for ongoing system understanding

CRITICAL INVARIANT: Canonical Truth

FSM JSON is canonical; Mermaid is generated. /plan and /execute must fail if required transitions and invariants lack coverage evidence.

• Canonical artifacts: *.states.json, *.transitions.json, index.json
• Derived artifacts: *.mmd (Mermaid diagrams) - generated ONLY from canonical JSON
• NEVER manually edit .mmd files - regenerate from JSON using fsm-mermaid.py
• If Mermaid is ever edited manually, the system loses machine trust

Compilation Steps

1. Identify Steel Thread Flow: The primary end-to-end workflow
2. Derive States: Convert workflow steps to business states
   • Initial state from workflow trigger
   • Normal states from step postconditions
   • Success terminal from workflow completion
   • Failure terminals from failure clauses
3. Derive Transitions: Convert step sequences, variants, and failures
   • Happy path: step N → step N+1
   • Variants: conditional branches with guards
   • Failures: error transitions to failure states
4. Link Guards to Invariants: Map spec invariants to transition guards
5. Validate Completeness: Run I1-I6 checks (see below)
6. Resolve Ambiguity: Use AskUserQuestion for any gaps

Completeness Invariants

The FSM MUST satisfy these invariants:

ID	Invariant	Check
I1	Steel Thread FSM mandatory	At least one machine for primary workflow
I2	Behavior-first	No architecture dependencies required
I3	Completeness	Initial state, terminals, no dead ends
I4	Guard-Invariant linkage	Every guard links to an invariant ID
I5	No silent ambiguity	Vague terms resolved or flagged as Open Questions
I6	Precondition reachability	If initial transition requires external trigger (e.g., "user invokes X"), the preconditions for that trigger must be specified in the spec

I6 Detailed Check: If the first transition's trigger describes user invocation (e.g., "user runs /command", "user invokes skill"):

1. Check if spec has "Installation & Activation" section
2. Verify the activation mechanism makes the trigger possible
3. If missing, flag as W8 weakness (missing activation requirements)

Example I6 failure:

• FSM starts: Idle --[user invokes /kx]--> Running
• Spec has NO section explaining how /kx becomes available
• I6 FAILS: "Precondition for initial transition 'user invokes /kx' not reachable - no activation mechanism specified"

Complexity Triggers (Splitting Rules)

Create additional machines based on structural heuristics, not just state count:

State Count Triggers:

• Steel Thread exceeds 12 states → split into domain-level sub-machines
• Any machine exceeds 20 states → mandatory split

Structural Triggers (split even with fewer states):

• Divergent user journeys: Two or more distinct journeys that share only an initial prefix, then branch into unrelated flows → separate machines for each journey
• Unrelated failure clusters: Multiple failure states that handle different categories of errors (e.g., validation errors vs. system errors vs. business rule violations) → group related failures into their own machines
• Mixed abstraction levels: Machine combines business lifecycle states (e.g., Order: Created → Paid → Shipped) with UI microstates (e.g., Modal: Open → Editing → Validating) → separate business lifecycle from UI state machines
• Cross-boundary workflows: Workflow that spans multiple bounded contexts or domains → domain-level machine for each context

Hierarchy Guidelines:

• steel_thread level: Primary end-to-end flow
• domain level: Sub-flows within a bounded context
• entity level: Lifecycle states for a specific entity

Ambiguity Resolution

If the compiler detects ambiguous workflow language, use AskUserQuestion:

{
  "question": "The workflow step '{step}' has ambiguous outcome. What business state results?",
  "header": "FSM State",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Define state", "description": "I'll provide the state name"},
    {"label": "Same as previous", "description": "Remains in current state"},
    {"label": "Terminal success", "description": "Workflow completes successfully"},
    {"label": "Terminal failure", "description": "Workflow fails with error"}
  ]
}

FSM Working Files (Written Incrementally)

During synthesis, write FSM drafts to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/fsm-draft/:

• index.json - Machine list, hierarchy, primary machine
• steel-thread.states.json - State definitions (S1, S2, ...)
• steel-thread.transitions.json - Transition definitions (TR1, TR2, ...)
• steel-thread.notes.md - Ambiguity resolutions and rationale

Update state.json after each FSM file:

{
  "synthesis": {
    "fsm": {
      "machines_count": 1,
      "states_count": 8,
      "transitions_count": 12,
      "files_written": ["index.json", "steel-thread.states.json"],
      "invariants_validated": false
    }
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

FSM Final Output Structure

Final FSM artifacts are exported to {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>/ in Phase 8:

• index.json - Machine list, hierarchy, primary machine
• steel-thread.states.json - State definitions (S1, S2, ...)
• steel-thread.transitions.json - Transition definitions (TR1, TR2, ...)
• steel-thread.mmd - Mermaid stateDiagram-v2 for visualization (DERIVED from JSON)
• steel-thread.notes.md - Ambiguity resolutions and rationale

ID Conventions (FSM-specific)

• Machines: M1, M2, M3...
• States: S1, S2, S3...
• Transitions: TR1, TR2, TR3...

Traceability (Spec Provenance - MANDATORY)

Every state and transition MUST have a spec_ref pointing to the specific workflow step, variant, or failure that defined it. This prevents "FSM hallucination" where states/transitions are invented without spec basis.

Required for each state:

• spec_ref.quote - Verbatim text from the spec that defines this state
• spec_ref.location - Section reference (e.g., "Workflow 1, Step 3")

Required for each transition:

• spec_ref.quote - Verbatim text from the spec that defines this transition
• spec_ref.location - Section reference (e.g., "Workflow 1, Variant 2")

If no spec text exists for an element:

1. The element should NOT be created (likely FSM hallucination)
2. Or, use AskUserQuestion to get clarification and document the decision

---

Part B: Capability Extraction

Extract capabilities from the synthesized workflows using I.P.S.O.A. decomposition.

I.P.S.O.A. Behavior Taxonomy

For each capability, identify behaviors by type:

Type	Description	Examples
Input	Validation, parsing, authentication	Validate email format, parse JSON body
Process	Calculations, decisions, transformations	Calculate total, apply discount rules
State	Database reads/writes, cache operations	Save order, fetch user profile
Output	Responses, events, notifications	Return JSON, emit event, send email
Activation	Registration, installation, deployment	Register skill, deploy endpoint, write config

Activation Behaviors

If the spec describes user invocation (e.g., "user runs /command"), extract activation behaviors:

• Registration: Skill/plugin registration with runtime
• Installation: CLI or package installation steps
• Deployment: API endpoint or service deployment
• Configuration: Config files or environment setup

Missing activation = coverage gap. If spec says "user invokes X" but doesn't specify how X becomes available, add to coverage.gaps.

Domain Grouping

Group related capabilities into domains:

• Authentication - Login, logout, session management
• User Management - Profile, preferences, settings
• Core Feature - The primary business capability
• etc.

Steel Thread Identification

Identify the steel thread - the minimal end-to-end flow that proves the system works:

• Mark one flow as is_steel_thread: true
• This becomes the critical path for Phase 1 implementation

Capability Map Working File

During synthesis, write capability map draft to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/capability-map-draft.json.

Update state.json as you build the map:

{
  "synthesis": {
    "capability_map": {
      "domains_count": 3,
      "capabilities_count": 8,
      "behaviors_count": 24,
      "steel_thread_identified": true,
      "draft_written": true
    }
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Capability Map Final Output

In Phase 8, write final to {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.capabilities.json:

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "spec_checksum": "<first 16 chars of SHA256 of spec>",

  "domains": [
    {
      "id": "D1",
      "name": "Authentication",
      "description": "User identity and access",
      "capabilities": [
        {
          "id": "C1",
          "name": "User Login",
          "discovery_ref": "Round 3, Q2: User confirmed email/password auth",
          "behaviors": [
            {"id": "B1", "name": "ValidateCredentials", "type": "input", "description": "Check email/password format"},
            {"id": "B2", "name": "VerifyPassword", "type": "process", "description": "Compare hash"},
            {"id": "B3", "name": "CreateSession", "type": "state", "description": "Store session"},
            {"id": "B4", "name": "ReturnToken", "type": "output", "description": "JWT response"}
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],

  "flows": [
    {
      "id": "F1",
      "name": "Login Flow",
      "is_steel_thread": true,
      "steps": [
        {"order": 1, "behavior_id": "B1", "description": "Validate input"},
        {"order": 2, "behavior_id": "B2", "description": "Check password"},
        {"order": 3, "behavior_id": "B3", "description": "Create session"},
        {"order": 4, "behavior_id": "B4", "description": "Return JWT"}
      ]
    }
  ],

  "invariants": [
    {"id": "I1", "description": "Passwords must never be logged", "discovery_ref": "Round 5, Q1"}
  ],

  "coverage": {
    "total_requirements": 15,
    "covered_requirements": 15,
    "gaps": []
  }
}

ID Conventions

• Domains: D1, D2, D3...
• Capabilities: C1, C2, C3...
• Behaviors: B1, B2, B3...
• Flows: F1, F2, F3...
• Invariants: I1, I2, I3...

Traceability

Every capability and invariant MUST have a discovery_ref pointing to the specific round and question in $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md that established it.

Synthesis Complete: Update State

After all synthesis outputs are complete, update state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "synthesis",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify"],
    "step": "complete"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "synthesis": {
    "status": "complete",
    "completed_at": "<timestamp>",
    "spec_sections": { "workflows": true, "invariants": true, "interfaces": true, "open_questions": true },
    "capability_map": { "domains_count": N, "capabilities_count": N, "behaviors_count": N, "steel_thread_identified": true, "draft_written": true },
    "fsm": { "machines_count": N, "states_count": N, "transitions_count": N, "invariants_validated": true }
  }
}

CRITICAL: Resume From Synthesis

On resume (after compaction or restart):

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json to get synthesis state
2. If synthesis.spec_sections shows incomplete sections, read spec-draft.md and continue
3. If synthesis.capability_map.draft_written is false, continue building from capability-map-draft.json
4. If synthesis.fsm.invariants_validated is false, continue FSM work from fsm-draft/

---

Phase 4 — Architecture Sketch

Rule

Architecture MUST come AFTER workflows, invariants, interfaces.

Initialize Architecture State

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "architecture",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify", "synthesis"],
    "step": "starting"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "architecture": {
    "status": "in_progress",
    "user_provided": false,
    "agent_proposed": false
  }
}

CRITICAL: Read Prior State

On entry:

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md to understand synthesized workflows
2. Architecture sketch should align with the workflows defined

Process

Use AskUserQuestion to either:

Option A: Ask for sketch

questions:
  - question: "Can you provide a brief architecture sketch for this feature?"
    header: "Architecture"
    options:
      - label: "I'll describe it"
        description: "User provides architecture overview"
      - label: "Propose one"
        description: "Agent proposes architecture for review"

Option B: Propose and confirm Present a brief sketch and ask for confirmation/edits.

Output

1. Update spec-draft.md

Append Architecture sketch section to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md:

## Architecture sketch
- **Components touched:** [list]
- **Responsibilities:** [brief description]
- **Failure handling:** [brief description]

Keep this SHORT. No essays.

2. Update State

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "step": "complete"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "architecture": {
    "status": "complete",
    "completed_at": "<timestamp>",
    "user_provided": true|false,
    "agent_proposed": true|false
  }
}

---

Phase 5 — Decisions & ADRs

Initialize Decisions State

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "decisions",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify", "synthesis", "architecture"],
    "step": "starting"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "decisions": {
    "status": "in_progress",
    "count": 0,
    "pending": 0
  }
}

CRITICAL: Read Prior State

On entry:

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md to identify decision points from workflows/invariants
2. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/clarify-session.md for context on requirements

ADR Trigger

Create ADR if ANY of these are true:

• Hard to reverse
• Reusable standard
• Tradeoff-heavy
• Cross-cutting
• NFR-impacting

If none apply → record decision in spec only.

Decision Facilitation Rules

FACILITATE a decision ONLY IF ALL are true:

1. ADR-worthy (meets trigger above)
2. Not already decided (no existing ADR, no explicit user preference)
3. Blocking workflows, invariants, or interfaces

DO NOT FACILITATE if ANY are true:

• Already decided
• Local / reversible / implementation detail
• Non-blocking
• User not ready to decide
• Too many options (>3)
• Premature (behavior not defined yet)

Facilitation Format

If facilitation is allowed:

questions:
  - question: "How should we approach [decision topic]?"
    header: "Decision"
    options:
      - label: "Option A: [Name]"
        description: "Consequences: [1], [2]"
      - label: "Option B: [Name]"
        description: "Consequences: [1], [2]"
      - label: "Need more info"
        description: "Defer decision, add to Open Questions"

Outcomes

• User chooses option → Write decision to spec-draft.md + create ADR (Accepted)
• User says "need more info" → Add as Blocking Open Question (no ADR yet)

Update state.json after each decision:

{
  "decisions": {
    "count": 2,
    "pending": 1
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Decision Registry

Write decision index to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/decisions.json:

{
  "decisions": [
    { "id": "DEC-001", "title": "Authentication method", "adr": "ADR-0001-auth-method.md" },
    { "id": "DEC-002", "title": "Database choice", "adr": "ADR-0002-database-choice.md" },
    { "id": "DEC-003", "title": "Error handling strategy", "adr": null }
  ]
}

• adr is the filename if ADR-worthy, null if inline decision only
• ADR files contain full decision context and rationale

Usage pattern: Always consult decisions.json first to find relevant decisions by title. Only read a specific ADR file when you need the full details. Never scan adrs-draft/ directory to discover what decisions exist.

ADR Working Files

Write ADR drafts to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/adrs-draft/:

• ADR-0001-auth-method.md
• ADR-0002-database-choice.md

Final ADRs are exported to {TARGET}/docs/adrs/ in Phase 8.

ADR Template

Write ADRs to {TARGET}/docs/adrs/ADR-####-<slug>.md:

# ADR-####: {Title}

**Status:** Accepted
**Date:** {YYYY-MM-DD}

## Applies To
- [Spec: Feature A](../specs/feature-a.md)
- [Spec: Feature B](../specs/feature-b.md)

## Context
[Why this decision was needed - reference specific discovery round if applicable]

## Decision
[What was decided]

## Alternatives Considered
| Alternative | Pros | Cons | Why Not Chosen |
|-------------|------|------|----------------|
| [Alt 1] | ... | ... | ... |
| [Alt 2] | ... | ... | ... |

## Consequences
- [Consequence 1]
- [Consequence 2]

## Related
- Supersedes: (none | ADR-XXXX)
- Related ADRs: (none | ADR-XXXX, ADR-YYYY)

ADR Rules:

• ADRs are immutable once Accepted
• Changes require a new ADR that supersedes the old
• ADRs can apply to multiple specs (many-to-many relationship)
• When creating a new spec that uses an existing ADR, update the ADR's "Applies To" section

Decisions Complete: Update State

After all decisions are resolved, update state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "step": "complete"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "decisions": {
    "status": "complete",
    "completed_at": "<timestamp>",
    "count": 3,
    "pending": 0
  }
}

Also append Decisions section to $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md.

---

Phase 6 — Handoff-Ready Gate

CRITICAL: State-Driven Gate Check

On entry to Phase 6:

1. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json to verify all prior phases complete
2. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md to verify all sections exist
3. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/fsm-draft/ to verify FSM compiled
4. Read $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/capability-map-draft.json to verify capability map exists

DO NOT rely on conversation context. All gate checks use persisted files.

Update state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "gate",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify", "synthesis", "architecture", "decisions"],
    "step": "checking"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Preliminary Check (ALL must pass)

Check	Requirement	Verify By
Phases complete	All phases 1-5 completed in order	state.json phase.completed array
No blocking questions	Zero Blocking Open Questions	spec-draft.md Open Questions section
Interfaces present	Interfaces section exists (even if "none")	spec-draft.md
Decisions present	Decisions section exists	spec-draft.md
Workflows defined	At least one workflow with variants/failures	spec-draft.md
Invariants stated	At least one invariant	spec-draft.md
FSM compiled	Steel Thread FSM compiled with I1-I6 passing	fsm-draft/index.json

Spec Completeness Check (Checklist C1-C11)

Run the checklist verification against the current spec draft:

tasker spec checklist /tmp/claude/spec-draft.md

This verifies the spec contains all expected sections:

Category	Critical Items (must pass)
C2: Data Model	Tables defined, fields typed, constraints stated
C3: API	Endpoints listed, request/response schemas, auth requirements
C4: Behavior	Observable behaviors, business rules
C7: Security	Authentication mechanism, authorization rules

Handling Checklist Gaps

For critical missing items (marked with *):

1. If the spec SHOULD have this content → return to Phase 2 (Clarify) to gather requirements
2. If the spec legitimately doesn't need this → document as N/A with rationale

Example checklist failure:

## Gate FAILED - Incomplete Spec

Checklist verification found critical gaps:

- [✗] C2.4*: Constraints stated (UNIQUE, CHECK, FK)?
  → Data model section exists but no constraints defined

- [✗] C3.2*: Request schemas defined?
  → API endpoints listed but request bodies not specified

Action: Return to Phase 2 to clarify data constraints and API request formats.

Gate Result: Update State

If Gate PASSES:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "gate",
    "step": "passed"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

If Gate FAILS:

Update state.json with blockers:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "gate",
    "step": "failed"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "gate_blockers": [
    { "type": "blocking_question", "detail": "Rate limiting across tenants" },
    { "type": "missing_section", "detail": "Interfaces" },
    { "type": "checklist_gap", "detail": "C2.4: No database constraints" }
  ]
}

1. List exact blockers
2. STOP - do not proceed to spec review
3. Tell user what must be resolved

Example:

## Gate FAILED

Cannot proceed. The following must be resolved:

1. **Blocking Open Questions:**
   - How should rate limiting work across tenants?
   - What is the retry policy for failed webhooks?

2. **Missing Sections:**
   - Interfaces section not present

3. **Checklist Gaps (Critical):**
   - C2.4: No database constraints defined
   - C3.2: API request schemas missing

---

Phase 7 — Spec Review (MANDATORY)

Purpose

Run automated weakness detection to catch issues before export. This is the final quality gate.

Initialize Review State

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "review",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify", "synthesis", "architecture", "decisions", "gate"],
    "step": "starting"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "review": {
    "status": "in_progress",
    "weaknesses_found": 0,
    "weaknesses_resolved": 0,
    "critical_remaining": 0
  }
}

CRITICAL: Read From Files

On entry to Phase 7:

1. The spec draft is already in $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md - use this file
2. Do NOT build spec from conversation context

Process

Step 1: Copy Spec Draft for Analysis

The spec draft already exists at $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md. Copy to temp for analysis:

cp "$TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md" /tmp/claude/spec-draft.md

Step 2: Run Weakness Detection

tasker spec review /tmp/claude/spec-draft.md

This detects:

• W1: Non-behavioral requirements - DDL/schema not stated as behavior
• W2: Implicit requirements - Constraints assumed but not explicit
• W3: Cross-cutting concerns - Config, observability, lifecycle
• W4: Missing acceptance criteria - Qualitative terms without metrics
• W5: Fragmented requirements - Cross-references needing consolidation
• W6: Contradictions - Conflicting statements
• W7: Ambiguity - Vague quantifiers, undefined scope, weak requirements, passive voice
• W8: Missing activation requirements - Spec describes invocation without specifying how to make it invocable (e.g., "user runs /command" without defining how the command becomes available)
• CK-*: Checklist gaps - Critical missing content from C1-C11 categories

W7 Ambiguity patterns include:

• Vague quantifiers ("some", "many", "several")
• Undefined scope ("etc.", "and so on")
• Vague conditionals ("if applicable", "when appropriate")
• Weak requirements ("may", "might", "could")
• Passive voice hiding actor ("is handled", "will be processed")
• Vague timing ("quickly", "soon", "eventually")
• Subjective qualifiers ("reasonable", "appropriate")
• Unquantified limits ("large", "fast", "slow")

Step 3: Handle Critical Weaknesses

For CRITICAL weaknesses (W1, W6, W7 with weak requirements), engage user:

W1: Non-Behavioral Requirements

{
  "question": "The spec contains DDL/schema that isn't stated as behavioral requirement: '{spec_quote}'. How should this be treated?",
  "header": "DDL Mandate",
  "options": [
    {"label": "DB-level required", "description": "MUST be implemented as database-level constraint"},
    {"label": "App-layer OK", "description": "Application-layer validation is sufficient"},
    {"label": "Documentation only", "description": "This is reference documentation, not a requirement"}
  ]
}

W6: Contradictions

{
  "question": "Conflicting statements found: {description}. Which is authoritative?",
  "header": "Conflict",
  "options": [
    {"label": "First statement", "description": "{first_quote}"},
    {"label": "Second statement", "description": "{second_quote}"},
    {"label": "Clarify", "description": "I'll provide clarification"}
  ]
}

W7: Ambiguity

Each W7 weakness includes a clarifying question. Use AskUserQuestion with the auto-generated question:

{
  "question": "{weakness.question or weakness.suggested_resolution}",
  "header": "Clarify",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Specify value", "description": "I'll provide a specific value/definition"},
    {"label": "Not required", "description": "This is not a hard requirement"},
    {"label": "Use default", "description": "Use a sensible default"}
  ]
}

Example clarifying questions by ambiguity type:

• Vague quantifier: "How many specifically? Provide a number or range."
• Weak requirement: "Is this required or optional? If optional, under what conditions?"
• Vague timing: "What is the specific timing? (e.g., <100ms, every 5 minutes)"
• Passive voice: "What component/system performs this action?"

W8: Missing Activation Requirements

Detected when the spec describes invocation (e.g., "user runs /command", "user invokes the skill") without specifying how that invocation becomes possible.

{
  "question": "The spec describes '{invocation_description}' but doesn't specify how this becomes invocable. What makes this available to users?",
  "header": "Activation",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Registration required", "description": "I'll specify what registration/installation is needed"},
    {"label": "Built-in", "description": "This is provided by the runtime environment (document which)"},
    {"label": "Documentation only", "description": "Activation is out of scope - add to Non-goals"}
  ]
}

W8 patterns to detect:

• "User invokes X" or "User runs X" without installation/registration steps
• Entry points described without activation mechanism
• Commands or APIs referenced without deployment/registration
• Skills or plugins described without installation instructions

If user selects "Registration required", follow up:

{
  "question": "What specific steps or files are needed to make '{invocation}' available?",
  "header": "Activation Steps",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Config file", "description": "A configuration file registers this (specify format/location)"},
    {"label": "CLI install", "description": "A CLI command installs this (specify command)"},
    {"label": "Auto-discovery", "description": "The runtime auto-discovers this (specify convention)"},
    {"label": "Manual setup", "description": "Manual steps are required (I'll document them)"}
  ]
}

CK-*: Checklist Gaps

For critical checklist gaps that weren't caught in Phase 6 Gate:

{
  "question": "The spec is missing {checklist_item}. Should this be added?",
  "header": "Missing Content",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Add it", "description": "I'll provide the missing information"},
    {"label": "N/A", "description": "This spec doesn't need this (document why)"},
    {"label": "Defer", "description": "Address in a follow-up spec"}
  ]
}

Step 4: Record and Apply Resolutions

For each resolved weakness:

1. Record the resolution for downstream consumers (logic-architect):

tasker spec add-resolution {weakness_id} {resolution_type} \
    --response "{user_response}" \
    --notes "{context}"

Resolution types:

• mandatory - MUST be implemented as specified (W1 DDL requirements, W8 activation requirements)
• clarified - User provided specific value/definition (W7 ambiguity, W8 activation mechanism)
• not_applicable - Doesn't apply to this spec (checklist gaps)
• defer - Address in follow-up work

2. Update the spec content to address the issue:
   • If W1 resolved as "mandatory", add explicit behavioral statement
   • If W6 resolved, remove contradictory statement
   • If W7 resolved, replace ambiguous language with specific terms
   • If W8 resolved as "mandatory" or "clarified", add Installation & Activation section to spec
   • If CK-* resolved as "not_applicable", document rationale

Step 5: Re-run Until Clean

# Re-run analysis
tasker spec review /tmp/claude/spec-draft.md

Update state.json after each resolution:

{
  "review": {
    "weaknesses_found": 6,
    "weaknesses_resolved": 4,
    "critical_remaining": 2
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Continue until:

• Zero critical weaknesses remain, OR
• All critical weaknesses have been explicitly accepted by user

Step 6: Save Review Results

Save the final review results:

tasker spec review /tmp/claude/spec-draft.md > $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-review.json

Update state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "step": "complete"
  },
  "review": {
    "status": "complete",
    "completed_at": "<timestamp>",
    "weaknesses_found": 6,
    "weaknesses_resolved": 6,
    "critical_remaining": 0
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Spec Review Gate

Check	Requirement
No critical weaknesses	All W1, W6, critical W7, CK-* resolved or accepted
Resolutions recorded	spec-resolutions.json contains all resolution decisions
Review file saved	$TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-review.json exists

Check resolution status:

tasker spec unresolved

If critical weaknesses remain unresolved, STOP and ask user to resolve.

---

Phase 8 — Export

CRITICAL: Export From Working Files

On entry to Phase 8: All content comes from working files, NOT conversation context:

• Spec content: $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md
• Capability map: $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/capability-map-draft.json
• FSM artifacts: $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/fsm-draft/
• Decision registry: $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/decisions.json
• ADR drafts: $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/adrs-draft/

Update state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "export",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify", "synthesis", "architecture", "decisions", "gate", "review"],
    "step": "starting"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Write Files

Only after spec review passes. All permanent artifacts go to the TARGET project.

1. Ensure Target Directory Structure

mkdir -p {TARGET}/docs/specs {TARGET}/docs/adrs {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>

2. Spec Packet

Copy and finalize $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-draft.md to {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.md:

# Spec: {Title}

## Related ADRs
- [ADR-0001: Decision Title](../adrs/ADR-0001-decision-title.md)
- [ADR-0002: Another Decision](../adrs/ADR-0002-another-decision.md)

## Goal
[From Phase 1]

## Non-goals
[From Phase 1]

## Done means
[From Phase 1]

## Tech Stack
[From Phase 1 - summarized]

**Language & Runtime:**
- [e.g., Python 3.12+, Node.js 20+, Go 1.22+]

**Frameworks:**
- [e.g., FastAPI, Next.js, Chi]

**Data:**
- [e.g., PostgreSQL, Redis, SQLite]

**Infrastructure:**
- [e.g., Docker, AWS Lambda, Kubernetes]

**Testing:**
- [e.g., pytest, Jest, go test]

(Remove sections that don't apply)

## Installation & Activation
[If spec describes user invocation, this section is REQUIRED]

**Entry Point:** [e.g., `/myskill`, `mycommand`, `POST /api/start`]

**Activation Mechanism:**
- [e.g., "Skill registration in .claude/settings.local.json"]
- [e.g., "CLI installation via pip install"]
- [e.g., "API deployment to AWS Lambda"]

**Activation Steps:**
1. [Step to make the entry point available]
2. [Step to verify it works]

**Verification Command:**
```bash
[Command to verify the system is properly activated and invocable]

(If no user invocation is described, this section can be "N/A - library/module only")

Workflows

[From Phase 3]

Invariants

[From Phase 3]

Interfaces

[From Phase 3]

Architecture sketch

[From Phase 4]

Decisions

Summary of key decisions made during specification:

Decision	Rationale	ADR
[Decision 1]	[Why]	ADR-0001
[Decision 2]	[Why]	(inline - not ADR-worthy)

Open Questions

Blocking

(none - gate passed)

Non-blocking

• [Any remaining non-blocking questions]

Agent Handoff

• What to build: [Summary]
• Must preserve: [Key constraints]
• Blocking conditions: None

Artifacts

• Capability Map: .capabilities.json
• Behavior Model (FSM): state-machines//
• Discovery Log: Archived in tasker project

### 3. Capability Map
Copy and validate `$TARGET_DIR/.tasker/capability-map-draft.json` to `{TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.capabilities.json`.

Validate against schema:
```bash
tasker state validate capability_map --file {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.capabilities.json

4. Behavior Model (FSM)

Copy FSM drafts from $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/fsm-draft/ to {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>/:

# Copy FSM drafts to final location
cp -r "$TARGET_DIR/.tasker/fsm-draft/"* "{TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>/"

# Generate Mermaid diagrams from canonical JSON
tasker fsm mermaid {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>

# Validate FSM artifacts (I1-I6 invariants)
tasker fsm validate {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>

Validate against schemas:

tasker fsm validate {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>

6. ADR Files (0..N)

Copy ADR drafts from $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/adrs-draft/ to {TARGET}/docs/adrs/:

cp "$TARGET_DIR/.tasker/adrs-draft/"*.md "{TARGET}/docs/adrs/"

7. Spec Review Results

Verify $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/spec-review.json is saved.

8. Generate README.md

Purpose: Ensure anyone encountering the project immediately understands what it is and how to use it.

Generate {TARGET}/README.md with:

# {Project Title}

{One-sentence description of what this system does}

## What It Does

{2-3 bullet points explaining the core functionality}

## Installation

{From Installation & Activation section of spec}

## Usage

{Primary entry point and basic usage example}

## How It Works

{Brief explanation of the architecture/workflow - 3-5 bullet points}

## Project Structure

{key directories and files with one-line descriptions}

## License

{License from spec or "TBD"}

Content Sources:

• Title/description: From spec Goal section
• Installation: From spec Installation & Activation section
• Usage: From spec Entry Point and Workflows
• How It Works: From spec Architecture Sketch
• Project Structure: From capability map domains/files

IMPORTANT: The README is the first thing anyone sees. It must clearly answer:

1. What is this? (one sentence)
2. What problem does it solve?
3. How do I use it?

Final State Update

Update $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json:

{
  "phase": {
    "current": "complete",
    "completed": ["initialization", "scope", "clarify", "synthesis", "architecture", "decisions", "gate", "review", "export"],
    "step": "done"
  },
  "updated_at": "<timestamp>",
  "completed_at": "<timestamp>"
}

Completion Message

## Specification Complete

### What Was Designed

**{Project Title}** — {One-sentence description}

{2-3 sentences explaining what this system does, who it's for, and the key value it provides}

**Entry Point:** {e.g., `/kx`, `mycommand`, `POST /api/start`}

---

**Exported to {TARGET}/:**
- `README.md` (project overview - start here)

**Exported to {TARGET}/docs/:**
- `specs/<slug>.md` (human-readable spec)
- `specs/<slug>.capabilities.json` (machine-readable for /plan)
- `state-machines/<slug>/` (behavior model - state machine)
  - `index.json`, `steel-thread.states.json`, `steel-thread.transitions.json`
  - `steel-thread.mmd` (Mermaid diagram)
- `adrs/ADR-####-*.md` (N ADRs)

**Working files (in $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/):**
- `clarify-session.md` (discovery log)
- `spec-review.json` (weakness analysis)
- `state.json` (session state)

**Capabilities Extracted:**
- Domains: N
- Capabilities: N
- Behaviors: N
- Steel Thread: F1 (name)

**Behavior Model (FSM) Summary:**
- Machines: N (primary: M1 Steel Thread)
- States: N
- Transitions: N
- Guards linked to invariants: N

**Spec Review Summary:**
- Total weaknesses detected: X
- Critical resolved: Y
- Warnings noted: Z

**Next steps:**
- Review exported spec, capability map, and FSM diagrams
- Run `/plan {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.md` to begin task decomposition

---

Non-Goals (Skill-Level)

• No Git automation (user commits manually)
• No project management (no Jira/Linear integration)
• No runtime ops/runbooks
• No over-facilitation (don't ask unnecessary questions)
• No architectural debates before behavior is defined
• No file/task mapping (that's /plan's job)

---

Commands

Command	Action
/specify	Start or resume specification workflow (auto-detects from state files)
/specify status	Show current phase and progress
/specify reset	Discard current session and start fresh

---

Context Engineering: Persistence Over Memory

Design Principle

This skill is designed to survive context compaction. All significant state is persisted to files, not held in conversation memory.

Working Files Summary

File	Purpose	Lifecycle
state.json	Phase progress, granular step tracking	Updated after every significant action
spec-draft.md	Accumulated spec sections	Appended after each phase
clarify-session.md	Discovery Q&A log	Append-only during Phase 2
stock-takes.md	Vision evolution log	Append-only during Phase 2 (after each category)
capability-map-draft.json	Capability extraction working copy	Written during Phase 3
fsm-draft/	FSM working files	Written during Phase 3
decisions.json	Decision registry (index of ADRs)	Updated during Phase 5
adrs-draft/	ADR working files (full decision details)	Written during Phase 5
spec-review.json	Weakness analysis results	Written during Phase 7

Resume Protocol

On any /specify invocation (including after compaction):

The skill automatically detects and resumes active sessions. This is NOT optional.

Detection (Phase 0, Step 1)

1. Check for $TARGET_DIR/.tasker/state.json
2. If exists and phase.current != "complete" → auto-resume
3. If not exists or phase.current == "complete" → new session

Resume Steps (when auto-resume triggered)

1. Read state.json to get current phase and step
2. Inform user of resume (no confirmation needed)
3. Read the appropriate working files for that phase's context:

Phase	Files to Read
scope	state.json only
clarify	clarify-session.md, stock-takes.md, state.json (category status, pending followups, stock_takes_count)
synthesis	clarify-session.md, stock-takes.md, spec-draft.md, capability-map-draft.json, fsm-draft/
architecture	spec-draft.md
decisions	spec-draft.md, decisions.json
gate	spec-draft.md, capability-map-draft.json, fsm-draft/
review	spec-draft.md, spec-review.json
export	All working files

4. Jump to the current phase - do NOT re-run earlier phases
5. Resume from phase.step within that phase

Anti-Patterns (AVOID)

• DO NOT accumulate requirements in conversation context during Phase 2 - write to clarify-session.md
• DO NOT build spec text in conversation - write sections to spec-draft.md immediately
• DO NOT assume prior phase content is in context - always read from files
• DO NOT batch state updates - update state.json after every significant action
• DO NOT scan adrs-draft/ to find decisions - use decisions.json as the index, then read specific ADR files only when full details are needed

State Update Frequency

Update state.json after:

• Completing any user question round
• Completing any follow-up sub-loop
• Changing categories in Phase 2
• Completing any stock-take in Phase 2
• Completing any spec section in Phase 3
• Each decision outcome in Phase 5
• Each weakness resolution in Phase 7
• Completing any phase

This ensures the skill can resume from any point with minimal context loss.

---

Integration with /plan

After /specify completes, user runs:

/plan {TARGET}/docs/specs/<slug>.md

Because /specify already produced a capability map and FSM, /plan can skip these phases:

• Spec Review (already done)
• Capability Extraction (already done)

/plan starts directly at Physical Mapping (mapping capabilities to files).

Additionally, /plan will:

• Load FSM artifacts from {TARGET}/docs/state-machines/<slug>/
• Validate transition coverage (every FSM transition → ≥1 task)
• Generate FSM-aware acceptance criteria for tasks

Integration with /execute

When executing tasks, /execute will:

• Load FSM artifacts for adherence verification
• For each task with FSM context:
  • Verify transitions are implemented
  • Verify guards are enforced
  • Verify states are reachable
• Include FSM verification results in task completion