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πŸš€ Quick Specification Documentation

A Quick Specification is a document that provides development teams with a structured yet lightweight process for specifying small features, ensuring clarity, testability, and traceability while minimizing bureaucracy and excessive documentation.

Purpose and Objectives of the "Quick Specification":

  • Transform an idea for a small feature into clear, testable acceptance criteria.
  • Create a direct and understandable implementation plan in the form of a task list.
  • Establish shared understanding among developers, testers, and product managers.
  • Ensure traceability from user value down to specific coding tasks.
  • Reduce cognitive load on developers by enabling them to focus on one task at a time.

Step-by-Step Process​

Step 1: Formulate the User Story and Acceptance Criteria (EARS)​

Objective: Define what needs to be done and why, establishing measurable success criteria.

Write the user story: Use the format "As a [role], I want [feature] so that [benefit]." Focus on business value.

Create acceptance criteria using the EARS format: Convert the story into 3–7 specific, unambiguous, and testable statements.

  • Use templates: WHEN... THEN..., IF... THEN..., WHEN... AND... THEN..., WHEN... (error) THEN....
  • Mandatory: Include at least one error-handling or edge-case scenario.
  • Avoid implementation details (e.g., "use Redis").
  • Avoid vague terms ("fast," "convenient").
  • Each requirement must start with WHEN or IF and contain THEN the system SHALL.

Outcome: A clearly defined scope of work with measurable completion criteria.

Step 2: Convert Requirements into Implementation Tasks​

Objective: Break down acceptance criteria into concrete, actionable steps for developers.

Analyze each acceptance criterion: Identify the exact coding actions required to fulfill it.

Formulate tasks: Each task should describe a specific activity (e.g., "Create endpoint /api/v1/user/status," "Add last_login field to the User model," "Write a unit test for email validation").

Establish sequence: Tasks should be logically orderedβ€”typically starting with foundational elements (data models, API contracts), followed by business logic, then error handling and tests.

Ensure traceability: Each task must explicitly reference the acceptance criterion it implements (e.g., "Implements Criterion 3: WHEN the user submits the form...").

Outcome: A structured, ready-to-execute task list.

Step 3: Validation and Refinement​

Objective: Ensure the specification is complete, clear, and implementable.

Self-check using the checklist below:

  • The user story clearly defines the role, action, and value.
  • All acceptance criteria are written in EARS format.
  • Error-handling or edge-case criteria are included (minimum of one).
  • Each implementation task has a clear, specific objective.
  • Each task references its corresponding acceptance criterion.
  • Tasks are ordered in a logical sequence.
  • The specification enables the developer to begin implementation immediately.

Outcome: An approved, implementation-ready specification.

Document Template​

# Quick Specification: "[Concise and clear feature/change title]"

**User Story:**

As a [user role], I want [feature/change description] so that [business value/benefit].

---

## Acceptance Criteria

### **[Name/Description of Criterion 1]**

WHEN [event] THEN the system SHALL [observable outcome].

### **[Name/Description of Criterion 2]**

IF [condition] THEN the system SHALL [observable outcome].

### **[Name/Description of Criterion 3 – ERROR HANDLING/EDGE CASE REQUIRED]**

WHEN [exceptional event] THEN the system SHALL [error-handling action].

### *[Add 1–4 more criteria if needed]*

---

## Implementation Plan

*Tasks are ordered according to implementation logic. Each task references the acceptance criterion it fulfills.*

### [Specific action, e.g., "Create API endpoint /api/v1/feature"]

  * *Implements criteria:* [Reference to criteria]
  * *Details:* [Which files/components to create/modify? Brief logic description.]
  * *Completion criterion:* [e.g., "Code written; API contract documented in Swagger."]

### [Specific action, e.g., "Add input data validation"]
  * *Implements criteria:* [Reference to criteria]
  * *Details:* [Which files/components to create/modify? Brief logic description.]
  * *Completion criterion:* [e.g., "Validation implemented; unit tests for validation pass."]

### [Specific action, e.g., "Write integration test"]
  * *Implements criteria:* [Reference to criteria]
  * *Details:* [Which files/components to create/modify? Brief logic description.]
  * *Completion criterion:* [e.g., "Test written and passes successfully."]

### [Specific action, e.g., "Update user documentation"]
  * *Implements criteria:* [Reference to criteria]
  * *Details:* [Which files/components to create/modify? Brief logic description.]
  * *Completion criterion:* [e.g., "User Guide section updated and published to the website."]

---

## 3. Quality Checklist (Completed by author before implementation begins)

| Criterion                                                                 | Done | Comment |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ------- |
| User story clearly defines role, action, and value                        | ☐    |         |
| All acceptance criteria are formulated in EARS format                     | ☐    |         |
| Error-handling/edge-case criteria included (minimum 1)                    | ☐    |         |
| Each implementation task has a clear, specific objective                  | ☐    |         |
| Each task references its corresponding acceptance criterion              | ☐    |         |
| Tasks are ordered in a logical sequence                                   | ☐    |         |
| Specification enables the developer to start implementation immediately  | ☐    |         |