# Backlog-Ready Spec (spec)

> Interrogates a vague request over five phases and turns it into a precise spec, filed as a GitHub issue and archived locally.

- Category: [Requirements](https://www.myskills.tools/en/categories/requirements/)
- Source: Community · Garry Tan
- Repository: https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/tree/main/spec (commit 3e4240a · v0.1.0)
- SKILL.md: https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/spec/SKILL.md
- Install command: `npx skills add garrytan/gstack --skill spec`
- License: MIT
- Compatible with: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot
- Permissions: read-repo ✓, write-files ✗, shell ✓, network ✓
- Status: Scan passed
- A rule scan cannot catch every risk. Read this skill's SKILL.md and check its permissions before installing.
- ⚠ Creates GitHub issues, may send the spec to Codex for scoring, and with --execute spawns claude -p in a new git worktree.

## Core rule

Never produce an issue after the first message: always start with Phase 1 and do not propose an implementation.

## Execution Phases

1. **Understand the why** — Pin down who is affected, current and desired behavior, why now and how done is measured; by default check gh issue list for duplicates.
2. **Lock the scope** — Settle what is out of scope, which systems it touches, ordering constraints, the smallest valuable cut, and failure and rollback options.
3. **Technical interrogation** — Read code with Grep, Glob or Read and cite path:line before asking about data model, API, background jobs, UI, infrastructure and testing.
4. **Draft review** — Show the full draft issue, ask what is wrong, and iterate until the user confirms.
5. **Gate and file** — Run a content review, a mandatory redaction scan and a Codex quality gate, then file the issue, archive it locally and optionally spawn an agent with --execute.

## Permissions (summarised from SKILL.md)

| Capability | Needed | Details |
|---|---|---|
| File writes | Not required | allowed-tools has no Write or Edit and it changes no project code; the spec archive is written to a local state directory by its shell scripts. |
| Command execution | Required | Runs gh, gstack helper scripts, git worktree and, with --execute, claude -p. |
| Network outbound | Limited | Talks to GitHub through gh for dedupe and filing, and may call Codex for the quality score. |

## SKILL.md frontmatter (YAML)

```yaml
---
name: spec
preamble-tier: 3
version: 0.1.0
description: Turn vague intent into a precise, executable spec in five phases. (gstack)
allowed-tools:
  - Bash
  - Read
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - AskUserQuestion
triggers:
  - spec this out
  - file an issue
  - write up a ticket
  - turn this into an issue
  - make this a github issue
  - turn this into a backlog item
---
```

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