Topics›Autonomous Agents with Reliable Outcomes›How to Do Spec-Driven Development: Spike, Reference Implementation, Spec, Test Plan, Implementation Plan
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How to Do Spec-Driven Development: Spike, Reference Implementation, Spec, Test Plan, Implementation Plan
Engineering Leadership Gregor·July 27, 2026
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Summary
Larridin's CTO walks through a concrete 6-step spec-driven workflow for delegating complex work to AI reliably: spike unknowns first, promote the spike to a commented reference implementation, write a tightly-scoped spec, write the test plan before the implementation plan, then generate a detailed file-by-file implementation plan before letting even a cheap model execute it.
Why this signal
One of the most immediately liftable frameworks this cycle for Neo's #1 focus area — a full worked template Thomas Engineering could adopt directly for giving agents clear stopping conditions and verifiable finish lines, extending the acceptance-criteria pattern Neo already values.
Original email
Engineering Leadership Gregor · 7/27/2026
How to Do Spec-Driven Development