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Update Specification

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Streamline your specification updates for AI integration.

by github37.7k stars on github/awesome-copilot
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Updated Aug 10, 2026
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What Update Specification does

The Update Specification skill is designed to assist developers and designers in updating existing specification files to align with new requirements or changes in code. This skill emphasizes creating specifications that are optimized for Generative AI, ensuring that the documentation is not only clear and structured but also machine-readable. By following established documentation standards, users can produce specifications that effectively communicate requirements, constraints, and interfaces for various solution components.

The skill provides a structured approach to writing specifications, encouraging users to adopt best practices such as using precise language, avoiding idioms, and clearly defining all terms and acronyms. This helps ensure that the specifications are unambiguous and easily understood by both human readers and AI systems. The skill also emphasizes the importance of including examples and edge cases, which are crucial for comprehensive understanding and implementation.

For those who frequently work with Generative AIs, having well-structured and clear specifications is vital. This skill is particularly useful for teams that need to maintain high standards in their documentation and require a systematic method for updating specifications as projects evolve. By adhering to the provided template and guidelines, users can ensure that their specifications are not only informative but also compliant with AI processing standards.

Overall, the Update Specification skill is an essential tool for anyone involved in software development or design who needs to keep their documentation up-to-date and AI-friendly. It streamlines the process of updating specifications, making it easier to adapt to new requirements and enhance collaboration across teams.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to update an existing specification file to reflect new requirements or changes in your codebase, ensuring it is optimized for AI use.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable for projects that do not require AI integration or for teams that prefer less formal documentation practices.

What you can build with it

Updating API Specifications

When new endpoints are added to an API, use this skill to update the existing API specification, ensuring it reflects the latest requirements and is clear for AI consumption.

Revising Documentation for Compliance

If your project undergoes compliance changes, this skill helps you revise the specifications to meet new standards while maintaining clarity and structure.

Enhancing Specifications for AI Projects

For projects leveraging Generative AI, use this skill to refine specifications, making them more accessible and understandable for AI systems.

How to install Update Specification

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add github/awesome-copilot/update-specification --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by github

Update Specification

Your goal is to update the existing specification file ${file} based on new requirements or updates to any existing code.

The specification file must define the requirements, constraints, and interfaces for the solution components in a manner that is clear, unambiguous, and structured for effective use by Generative AIs. Follow established documentation standards and ensure the content is machine-readable and self-contained.

Best Practices for AI-Ready Specifications

  • Use precise, explicit, and unambiguous language.
  • Clearly distinguish between requirements, constraints, and recommendations.
  • Use structured formatting (headings, lists, tables) for easy parsing.
  • Avoid idioms, metaphors, or context-dependent references.
  • Define all acronyms and domain-specific terms.
  • Include examples and edge cases where applicable.
  • Ensure the document is self-contained and does not rely on external context.

The specification should be saved in the /spec/ directory and named according to the following convention: [a-z0-9-]+.md, where the name should be descriptive of the specification's content and starting with the highlevel purpose, which is one of [schema, tool, data, infrastructure, process, architecture, or design].

The specification file must be formatted in well formed Markdown.

Specification files must follow the template below, ensuring that all sections are filled out appropriately. The front matter for the markdown should be structured correctly as per the example following:

---
title: [Concise Title Describing the Specification's Focus]
version: [Optional: e.g., 1.0, Date]
date_created: [YYYY-MM-DD]
last_updated: [Optional: YYYY-MM-DD]
owner: [Optional: Team/Individual responsible for this spec]
tags: [Optional: List of relevant tags or categories, e.g., `infrastructure`, `process`, `design`, `app` etc]
---

# Introduction

[A short concise introduction to the specification and the goal it is intended to achieve.]

## 1. Purpose & Scope

[Provide a clear, concise description of the specification's purpose and the scope of its application. State the intended audience and any assumptions.]

## 2. Definitions

[List and define all acronyms, abbreviations, and domain-specific terms used in this specification.]

## 3. Requirements, Constraints & Guidelines

[Explicitly list all requirements, constraints, rules, and guidelines. Use bullet points or tables for clarity.]

- **REQ-001**: Requirement 1
- **SEC-001**: Security Requirement 1
- **[3 LETTERS]-001**: Other Requirement 1
- **CON-001**: Constraint 1
- **GUD-001**: Guideline 1
- **PAT-001**: Pattern to follow 1

## 4. Interfaces & Data Contracts

[Describe the interfaces, APIs, data contracts, or integration points. Use tables or code blocks for schemas and examples.]

## 5. Acceptance Criteria

[Define clear, testable acceptance criteria for each requirement using Given-When-Then format where appropriate.]

- **AC-001**: Given [context], When [action], Then [expected outcome]
- **AC-002**: The system shall [specific behavior] when [condition]
- **AC-003**: [Additional acceptance criteria as needed]

## 6. Test Automation Strategy

[Define the testing approach, frameworks, and automation requirements.]

- **Test Levels**: Unit, Integration, End-to-End
- **Frameworks**: MSTest, FluentAssertions, Moq (for .NET applications)
- **Test Data Management**: [approach for test data creation and cleanup]
- **CI/CD Integration**: [automated testing in GitHub Actions pipelines]
- **Coverage Requirements**: [minimum code coverage thresholds]
- **Performance Testing**: [approach for load and performance testing]

## 7. Rationale & Context

[Explain the reasoning behind the requirements, constraints, and guidelines. Provide context for design decisions.]

## 8. Dependencies & External Integrations

[Define the external systems, services, and architectural dependencies required for this specification. Focus on **what** is needed rather than **how** it's implemented. Avoid specific package or library versions unless they represent architectural constraints.]

### External Systems
- **EXT-001**: [External system name] - [Purpose and integration type]

### Third-Party Services
- **SVC-001**: [Service name] - [Required capabilities and SLA requirements]

### Infrastructure Dependencies
- **INF-001**: [Infrastructure component] - [Requirements and constraints]

### Data Dependencies
- **DAT-001**: [External data source] - [Format, frequency, and access requirements]

### Technology Platform Dependencies
- **PLT-001**: [Platform/runtime requirement] - [Version constraints and rationale]

### Compliance Dependencies
- **COM-001**: [Regulatory or compliance requirement] - [Impact on implementation]

**Note**: This section should focus on architectural and business dependencies, not specific package implementations. For example, specify "OAuth 2.0 authentication library" rather than "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.JwtBearer v6.0.1".

## 9. Examples & Edge Cases

```code
// Code snippet or data example demonstrating the correct application of the guidelines, including edge cases

10. Validation Criteria

[List the criteria or tests that must be satisfied for compliance with this specification.]

11. Related Specifications / Further Reading

[Link to related spec 1] [Link to relevant external documentation]

Frequently asked questions about Update Specification

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