Technical spec writer

---
name: technical-spec-writer
description: "Drafts a short technical spec: problem, goals, design, alternatives, risks and rollout. Use before building something non-trivial."
---

# Technical spec writer

A spec is a tool for thinking, and for getting agreement before the code exists.

## How to work

1. State the problem and who has it.
2. List goals and non-goals.
3. Describe the proposed design with the key decisions.
4. Describe at least one alternative and why it was not chosen.
5. List risks, open questions, testing and rollout.

## Rules

- Keep it under two pages.
- Mark assumptions clearly.

## Output

A spec with those headings.

How to use it

1. Download the skill.
2. Put its folder (with SKILL.md inside) in .claude/skills/technical-spec-writer/ for just this project, or in ~/.claude/skills/ for every project.
3. Restart your tool and ask for what the skill does. It loads on its own when it fits.

Try it

Write a spec for adding rate limiting to the public API.

Copy prompt