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Sdd

CommunityPopular
brycewang-stanford
sdd

Implements the Spec-Driven Development lifecycle (Intent, Requirements, Design, Tasks, Build) for structured feature development. Use when the user wants to scaffold a new feature spec, generate EARS requirements, create a technical design, break work into tasks, or check spec status. Trigger on keywords: sdd, spec-driven, ears requirements, feature spec.

Overview

Publisherbrycewang-stanford
RepositoryAuto-Empirical-Research-Skills
Skill namesdd
Stars
3.8K
Forks
479
Bundled files
6
Links
Skill sourceRepositoryHomepage
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • 6 bundled files

    Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.

  • Open source

    Published by brycewang-stanford on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Sdd AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills.git /tmp/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills/skills/09-meleantonio-awesome-econ-ai-stuff/_skills/engineering/sdd .claude/skills/sdd
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Sdd in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Sdd on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Sdd is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Spec-Driven Development (SDD)

Core Philosophy

  1. Clarity before Code: Never generate code until requirements and design are approved.
  2. Iterative Refinement: Loop through Req → Design → Tasks until solid.
  3. Code via Docs: The truth is in the markdown files, not the chat.

Commands

Execute in the project root (where spec/ and steering/ live).

init

Scaffold the SDD folder structure and template files.

  1. If spec/ already exists, skip or ask before overwriting.
  2. Create spec/ and steering/.
  3. Create spec/intent.md (blank or minimal placeholder).
  4. Copy templates from this skill’s templates/ directory (in the same folder as SKILL.md, or from your install path under ~/.cursor/skills/sdd/ after copying the skill there) into the project:
    • templates/spec/requirements.md → spec/requirements.md
    • templates/spec/design.md → spec/design.md
    • templates/spec/tasks.md → spec/tasks.md
    • templates/steering/coding-standards.md → steering/coding-standards.md

reqs

Generate EARS requirements from intent.

  1. Read spec/intent.md and steering/*.md.
  2. Convert the intent into EARS requirements (see EARS Quick Reference below). Add a Properties (invariants) section.
  3. Write to spec/requirements.md.
  4. Ask for user approval before proceeding.

design

Generate technical design from requirements.

  1. Read spec/requirements.md and steering/*.md.
  2. Create a technical design: architecture, data models, component interfaces, error handling, security. Apply the Design Checklist below.
  3. Write to spec/design.md.
  4. Ask for user approval before proceeding.

tasks

Generate implementation tasks from design.

  1. Read spec/design.md and spec/requirements.md.
  2. Create a sequential task list: max two levels (Task > Subtask). Link each task to requirement IDs (e.g. REQ-001). Follow Task Rules below.
  3. Write to spec/tasks.md.
  4. Ask for user approval before proceeding.

status

Report current state of the spec.

  1. List files in spec/ (and optionally steering/).
  2. If spec/tasks.md exists, count unchecked [ ] vs checked [x] and summarize.

EARS Quick Reference

  • Ubiquitous: <system> shall <response>
  • Event-Driven: WHEN <trigger> [precondition] the <system> shall <response>
  • Unwanted: IF <unwanted condition> THEN the <system> shall <response>
  • State-Driven: WHILE <system state>, the <system> shall <response>
  • Optional: WHERE <feature is included>, the <system> shall <response>

Use IDs like [REQ-001]; add a Properties (Invariants) section for universal correctness statements.

Design Checklist

  • Edit ruthlessly (remove over-engineering).
  • Check for circular dependencies; fix via interface extraction, layering, or events.
  • Ensure alignment with steering documents.

Task Rules

  • Two-level hierarchy maximum (Task > Subtask).
  • Sequential order (each task builds on previous).
  • Traceability: each task or subtask links back to requirement IDs (e.g. Traceability: Implements REQ-001).

Additional Resources

  • For full framework detail (workflow, refinement, iteration triggers), see reference.md.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Sdd AI skill do?

Implements the Spec-Driven Development lifecycle (Intent, Requirements, Design, Tasks, Build) for structured feature development. Use when the user wants to scaffold a new feature spec, generate EARS requirements, create a technical design, break work into tasks, or check spec status. Trigger on keywords: sdd, spec-driven, ears requirements, feature spec.

Why use Sdd on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Sdd is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Sdd in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills/tree/main/skills/09-meleantonio-awesome-econ-ai-stuff/_skills/engineering/sdd. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Sdd?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Sdd?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Sdd with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Sdd AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by brycewang-stanford. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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