---
name: Spec Mutator
slug: spec-mutator
category: AI Engineering
description: Spec Mutator creates, amends, and backprops bugs into SPEC.md at the repo root, serving as the sole mutator of the project spec. Use it when writing a new spec, distilling from existing code, adding invariants, amending sections, or recording a bug via backprop.
github: "https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/cavekit/tree/main/skills/spec"
stars: 1142
forks: 86
install: "npx degit https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/cavekit/tree/main/skills/spec ~/.claude/skills/spec"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/spec
source_path: skills/spec/SKILL.md
collection_size: 9
category_size: 2451
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/JuliusBrussee/cavekit"
added: 2026-08-20T07:56:17.180Z
last_synced: 2026-08-20T07:56:17.180Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/spec-mutator"
---

# Spec Mutator

Spec Mutator creates, amends, and backprops bugs into SPEC.md at the repo root, serving as the sole mutator of the project spec. Use it when writing a new spec, distilling from existing code, adding invariants, amending sections, or recording a bug via backprop.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/cavekit/tree/main/skills/spec ~/.claude/skills/spec
```

## README

# spec — spec mutator

Read `FORMAT.md` at repo root if not already loaded. Caveman skill applies to all writes here.

## DISPATCH

Inspect user request and project state:

1. No `SPEC.md` at repo root AND args describe idea → **NEW**
2. No `SPEC.md` AND `from-code` in args → **DISTILL**
3. `SPEC.md` exists AND args start `bug:` → **BACKPROP**
4. `SPEC.md` exists AND args start `amend` → **AMEND**
5. `SPEC.md` exists, no args → ask user which mode

## INPUTS — spec is the sole mutator

The other verbs produce material; spec writes it. Ingest their handoff blocks
into the right section, show a diff, write on OK:

- **grill** → sharpened §G + §C
- **research** → §R rows (add the §R section if absent)
- **review** → drafted §V lines + the risk verdict
- **deepen** → §I/§V/§T amendments

⊥ rewrite a section the handoff did not name. Sectioned ownership (see FORMAT.md).

## NEW — idea → spec

Input: user idea. If it arrived fuzzy, prefer running **grill** first.

Steps:
1. Extract goal (1 line, caveman). → §G.
2. List constraints user stated or implied. → §C.
3. List external surfaces user named. → §I.
4. §R only if **research** ran — else omit the section (right-size).
5. Propose initial invariants. → §V (numbered V1…).
6. Break goal into ordered tasks. → §T pipe table, all status `.`, ids T1…
7. §B section with header row only (`id|date|cause|fix`).

Write to `SPEC.md`. Show user full file. Ask: "spec OK? `/review` if high-blast-radius, else `/build`."

## DISTILL — code → spec

Walk repo. Produce §G (infer from README/package.json/main entry), §C (infer from stack), §I (enumerate public APIs/CLIs/configs), §V (derive from tests and assertions), §T (one task per known TODO or missing test), §B (empty).

Caveman everywhere. Flag uncertain items with `?` in text so user can confirm.

## BACKPROP — bug → §B + §V

Input: `bug: <description>`.

Steps:
1. Parse bug description.
2. Find root cause (read relevant code).
3. Decide: would a new invariant catch recurrence? If yes → draft `V<next>`.
4. Append §B row: `B<next>|<date>|<cause>|V<N>`.
5. Append new invariant to §V.
6. If fix also changes behavior → add/update §T rows.
7. Show diff. Apply only on user OK.

Rule: every bug gets a §B entry. Invariant optional but preferred.

## AMEND — targeted edit

Input: `amend §V.3` or `amend §T` etc.

Read that section. Show current. Ask user what changes. Write. Show diff.

Never silently rewrite sections user did not name.

## OUTPUT RULES

- Caveman format per `FORMAT.md`.
- Preserve identifiers, paths, code verbatim.
- Numbering monotonic — never reuse §V.N or §B.N.
- §T row `cites` column ! list §V/§I deps: `T5|.|impl auth mw|V2,I.api`.

## NON-GOALS

- No sub-agents. Main thread writes.
- No dashboards, no logs, no state files beyond SPEC.md itself.
- No auto-build after spec. User invokes build explicitly.