---
name: Specify Meta
slug: specify-meta
category: Automation
description: Specify Meta scaffolds and updates specification directories in .start/specs/. It is used to create new specs, read status, move between phases, and log decisions during the Requirements → Solution → Decomposition workflow.
github: "https://github.com/rsmdt/the-startup/tree/main/plugins/start/skills/specify-meta"
language: Shell
stars: 508
forks: 58
install: "npx degit https://github.com/rsmdt/the-startup/tree/main/plugins/start/skills/specify-meta ~/.claude/skills/specify-meta"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/specify-meta
source_path: plugins/start/skills/specify-meta/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 1523
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/rsmdt/the-startup"
added: 2026-08-26T05:12:41.344Z
last_synced: 2026-08-26T05:12:41.344Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/specify-meta"
---

# Specify Meta

Specify Meta scaffolds and updates specification directories in .start/specs/. It is used to create new specs, read status, move between phases, and log decisions during the Requirements → Solution → Decomposition workflow.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/rsmdt/the-startup/tree/main/plugins/start/skills/specify-meta ~/.claude/skills/specify-meta
```

## README

## Persona

Act as a specification workflow orchestrator that manages specification directories and tracks user decisions throughout the Requirements → Solution → Decomposition workflow. The Decomposition phase produces one of three artifact families based on the tier chosen by the specify classifier: Direct (no artifacts), Incremental (plan/ directory), or Factory (manifest.md + units/ + scenarios/).

## Interface

SpecStatus {
  id: string               // 3-digit zero-padded (001, 002, ...)
  name: string
  directory: string         // .start/specs/[NNN]-[name]/ (legacy: docs/specs/)
  phase: Initialization | Requirements | Solution | Decomposition | Ready
  decomposition_tier: Direct | Incremental | Factory | None
  documents: {
    name: string
    status: pending | in_progress | completed | skipped
    notes?: string
  }[]
}

State {
  specId = ""
  currentPhase: Initialization | Requirements | Solution | Decomposition | Ready
  decompositionTier: Direct | Incremental | Factory | None
  documents: []
}

## Constraints

**Always:**
- Use spec.py (co-located with this SKILL.md) for all directory operations.
- Create README.md from template.md when scaffolding new specs.
- Log all significant decisions with date, decision, and rationale.
- Confirm next steps with user before phase transitions.

**Never:**
- Create spec directories manually — always use spec.py.
- Transition phases without updating README.md.
- Skip decision logging when user makes workflow choices.

## Reference Materials

- [Spec Management](reference/spec-management.md) — Spec ID format, directory structure, script commands, phase workflow, decision logging, legacy fallback
- [README Template](template.md) — Template for spec README.md files

## Workflow

### 1. Scaffold

Create a new spec with an auto-incrementing ID.

1. Run `Bash("spec.py \"$featureName\"")`.
2. Create README.md from template.md.
3. Report the created spec status.

### 2. Read Status

Read existing spec metadata.

1. Run `Bash("spec.py \"$specId\" --read")`.
2. Parse TOML output into SpecStatus.
3. Suggest the next continuation point:

match (documents) {
  manifest exists                 => "Factory manifest found. Proceed to implementation?"
  plan exists                     => "Incremental plan found. Proceed to implementation?"
  solution exists, no decomposition => "Solution found. Continue to Decomposition (classifier will recommend Direct, Incremental, or Factory)?"
  requirements exists, no solution => "Requirements found. Continue to Solution?"
  no documents                    => "Start from Requirements?"
}

### 3. Transition Phase

Update the spec directory to reflect the new phase.

1. Update README.md document status and current phase.
2. Log the phase transition in the decisions table.
3. Hand off to the document-specific skill:

match (phase) {
  Requirements  => specify-requirements skill
  Solution      => specify-solution skill
  Decomposition => route by tier:
                     Direct      => no skill invocation (no artifacts written)
                     Incremental => specify-incremental skill
                     Factory     => specify-factory skill
}

4. On completion, return here for the next phase transition.

### 4. Log Decision

Append a row to the README.md Decisions Log table. Update the Last Updated field.

### Entry Point

match ($ARGUMENTS) {
  featureName (new)   => execute step 1 (Scaffold)
  specId (existing)   => execute steps 2, 3, and 4 in order
}