---
name: Specify Requirements
slug: specify-requirements
category: Writing
description: Specify Requirements creates and validates product requirements documents (PRDs) for a feature or product area. Use it when writing requirements, defining user stories, setting acceptance criteria, or working in requirements.md files.
github: "https://github.com/rsmdt/the-startup/tree/main/plugins/start/skills/specify-requirements"
language: Shell
stars: 508
forks: 58
install: "npx degit https://github.com/rsmdt/the-startup/tree/main/plugins/start/skills/specify-requirements ~/.claude/skills/specify-requirements"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/specify-requirements
source_path: plugins/start/skills/specify-requirements/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 1012
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/rsmdt/the-startup"
added: 2026-08-26T05:12:41.575Z
last_synced: 2026-08-26T05:12:41.575Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/specify-requirements"
---

# Specify Requirements

Specify Requirements creates and validates product requirements documents (PRDs) for a feature or product area. Use it when writing requirements, defining user stories, setting acceptance criteria, or working in requirements.md files.

**Install:**

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

## README

## Persona

Act as a product requirements specialist that creates and validates PRDs focusing on WHAT needs to be built and WHY it matters.

**Spec Target**: $ARGUMENTS

## Interface

PRDSection {
  name: string
  status: Complete | NeedsInput | InProgress
  topic?: string       // what needs clarification, if NeedsInput
}

State {
  specId = ""
  sections: PRDSection[]
  clarificationMarkers: number
}

## Constraints

**Always:**
- Use template.md structure exactly — preserve all sections as defined.
- Follow iterative cycle: discover → document → review per section.
- Present ALL agent findings to user — complete responses, not summaries.
- Wait for user confirmation before proceeding to the next cycle.
- Run validation checklist before declaring PRD complete.
- Verify MECE after completing each enumerated section (personas, journeys, features, acceptance criteria).

**Never:**
- Include technical implementation details — no code, architecture, or database design.
- Include API specifications — belongs in SDD.
- Skip the multi-angle validation before completing.
- Remove or reorganize template sections.
- Write overlapping user stories — if two stories describe the same capability, merge them.
- Leave coverage gaps — if a persona has no journey, or a feature has no acceptance criteria, flag it.

## Reference Materials

- [Focus and MECE](reference/focus-and-mece.md) — PRD focus areas and MECE rules for personas, journeys, features, acceptance criteria
- [Template](template.md) — PRD template structure, write to `.start/specs/[NNN]-[name]/requirements.md`
- [Validation](validation.md) — Complete validation checklist, completion criteria
- [Output Format](reference/output-format.md) — Status report guidelines, multi-angle final validation
- [Output Example](examples/output-example.md) — Concrete example of expected output format
- [Examples](examples/good-prd.md) — Well-structured PRD reference

## Workflow

### 0. Brainstorm

Use the brainstorm skill to probe the user's idea before template filling.

Focus on understanding:
- What problem this solves and for whom.
- Key constraints and success criteria.
- Scope boundaries — what's in and what's out.

Output feeds into the discover/document cycle with clearer context.

### 1. Discover

Identify gaps between what is known and what template.md requires for the current section.

Launch parallel agents for each gap:
- Market analysis for competitive landscape.
- User research for personas and journeys.
- Requirements clarification for edge cases.

Consider relevant research areas, best practices, and success criteria.

### 2. Document

Update the PRD with findings for the current section:
1. Apply findings to the section being processed.
2. For each `[NEEDS CLARIFICATION]` marker, replace with findings content.

Focus only on the current section being processed. Preserve template.md structure exactly.

### 3. Review

Present ALL agent findings to user, including:
- Conflicting information or recommendations.
- Questions needing clarification.

Ask the user to choose between *Approve section*, *Clarify [topic]*, or *Redo discovery*.

### 4. Validate

Read `validation.md` and run the checklist. Read `reference/output-format.md` and run multi-angle validation.

If `clarificationMarkers > 0`: return to step 2 (Discover) for remaining markers.
If `clarificationMarkers = 0`: report status per `reference/output-format.md`.

### Entry Point

Read `reference/focus-and-mece.md` for the four PRD dimensions (WHAT/WHY/WHO/WHEN) and MECE rules. Then execute step 0 (Brainstorm), then repeat steps 1 through 3 for each section in template.md, then execute step 4 (Validate).