Specs Workflow

Specs Workflow

kingkongshot

Guides AI assistants through a structured software development workflow (Requirements → Design → Tasks) with progress tracking and document generation. Uses OpenAPI specifications as templates to ensure systematic project documentation.

Guides users through structured software project documentation phases with automated document generation, progress tracking, and workflow state management using OpenAPI specifications as templates.

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What it does

  • Initialize structured software project workflows
  • Generate requirements, design, and task documents
  • Track project progress across development phases
  • Resume workflows from previous sessions
  • Complete tasks individually or in batches
  • Validate workflow state and phase transitions

Best for

Software developers planning new projectsTeams needing systematic development documentationAI-assisted coding projects requiring structureProjects requiring traceability from requirements to code
Persistent progress across conversationsPrevents AI from jumping randomly between tasksComplete traceability from user stories to implementation

About Specs Workflow

Specs Workflow is a community-built MCP server published by kingkongshot that provides AI assistants with tools and capabilities via the Model Context Protocol. Streamline project docs with Specs Workflow: automate software project plan templates, tracking, and OpenAPI-driven prog It is categorized under developer tools, productivity. This server exposes 1 tool that AI clients can invoke during conversations and coding sessions.

How to install

You can install Specs Workflow in your AI client of choice. Use the install panel on this page to get one-click setup for Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients. This server runs locally on your machine via the stdio transport.

License

Specs Workflow is released under the MIT license. This is a permissive open-source license, meaning you can freely use, modify, and distribute the software.

Tools (1)

specs-workflow

Manage intelligent writing workflow for software project requirements, design, and task documents. Supports initialization, checking, skipping, confirmation, and task completion operations (single or batch).

Spec Workflow MCP

npm version License: MIT MCP

English | 简体中文

Guide AI to systematically complete software development through a structured Requirements → Design → Tasks workflow, ensuring code implementation stays aligned with business needs.

Why Use It?

❌ Without Spec Workflow

  • AI jumps randomly between tasks, lacking systematic approach
  • Requirements disconnect from actual code implementation
  • Scattered documentation, difficult to track project progress
  • Missing design decision records

✅ With Spec Workflow

  • AI completes tasks sequentially, maintaining focus and context
  • Complete traceability from user stories to code implementation
  • Standardized document templates with automatic progress management
  • Each stage requires confirmation, ensuring correct direction
  • Persistent progress: Continue from where you left off with check, even in new conversations

Recent Updates

v1.0.7

  • 🎯 Improved reliability for most models to manage tasks with spec workflow

v1.0.6

  • ✨ Batch task completion: Complete multiple tasks at once for faster progress on large projects

v1.0.5

  • 🐛 Edge case fixes: Distinguish between "task not found" and "task already completed" to prevent workflow interruption

v1.0.4

  • ✅ Task management: Added task completion tracking for systematic project progression

v1.0.3

  • 🎉 Initial release: Core workflow framework for Requirements → Design → Tasks

Quick Start

1. Install (Claude Code Example)

claude mcp add spec-workflow-mcp -s user -- npx -y spec-workflow-mcp@latest

See full installation guide for other clients.

2. Start a New Project

"Help me use spec workflow to create a user authentication system"

3. Continue Existing Project

"Use spec workflow to check ./my-project"

The AI will automatically detect project status and continue from where it left off.

Workflow Example

1. You describe requirements

You: "I need to build a user authentication system"

2. AI creates structured documents

AI: "I'll help you create spec workflow for user authentication..."

📝 requirements.md - User stories and functional requirements
🎨 design.md - Technical architecture and design decisions
✅ tasks.md - Concrete implementation task list

3. Review and implement step by step

After each stage, the AI requests your confirmation before proceeding, ensuring the project stays on the right track.

Document Organization

Basic Structure

my-project/specs/
├── requirements.md              # Requirements: user stories, functional specs
├── design.md                    # Design: architecture, APIs, data models
├── tasks.md                     # Tasks: numbered implementation steps
└── .workflow-confirmations.json # Status: automatic progress tracking

Multi-module Projects

my-project/specs/
├── user-authentication/         # Auth module
├── payment-system/             # Payment module
└── notification-service/       # Notification module

You can specify any directory: "Use spec workflow to create auth docs in ./src/features/auth"

AI Usage Guide

🤖 Make AI Use This Tool Better

Strongly recommended to add the following prompt to your AI assistant configuration. Without it, AI may:

  • ❌ Not know when to invoke Spec Workflow
  • ❌ Forget to manage task progress, causing disorganized work
  • ❌ Not utilize Spec Workflow for systematic documentation
  • ❌ Unable to continuously track project status

With this configuration, AI will intelligently use Spec Workflow to manage the entire development process.

Configuration Note: Please modify the following based on your needs:

  1. Change ./specs to your preferred documentation directory path
  2. Change "English" to your preferred documentation language (e.g., "Chinese")
# Spec Workflow Usage Guidelines

## 1. Check Project Progress
When user mentions continuing previous project or is unsure about current progress, proactively use:
specs-workflow tool with action.type="check" and path="./specs"

## 2. Documentation Language
All spec workflow documents should be written in English consistently, including all content in requirements, design, and task documents.

## 3. Documentation Directory
All spec workflow documents should be placed in ./specs directory to maintain consistent project documentation organization.

## 4. Task Management
Always use the following to manage task progress:
specs-workflow tool with action.type="complete_task" and taskNumber="current task number"
Follow the workflow guidance to continue working until all tasks are completed.

## 5. Best Practices
- Proactive progress check: When user says "continue from last time", first use check to see current status
- Language consistency: Use the same language throughout all project documents
- Flexible structure: Choose single-module or multi-module organization based on project scale
- Task granularity: Each task should be completable within 1-2 hours

Installation

📦 Installation Instructions

Requirements

  • Node.js ≥ v18.0.0
  • npm or yarn
  • Claude Desktop or any MCP-compatible client

Install in Different MCP Clients

Claude Code (Recommended)

Use the Claude CLI to add the MCP server:

claude mcp add spec-workflow-mcp -s user -- npx -y spec-workflow-mcp@latest

Claude Desktop

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration:

  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "spec-workflow": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "spec-workflow-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Add to your Cursor configuration (~/.cursor/config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "spec-workflow": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "spec-workflow-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Cline

Use Cline's MCP server management UI to add the server:

  1. Open VS Code with Cline extension
  2. Open Cline settings (gear icon)
  3. Navigate to MCP Servers section
  4. Add new server with:
    • Command: npx
    • Arguments: -y spec-workflow-mcp@latest

Windsurf (Codeium)

Add to your Windsurf configuration (~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "spec-workflow": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "spec-workflow-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {},
      "autoApprove": [],
      "disabled": false,
      "timeout": 60,
      "transportType": "stdio"
    }
  }
}

VS Code (with MCP extension)

Add to your VS Code settings (settings.json):

{
  "mcp.servers": {
    "spec-workflow": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "spec-workflow-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Zed

Add to your Zed configuration (~/.config/zed/settings.json):

{
  "assistant": {
    "version": "2",
    "mcp": {
      "servers": {
        "spec-workflow": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "spec-workflow-mcp@latest"]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Install from Source

git clone https://github.com/kingkongshot/specs-mcp.git
cd specs-mcp
npm install
npm run build

Then add to Claude Desktop configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "spec-workflow": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/specs-mcp/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Links

License

MIT License


Spec Workflow MCP server

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