Spec-Driven Development in React Native: an MVP that lists the world's earthquakes, specified before writing code
A coding agent can already write a working app in an afternoon. The problem is no longer producing the code; it is something else: without a specification the agent doesn't write worse code, it writes excellent code for the wrong problem. Every question you didn't answer, it answers with a reasonable default, and you find out weeks later. Spec-Driven Development (SDD) attacks exactly that: write…
Spec-Driven Development (SDD) is a methodology that separates three key artifacts: the specification (what and why), the technical plan (how), and the tasks (verifiable units of work). In the context of a React Native MVP for listing recent earthquakes globally, SDD ensures ambiguities are identified and resolved in writing before the code is written.
The specification outlines the desired functionality and the reasoning behind it, while the technical plan specifies the chosen technologies and architecture without re-introducing product decisions. Acceptance criteria are documented as a table of cases, and anything not covered in the table is considered undefined behavior. Unlike prompts that disappear after execution, a specification is a version-controlled document that persists beyond the agent session, providing a clear reference for future iterations.
SDD divides the development process into distinct levels of abstraction, ensuring each artifact addresses its specific concerns. By maintaining separation between the specification and implementation details, developers can switch stacks or alter thresholds without rewriting the specification. Tools like GitHub's Spec Kit facilitate this workflow by generating the necessary artifacts and enforcing discipline throughout the process.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
