Scope
Turn ideas into specs that AI tools can execute and stakeholders can evaluate.
When to Use This Skill
- •Starting any new feature or product
- •Before hiring developers or estimating costs
- •When AI keeps building the wrong thing (unclear spec)
- •When stakeholders need to review scope and budget
Choose Your Approach
Quick Feature Spec (10-15 minutes)
- •Use for: Single features, iterations, additions
- •Give to: AI tools (Claude Code, Lovable, Replit) to build directly
- •See: QUICK-SPEC.md
Full Project Scope (1-2 hours)
- •Use for: New products, major releases, stakeholder review
- •Give to: Contractors, team members, budget planning
- •See: PROJECT-SCOPE.md
Quick Feature Spec Workflow
Use this checklist and complete each section:
Feature Spec Progress: - [ ] Write what users will do (2-3 sentences) - [ ] Show what it looks like (reference, screenshot, or description) - [ ] Define happy path (3-5 steps) - [ ] List edge cases (2-4 scenarios) - [ ] Specify out of scope items - [ ] Save to docs/specs/YYYY-MM-DD-feature-name.md
Section 1: What Users Will Do
Write 2-3 sentences describing user actions and outcomes.
Template:
Users can [ACTION] to [OUTCOME]. When they [DO THIS], they see [WHAT HAPPENS]. If [EDGE CASE], then [WHAT HAPPENS].
Example:
Users sign up with email/password, receive confirmation email, and log in to see their dashboard. They can reset forgotten passwords via email link.
Section 2: What It Looks Like
Pick ONE:
- •Reference app: "Login like Linear - minimal, centered, email/password/button"
- •Screenshot/sketch: Quick mockup or phone photo
- •Description: "Card 400px wide, 'Welcome' header Inter 24px, two inputs, blue button"
Section 3: Happy Path
List 3-5 steps users take to complete the task.
Section 4: Edge Cases
List 2-4 scenarios where things don't go as planned and what happens.
Format:
- **[Scenario]:** [Response shown to user]
Section 5: Out of Scope
Define what you're NOT building to prevent scope creep.
For complete template and examples, see QUICK-SPEC.md
Full Project Scope Workflow
Use this checklist for comprehensive project planning:
Project Scope Progress: - [ ] Write introduction (background, in/out of scope) - [ ] Define user roles - [ ] List all pages/screens - [ ] Describe core features - [ ] Identify integrations - [ ] Create milestones with hour estimates - [ ] Document assumptions and open questions - [ ] Save to docs/specs/YYYY-MM-DD-project-name.md
The 7 Required Sections
- •Introduction - Background, in scope, out of scope
- •User Roles - Each role's responsibilities
- •Pages & Screens - Every page with one-line purpose
- •Core Features - Outcome-focused capabilities
- •Integrations - External services with complexity/risk notes
- •Milestones & Tasks - Phases with hour estimates
- •Open Questions - Assumptions and unresolved decisions
For complete template and examples, see PROJECT-SCOPE.md
Using Your Spec With AI Tools
Claude Code / Cursor:
Build this feature: [paste Quick Feature Spec]
Lovable / Replit / Bolt:
- •Paste Quick Feature Spec as initial prompt
- •Break complex features into smaller chunks
- •Iterate: "Close, but error message should say X not Y"
Hiring contractors:
- •Send Full Project Scope
- •Ask: "What's unclear? What would you change?"
- •Get hour estimate and compare to yours
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Build a dashboard" | Describe what's ON dashboard and what each thing does |
| Describing HOW to code it | Describe WHAT it should do |
| Forgetting mobile | Add "Works on mobile" to every spec |
| Skipping edge cases | Define what happens when things break |
| No out-of-scope | Prevents scope creep |
When You're Stuck
"I don't know what I want yet"
- •Use competitor's product for 20 minutes
- •Screenshot 3 things you like
- •Write: "I want these 3 things, but simpler"
"AI keeps building the wrong thing"
- •Your spec is vague
- •Use templates in QUICK-SPEC.md or PROJECT-SCOPE.md
- •Fill in EVERY section
After Scoping
Save as: docs/specs/YYYY-MM-DD-feature-name.md
Then:
- •Quick Feature Spec → Give directly to AI tool
- •Full Project Scope → Review with stakeholders/contractors first
Success Looks Like
✅ AI builds it right first time (or very close)
✅ Contractors give realistic estimates without surprises
✅ Edge cases don't surprise you in production
✅ Stakeholders know exactly what they're getting