github/spec-kit
Official💫 Toolkit to help you get started with Spec-Driven Development
GitHub Spec Kit is an open-source toolkit by GitHub that brings spec-driven development to AI coding agents, with slash commands for constitution, specify, plan, tasks, and implement. If you want a structured way to ship features with Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex, this is the framework.
Our Review
GitHub Spec Kit is an open-source toolkit from GitHub itself -- 101,000 stars and 8,900 forks as of May 2026. Released August 2025 under the MIT license and installed as a Python CLI named specify, it brings spec-driven development to 30+ AI coding agents via a standard set of slash commands.
What Spec Kit does:
- •5-stage SDD workflow
/speckit.constitutionsets project principles,/speckit.specifydescribes what to build,/speckit.planadds the tech stack,/speckit.tasksbreaks work into steps,/speckit.implementexecutes. - •30+ AI agent integrations works with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, and many more from a single install.
- •Specifications as executable artifacts instead of throwaway docs, specs directly drive implementation through your agent's natural slash command interface.
- •Constitution layer project-wide development principles (code quality, testing standards, performance budgets) that govern all subsequent phases.
- •Skills mode for Codex pass
--integration codex --integration-options=--skillsto install as Codex skills instead of slash commands. - •Community ecosystem extensions add new commands and hooks, presets override templates and terminology, walkthroughs show real workflows.
- •MIT licensed truly open source with no commercial restrictions.
Spec Kit ecosystem:
- •Specify CLI the entry point, installed with
uv tool install specify-cli, scaffolds projects and manages integrations. - •Community extensions third-party commands and hooks listed in the Community Extensions catalog.
- •Community presets customize Spec Kit behavior without modifying the tooling.
- •GitHub Pages docs live documentation site at github.github.io/spec-kit/.
Getting started:
Install the Specify CLI: uv tool install specify-cli --from git+https://github.com/github/spec-kit.git@v0.8.11. Initialize a project: specify init my-project --integration copilot. Then run /speckit.constitution, /speckit.specify, /speckit.plan, /speckit.tasks, /speckit.implement inside your AI coding agent. Full docs at github.github.io/spec-kit.
Limitations:
Requires the uv Python tool to install Specify CLI, so teams that prohibit pip/uv installs cannot use it directly. Spec-driven development is a methodology, not automation -- the quality of your spec still determines the quality of the AI's output. The slash commands only work inside supported AI coding agents; standalone CLI use without an agent is not the intended workflow. Some integrations expose Spec Kit as skills (Codex) rather than slash commands, so the exact invocation varies by agent.
Our Verdict
GitHub Spec Kit in 2026 is the default way to bring discipline to AI coding agent workflows. 101,000 GitHub stars, MIT license, 30+ agent integrations, and a clear 5-stage process from constitution to implementation.
For Vibe Builders, Spec Kit gives a structured path through AI-driven development that does not require a deep programming background. The slash commands prompt the agent to handle the technical work; you provide the what and why. Pair it with Claude Code or Cursor and you have an opinionated workflow for shipping working software.
For Developers, the value is consistency across teams using different AI agents. The same /speckit.specify and /speckit.plan workflow works whether the team is on Codex, Copilot, Gemini CLI, or Windsurf. Constitution files codify principles like testing standards and code quality so each project starts with the same baseline.
Skip Spec Kit if you prefer to drive AI agents directly with ad-hoc prompts -- the structured workflow has real overhead. Skip if your team cannot install the uv Python tool. Skip if you want a fully visual no-code AI app builder; Spec Kit is opinionated about working in your agent's chat interface, not a web UI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GitHub Spec Kit?
GitHub Spec Kit is an open-source toolkit from GitHub that brings spec-driven development to AI coding agents. It installs the Specify CLI and gives you five slash commands: /speckit.constitution, /speckit.specify, /speckit.plan, /speckit.tasks, and /speckit.implement. As of May 2026 it has 101,000 GitHub stars and is MIT licensed.
What is spec-driven development?
Spec-driven development treats specifications as executable artifacts rather than throwaway docs. You describe what to build in /speckit.specify, add the tech stack in /speckit.plan, break it into tasks, then implement. The spec directly drives the AI agent's implementation rather than just guiding it informally during a chat session.
Which AI coding agents work with Spec Kit?
Spec Kit officially supports 30+ AI coding agents in 2026, including Claude Code, Cursor, OpenAI Codex CLI, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and Windsurf. The slash commands install as /speckit.* commands in most agents; Codex CLI in skills mode uses $speckit-* invocation. Run specify integration list to see all installed integrations.
How do I install Spec Kit?
Install Spec Kit using the uv Python package manager. Run uv tool install specify-cli --from git+https://github.com/github/spec-kit.git@v0.8.11 to install the latest version. Then initialize a project with specify init my-project --integration copilot. Replace copilot with your preferred AI coding agent name.
Is GitHub Spec Kit free?
Yes. Spec Kit is open source under the MIT license, the most permissive open-source license. There is no commercial restriction on use, modification, or redistribution. The repository is maintained directly by GitHub and accepts community contributions through extensions, presets, and walkthroughs documented on the project site.
What is spec-kit?
GitHub Spec Kit is an open-source toolkit by GitHub that brings spec-driven development to AI coding agents, with slash commands for constitution, specify, plan, tasks, and implement. If you want a structured way to ship features with Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex, this is the framework.
What license does spec-kit use?
spec-kit uses the MIT license.
What are alternatives to spec-kit?
Explore related tools and alternatives on My AI Guide.
Open source & community-verified
MIT licensed: free to use in any project, no strings attached. 104,036 developers have starred this, meaning the community has reviewed and trusted it.
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