Spec-Driven Development as Prescribed and as Practiced
arXiv:2608.25202v4 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: AI coding agents implement software from naturallanguage instructions, but the intent behind that work is lost when stated only in chat sessions. Spec-driven development (SDD) addresses this by having developers and agents write specifications that guide implementation, yet evidence on its use comes largely from tool vendors. We study SDD in practice through a thematic analysis of Reddit discussions, interviews with 21 practitioners, inc…