MCAF: Feature Spec

Trigger On

• add or change non-trivial behaviour
• behaviour is under-specified and engineers are guessing
• tests need a stable behavioural source of truth

Value

• produce a concrete project delta: code, docs, config, tests, CI, or review artifact
• reduce ambiguity through explicit planning, verification, and final validation skills
• leave reusable project context so future tasks are faster and safer

Do Not Use For

• architecture decisions that need alternatives and trade-offs
• tiny typo or cosmetic-only changes with no behavioural impact

Inputs

• docs/Architecture.md
• the nearest AGENTS.md
• current user flows, business rules, and acceptance expectations
• the MCAF-ARCH-001 canonical slice name and in-repository backend/frontend/contracts/tests/docs paths
• the MCAF-REQ-001 requirement, acceptance, ADR, task, test, and evidence traceability contract

Quick Start

1. Read the nearest AGENTS.md and confirm scope and constraints.
2. Run this skill's Workflow through the Ralph Loop until outcomes are acceptable.
3. Return the Required Result Format with concrete artifacts and verification evidence.

Workflow

1. Define scope first: in scope, out of scope, boundaries touched.
2. Confirm MCAF-ARCH-001: choose one canonical slice name and map every applicable backend, frontend, contract, test, infrastructure, and documentation path inside this repository. Mark a non-applicable surface N/A with a reason.
3. Read references/requirements-adr-traceability.md and apply MCAF-REQ-001 before implementation.
4. If the feature doc is missing, scaffold from references/feature-template.md.
5. Keep the spec executable:

- stable REQ- requirements with type, priority, rationale, pass, and fail conditions - stable AC- acceptance criteria mapped to requirements - an explicit ADR link or N/A with a concrete reason - main flow - edge and failure flows - system behaviour - verification steps - Definition of Done

1. For non-trivial implementation, define the MCAF-AI-001 task graph: role/model tier, exact read/write ownership, requirements, dependencies, artifacts, verification, completion state, and join condition.
2. Maintain the traceability matrix from every REQ- through AC-, ADR, TASK-*, automated test, and evidence.
3. Make the spec concrete enough that tests and worker instruction packets can be written without guessing.
4. Create or update an ADR before implementation when boundaries, public contracts, data, dependencies, security, deployment, or cross-cutting standards change.

Deliver

• docs/Features/feature-name.md
• a feature spec that engineers and agents can implement directly

Validate

• rules are testable, not aspirational
• edge cases are captured where they matter
• verification steps match the intended behaviour
• the doc can drive implementation without hidden tribal knowledge
• the feature stays within one repository-wide slice and uses the same canonical name and structure across all applicable surfaces
• every requirement is traceable to acceptance criteria, ADR decision, implementation task, test, and evidence
• every required ADR contains an implementation contract and its status matches reality
• non-trivial multi-agent work records model tiers, disjoint ownership, dependencies, completion states, waiting, and final lead review

Ralph Loop

Use the Ralph Loop for every task, including docs, architecture, testing, and tooling work.

1. Brainstorm first (mandatory):

- analyze current state - define the problem, target outcome, constraints, and risks - generate options and think through trade-offs before committing - capture the recommended direction and open questions

1. Plan second (mandatory):

- write a detailed execution plan from the chosen direction - list final validation skills to run at the end, with order and reason

1. Execute one planned step and produce a concrete delta.
2. Review the result and capture findings with actionable next fixes.
3. Apply fixes in small batches and rerun the relevant checks or review steps.
4. Update the plan after each iteration.
5. Repeat until outcomes are acceptable or only explicit exceptions remain.
6. If a dependency is missing, bootstrap it or return status: not_applicable with explicit reason and fallback path.

Required Result Format

• status: complete | clean | improved | configured | not_applicable | blocked
• plan: concise plan and current iteration step
• actions_taken: concrete changes made
• validation_skills: final skills run, or skipped with reasons
• verification: commands, checks, or review evidence summary
• remaining: top unresolved items or none

For setup-only requests with no execution, return status: configured and exact next commands.

Load References

• read references/requirements-adr-traceability.md first for every non-trivial feature
• use references/feature-template.md for scaffolding

Example Requests

• "Write a feature spec for the new checkout retry flow."
• "Document the behaviour before coding this API change."
• "Turn this loose requirement into an executable feature doc."