Universal Spec Sections

The 8 sections present in every strong specification document regardless of type. Missing any of these is the most common cause of specification failures and stakeholder misalignment.

Syntax

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1. Purpose and Scope
   - What is this document for
   - What it covers
   - What is OUT OF SCOPE (explicit)

2. Stakeholders and Audiences
   - Primary readers
   - Decision makers

3. Assumptions and Constraints
   - What must be true
   - Technical, budget, timeline, compliance limits

4. Requirements
   - Must-Have (P0)
   - Should-Have (P1)
   - Nice-to-Have (P2)

5. Open Questions and Decisions Pending
   - With owner and due date

6. Success and Acceptance Criteria
   - Measurable outcomes

7. Risks and Mitigations
   - Likelihood, impact, mitigation, contingency

8. Version History and Approvals

Example

claude-documentation

// Spec audit prompt
Review this specification against the 8 required sections:
Purpose & Scope, Stakeholders, Assumptions & Constraints,
Requirements, Open Questions, Success Criteria, Risks, Version History.
For each section: is it present, complete, and clear?
List all gaps as specific, actionable improvements.