---
title: Turn a rough idea into a spec
description: Start every feature with a specification your agent can check its work against.
url: https://openplanr.dev/docs/prompts/spec-from-idea
updated: 2026-10-06
related:
  - https://openplanr.dev/docs/prompts/clarify-acceptance-criteria.md
  - https://openplanr.dev/docs/prompts/audit-plan-drift.md
  - https://openplanr.dev/docs/prompts/pick-the-sprint.md
---

# Turn a rough idea into a spec

Start every feature with a specification your agent can check its work against.

## Prompt

Claude Code:

```text
/spec add passwordless sign-in for existing accounts. Users drop off at the password step.
```

If /spec runs another command, use /planr:spec.

Codex:

```text
$spec add passwordless sign-in for existing accounts. Users drop off at the password step.
```

With the OpenPlanr plugin for Codex, use $planr:spec.

Cursor:

```text
@planr-spec add passwordless sign-in for existing accounts. Users drop off at the password step.
```

Cursor applies the planr-spec rule when you mention it in chat.

Parts to fill in, shown with their example text:

- The change you want: add passwordless sign-in for existing accounts
- The problem it solves: Users drop off at the password step.

## Why this works

Name the change and the problem it solves. The skill reads your repository for the rest, and when a missing decision would change the scope, it asks at most 3 short questions at a time. Requirements and acceptance criteria come out observable, so the work can be checked against them.

## Make it stick

[Write your first spec](https://openplanr.dev/docs/get-started/first-spec.md)