What Does 'Spec-First' Mean?

[ SLANG ][ AI CODING ][ MACHINE CULTURE ]

FORCE: Machine CultureUNIVERSE: Vibe CodingCLUSTER: coding_workflow

An engineering approach where writing the specification is treated as the primary act of software design, with code generation — whether by AI or by hand — following as a downstream, largely mechanical step.

REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE

"We're spec-first now, code review is basically just checking it matches the doc."

LORE & ORIGIN

Companion framing to Spec-Driven Development, naming the mindset shift specifically: the spec is the design artifact worth deliberating over, not the code it produces.

FIRST SEEN

2025

PEAK POPULARITY

2026 (AI Coding)

CURRENT STATUS

Mainstream Gen Alpha Slang

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EQUIVALENT CONCEPTS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

中文 zh-CN规格优先 →日本語 ja-JPno fixed local term →한국어 ko-KRno fixed local term →Español es-ESno fixed local term →Português pt-BRno fixed local term →Français fr-FRno fixed local term →

AURA IMPACT ⓘ

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