The Three Development Phases
SDD supports three distinct development patterns, each with unique characteristics and workflows:0-to-1 (Greenfield)
Build new projects from initial concept to production-ready code
Brownfield Enhancement
Add features to existing codebases while maintaining architectural integrity
Parallel Implementations
Explore multiple tech stacks from a single specification
Greenfield Development (0-to-1)
Focus: Generate from scratchWhen to use
When to use
- Starting a new project with no existing code
- Building a proof-of-concept or MVP
- Creating a new microservice in a greenfield architecture
- Prototyping a product idea rapidly
- Start with high-level requirements and user stories
- Generate complete specifications with acceptance criteria
- Plan implementation steps and architecture from scratch
- Build production-ready applications with full test coverage
- New SaaS products (task management, analytics dashboards)
- CLI tools (deployment automation, data migration)
- Internal libraries (authentication, data validation)
Complete Walkthrough
Build a photo album organizer from zero to production
Brownfield Enhancement (Iterative)
Focus: Add features to existing systemsWhen to use
When to use
- Extending an existing application with new features
- Modernizing legacy systems incrementally
- Adapting existing processes to new requirements
- Refactoring while maintaining functionality
- Analyze existing architecture and constraints
- Create specifications that respect current design patterns
- Plan features that integrate seamlessly with existing code
- Modernize incrementally without breaking changes
- Adding OAuth2 login to an app with email/password auth
- Implementing a REST API for an existing CLI tool
- Creating a dashboard for a system with no UI
- Adding real-time updates to a polling-based application
Feature Addition Guide
Add real-time notifications to an existing task management system
Creative Exploration (Parallel Implementations)
Focus: Experiment with diverse solutionsWhen to use
When to use
- Evaluating different technology stacks for the same requirements
- Optimizing for different constraints (performance, cost, maintainability)
- Exploring UX patterns before committing to one
- Building platform-specific versions (web, mobile, desktop)
- Create a single, technology-agnostic specification
- Generate multiple implementation plans targeting different stacks
- Build parallel prototypes to compare approaches
- Validate the hypothesis that SDD transcends specific technologies
- Web dashboard: React vs. Vue vs. Svelte vs. vanilla JS
- API service: Python/FastAPI vs. Go/Gin vs. Rust/Axum
- Mobile app: React Native vs. Flutter vs. Swift/Kotlin native
- CLI tool: Python/Click vs. Go/Cobra vs. Rust/Clap
Multi-Stack Exploration
Implement the same chat feature in 3 different tech stacks
Choosing Your Path
Use this decision tree to select the right approach:No existing code
→ Greenfield DevelopmentStart with
/speckit.constitution to establish principles, then proceed through the full SDD workflow.Extending existing system
→ Brownfield EnhancementAnalyze current architecture first, then create specifications that integrate cleanly.
What You’ll Learn
Each tutorial demonstrates:Complete Command Flow
Every
/speckit.* command with real prompts and outputsDecision Points
When to clarify, when to iterate, when to regenerate
Quality Validation
Using checklists and analysis to ensure completeness
Common Pitfalls
Mistakes to avoid and how to recover from them
Tutorial Structure
Each example follows this format:- Scenario Setup: The problem you’re solving
- Step-by-Step Commands: Actual
/speckit.*commands with prompts - Generated Artifacts: What the AI produces at each step
- Validation Checkpoints: How to verify quality before proceeding
- Common Issues: Troubleshooting and iteration strategies
- Final Output: The complete working implementation
Before You Begin
Make sure you’ve completed:Installation
Install Spec Kit and configure your AI assistantInstallation Guide →
Quick Start
Complete the quick start to understand basic workflowQuick Start →
Core Concepts
Read about SDD philosophy and workflowCore Concepts →
Example Complexity
Recommended learning path:
- Start with Greenfield Development to learn the full workflow
- Then try Brownfield Enhancement to understand integration
- Finally explore Parallel Implementations for advanced patterns
| Tutorial | Complexity | Time | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield Project | Beginner | 30-45 min | Installation complete |
| Brownfield Enhancement | Intermediate | 45-60 min | Understand greenfield workflow |
| Parallel Implementations | Advanced | 60-90 min | Comfortable with SDD process |
Additional Resources
Command Reference
Detailed documentation for all
/speckit.* commandsTroubleshooting
Solutions to common issues and error messages
Templates
Understanding and customizing specification templates
Community Examples
More examples from the Spec Kit community
Next Steps
Greenfield Tutorial
Build a photo organizer from scratch
Brownfield Tutorial
Add notifications to existing system
Parallel Exploration
Compare multiple tech stacks