SDLC in the AI Era with Spec-Driven Development

Short summary

The article argues that spec-driven development is essential in AI-assisted software delivery because AI can generate code quickly but cannot independently decide system intent or validate business rules. Specifications—OpenAPI contracts, domain rules, data schemas, and acceptance criteria—should remain authoritative throughout the lifecycle, serving as an engineering control plane that constrains and validates AI-generated output. The author outlines a practical flow where AI assists at every step but humans retain accountability for intent, risk acceptance, and trade-offs.

• •Spec-driven development keeps specifications authoritative throughout the AI-assisted SDLC
• •Specifications act as a control plane to constrain and validate AI-generated code
• •Humans remain accountable for intent and trade-offs; AI should not own approval boundaries

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.