Features
SPECLAN is a VS Code extension for specification engineering. It gives you a layered, Git-native framework for turning ideas into traceable, machine-processable specifications — with AI agents that do the heavy lifting.
Layered Specifications
Structure requirements from business goals down to detailed requirements using a layered hierarchy: Goals, Features (with hierarchical Sub-Features), and Requirements. Features can nest to any depth, letting you decompose complex systems naturally. The hierarchy is flexible — start at any level and let AI fill in the rest.
G-001 Business Goal |- F-3012 Feature |- F-3013 Sub-Feature |- R-4821 Requirement |- R-4822 Requirement |- F-3014 Sub-FeatureGit-Native Workflow
Specifications live as Markdown files with YAML frontmatter, stored directly in your repository. Track changes with git diff, review specs in pull requests, branch for experiments, and merge when ready. No external database, no vendor lock-in, no syncing headaches. Your specs travel with your code — always in context, always versioned.
---id: R-4821type: requirementstatus: approvedparent: F-3012---# User AuthenticationThe system **shall** authenticateusers via OAuth 2.0 before grantingaccess to protected resources.AI-Powered Agents
Integrated Claude agents generate, refine, and validate specifications on your behalf. Describe a feature in a sentence and watch the agent produce a full requirement tree. Agents also detect gaps, suggest improvements, and flag inconsistencies. You stay in control — every suggestion is a proposal, never an override.
Generate specs for "user login"Created F-4010: User LoginCreated F-4011: OAuth 2.0 LoginCreated F-4012: Password ResetCreated R-7301: Authenticate via OAuthCreated R-7302: Handle invalid credentialsCreated R-7303: Lock after failed attemptsReview and approve? (y/n)VS Code Integration
A purpose-built extension with spec tree views, a WYSIWYG Markdown editor, status badges, and contextual actions. Create, navigate, and edit specifications without leaving your editor. Git status colors show which specs have changed, and the command palette gives you quick access to every operation. It feels like a native part of VS Code because it is.
Full Traceability
Trace any requirement back through sub-features, features, and business goals. Bidirectional links mean you can also start at a goal and see every requirement that implements it. Traceability reports surface orphaned specs and incomplete chains. Know exactly why every line of code exists — and prove it.
Status Lifecycle
Move specifications through a formal lifecycle: draft, review, approved, in-development, and released. Status transitions enforce rules — you cannot approve a spec that still has draft children. Locked specifications are protected from accidental edits. When you need to change an approved spec, create a change request that preserves the audit trail.
Ready to Get Started?
Install the SPECLAN extension from the VS Code Marketplace and start structuring your specifications today.