Why spec-driven development could be the future of app creation

At its core, Spec-Driven Development treats the specification (the document that defines what a system should do) as the foundation for everything that follows. But unlike traditional specs that quickly go stale or get forgotten after sprint planning, these are living, executable documents. They’re written in a way that AI tools can read, understand, and even act upon, generating the foundations of your app directly from your intentions.

Tools like Kiro, Amazon’s AI-powered IDE, and Specify, a command-line tool built around the same principles, are making this idea feel genuinely achievable. Instead of relying on vague user stories or hastily scribbled notes, developers can now capture detailed requirements, define architectural principles, and generate task lists that flow naturally into implementation. This doesn't just result in better organisation, it’s a shared understanding between human developers and the AI systems that increasingly support them.

To understand what Spec-Driven Development looks like beyond the theory, it’s worth looking at how others are beginning to use it in practice. One of the early adopters experimenting with this approach recently tested Kiro, Amazon’s AI-powered IDE built around an SDD workflow, on a live feature within the Umbraco Commerce codebase.

The feature itself (capturing a refund reason when an order or part of an order is refunded) wasn’t revolutionary, but the process behind it was. Kiro guided the developer through creating steering documents that set the scene for what the feature needed to achieve. From there, it built out requirements, feature designs, and a task list that stayed synchronised throughout the project.

Within around half an hour, a complete specification was created, followed by an implementation phase that took less than an hour, with the AI handling most of the heavy lifting. While the developer still needed to step in to clarify ambiguous requirements or make fine-tuned adjustments, the overall process was smoother, faster, and far more structured than a traditional “vibe coding” session.

What stood out most was how the spec became a central source of truth throughout development. Every decision is linked back to the defined goals, reducing the risk of misinterpretation or scope creep. Even when changes were made, the AI updated the relevant sections automatically, keeping the project aligned and traceable.

For us, that kind of consistency and clarity is exactly what makes Spec-Driven Development so exciting. It’s a glimpse of a future where AI doesn’t replace the developer’s intuition - it reinforces it, helping teams stay focused on the why behind every feature they build.

Every developer knows the temptation to dive straight into the code editor when inspiration strikes. That creative flow is exciting, but it can also be chaotic, especially on larger projects where clarity and collaboration are essential. Spec-Driven Development doesn’t take away that creative energy; it channels it.

By grounding the process in a well-defined spec, SDD helps teams maintain a clear direction while still allowing room for problem-solving and innovation. It ensures that everyone (from developers to project managers to stakeholders) is working from the same understanding of what the product needs to achieve and why. And because modern tools can now translate those specifications into actionable, AI-assisted outputs, the process becomes faster, more consistent, and less prone to human error.

It would be easy to call SDD a silver bullet, but like any emerging methodology, it has its challenges. The approach relies heavily on the clarity and completeness of the initial specification. If the requirements are vague or contradictory, the AI can only make its best guess, and that’s when human expertise steps in to course-correct.

That said, the advantages are clear. Teams adopting this approach report more consistent outcomes, stronger documentation, and better traceability when changes occur mid-project. It’s a methodology that encourages accountability without adding unnecessary bureaucracy. And for AI-assisted development, it’s a game-changer, giving these systems a structured understanding of what “done right” actually means.

At The Distance, we’ve always been drawn to technologies that combine structure with creativity. Spec-Driven Development feels like a natural next step in that journey, one that strengthens collaboration between developers, designers, and AI tools. It brings discipline to creativity and helps bridge the gap between intention and execution.

For businesses, this means faster delivery, clearer visibility, and fewer surprises along the way. For developers, it means less time chasing context and more time refining ideas that truly add value. And for us, as app developers in the UK, it represents a future where great apps are not just built efficiently, they’re built intelligently.

Our team is already exploring how AI and structured methodologies can make app creation smarter, faster, and more reliable.