---
slug: "Spec"
name: "Spec"
type: "Data Structures"
layer: "Infrastructure"
ref: "Spec#c953"
sema_id: "sema:Spec#mh:SHA-256:c9537551b2bfa2639c15270994fdbb5a52a41d098f499c5ed5d61945a7c50da7"
tags: ["Infrastructure","Data Structures"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json
url: https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/Spec/
related: ["Artifact","Constraint","Goal","Plan","AcceptSpec","Build","FrameSpec","MetamorphicTesting","SpecBinding","SpecIntentCheck","StyleSpec","Verification"]
---

# Spec

Rigorous requirement definition

Layer: Infrastructure · Category: Data Structures

## Mechanism

A rigorous definition of requirements for an [Artifact](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Artifact.md). It defines the shape, behavior, and [Constraint](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Constraint.md)s that a target must satisfy. Distinct from [Plan](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Plan.md) (how to build) or [Goal](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Goal.md) (what to achieve), a Spec is the 'Definition of Done'.

## Invariants

- Verifiability: Every requirement must be testable (binary pass/fail).
- Immutability: Once defined, the Spec acts as a fixed contract.

## Failure modes

—

## Data schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "description": "Schema for Spec",
  "properties": {
    "requirements": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string"
      },
      "description": "The testable requirements the target must satisfy. Required: a Spec with none defines nothing."
    },
    "constraints": {
      "type": "object"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "requirements"
  ]
}
```

## Builds on

- [Artifact](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Artifact.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Constraint](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Constraint.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Goal](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Goal.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Plan](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Plan.md) (Infrastructure; References)

## Used by

- [AcceptSpec](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/AcceptSpec.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Build](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Build.md) (Mind; Accepts)
- [FrameSpec](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/FrameSpec.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [MetamorphicTesting](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/MetamorphicTesting.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [SpecBinding](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/SpecBinding.md) (Mind; References)
- [SpecIntentCheck](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/SpecIntentCheck.md) (Mind; References)
- [StyleSpec](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/StyleSpec.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Verification](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Verification.md) (Mind; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Spec#mh:SHA-256:c9537551b2bfa2639c15270994fdbb5a52a41d098f499c5ed5d61945a7c50da7`
- Ref: `Spec#c953`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Spec#mh:SHA-256:436efd7df8ed376f693362923a024b4096265b9de32c7a980297b078112c75b5`
  - `sema:Spec#mh:SHA-256:47f45e3174d8a28edf9c685f6ee8356386cb30cf24d3ba82ddb0738c0c9391cb`
  - `sema:Spec#mh:SHA-256:16ecdeb3e4462a7aed4ab93d7f67dd4ace5b25249db1c8d2f0295fe62de3cd89`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/Spec/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/#Spec)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Spec.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json)