Tool Selection Guide

Overview

Choosing the right spec-driven development tool depends on your team's workflow preferences and integration needs. This guide helps you navigate the options.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Workflow Integration

How deeply does the tool integrate with your existing development workflow?

• Standalone CLI tools: Run independently (OpenSpec)
• GitHub-integrated: Native GitHub workflow (Spec Kit)
• All-in-one IDE: Integrated development environment (Kiro)

2. Source of Truth Model

How does the tool maintain specification truth?

• Unified specification: Single source of truth document (OpenSpec)
• Distributed specifications: Multiple spec files for different features (Spec Kit)
• Integrated specs: Specs embedded in IDE workspace (Kiro)

3. Team Size & Collaboration

• Individual developers: Any tool works; focus on personal workflow preferences
• Small teams (2-5): GitHub-integrated or CLI tools with git workflows
• Larger teams: Tools with robust collaboration features and code review integration

4. Learning Curve

• Low: Kiro (all-in-one IDE), Plan mode in existing AI assistants
• Medium: GitHub Spec Kit (if familiar with GitHub workflows)
• Higher: OpenSpec (requires understanding source of truth workflow)

Tool Comparison

OpenSpec

Best for: Teams wanting unified source of truth, brownfield projects, continuous validation

• ✅ Single unified specification document
• ✅ Delta-based change workflow
• ✅ Strong brownfield support
• ✅ Continuous spec-to-code validation
• ⚠️ Requires learning source of truth workflow

GitHub Spec Kit

Best for: GitHub-native teams, feature-by-feature specs, systems thinking

• ✅ Native GitHub integration
• ✅ Distributed spec model (spec per feature)
• ✅ Cross-feature analysis
• ✅ Familiar GitHub workflow
• ⚠️ Requires GitHub

Kiro

Best for: Teams wanting all-in-one experience, lower learning curve

• ✅ Integrated IDE experience
• ✅ Requirements, design, tasks in one place
• ✅ Lower learning curve
• ⚠️ Proprietary platform

Decision Framework

Start here:

1. Are you on GitHub? → Consider Spec Kit
2. Need unified source of truth? → Consider OpenSpec
3. Want all-in-one simplicity? → Consider Kiro
4. Just exploring SDD? → Try plan mode in your current AI assistant

Then ask:

• Do we need brownfield support?
• How important is continuous validation?
• What's our team's comfort with new tooling?

Learn More

• Which Spec-Driven Development Tool Should You Choose?

  Comprehensive comparison with detailed analysis of tools, criteria, and use cases.

• Spec-Driven Development: Growing List of Amazing Tools

  Comprehensive list of SDD tools including emerging options.