Spec-DrivenMaturity: Emerging
Guided Coding (Archived Specs / ADR)
Write a guide for the change, then file it away as a record.
1 min read
What it is
Guided Coding keeps the plan, the limits, and the review rules visible. You write the guide before the code. The guide tells the agent what to do and what not to do.
Why it matters
This keeps the human in control. It also makes review easier, because you compare the code against the guide instead of against memory.
1
Write the guide
State the goal and the limits.
2
Agent implements
Work inside those limits.
3
Review and merge
Check the change against the guide.
4
Archive the record
Keep the reason, not the draft.
Guided Coding in three minimal steps
Guide first, implementation second, decision record last.
Step 1/3
Step 1 — Write a focused guide
Define goal and constraints before coding.
record ChangeGuide(
String goal,
List<String> constraints,
List<String> outOfScope) {}The guide sets clear boundaries for the agent.