Update Spec – Capture Knowledge into Specifications

When you learn something valuable (from debugging, implementing, or discussion), use this command to update the relevant spec documents.

Timing: After completing a task, fixing a bug, or discovering a new pattern

When to Update Specs

Key Insight: Spec updates are NOT just for problems. Every feature implementation contains design decisions and project conventions that future AI/developers need to know.

Spec Structure Overview

.trellis/spec/
├── backend/           # Backend coding standards
│   ├── index.md       # Overview and links
│   └── *.md           # Topic-specific guidelines
├── frontend/          # Frontend coding standards
│   ├── index.md       # Overview and links
│   └── *.md           # Topic-specific guidelines
└── guides/            # Thinking checklists (NOT coding specs!)
    ├── index.md       # Guide index
    └── *.md           # Topic-specific guides

CRITICAL: Spec vs Guide – Know the Difference

Decision Rule: Ask yourself:

• “This is how to write the code” → Put in backend/ or frontend/
• “This is what to consider before writing” → Put in guides/

Example:

Guides should be short checklists that point to specs, not duplicate the detailed rules.

Update Process

Step 1: Identify What You Learned

Answer these questions:

1. What did you learn? (Be specific)
2. Why is it important? (What problem does it prevent?)
3. Where does it belong? (Which spec file?)

Step 2: Classify the Update Type

Step 3: Read the Target Spec

Before editing, read the current spec to:

• Understand existing structure
• Avoid duplicating content
• Find the right section for your update

cat .trellis/spec/<category>/<file>.md

Step 4: Make the Update

Follow these principles:

1. Be Specific: Include concrete examples, not just abstract rules
2. Explain Why: State the problem this prevents
3. Show Code: Add code snippets for patterns
4. Keep it Short: One concept per section

Step 5: Update the Index (if needed)

If you added a new section or the spec status changed, update the category’s index.md.

Update Templates

Adding a Design Decision

### Design Decision: [Decision Name]

**Context**: What problem were we solving?

**Options Considered**:
1. Option A - brief description
2. Option B - brief description

**Decision**: We chose Option X because...

**Example**:
\`\`\`typescript
// How it's implemented
code example
\`\`\`

**Extensibility**: How to extend this in the future...

Adding a Project Convention

### Convention: [Convention Name]

**What**: Brief description of the convention.

**Why**: Why we do it this way in this project.

**Example**:
\`\`\`typescript
// How to follow this convention
code example
\`\`\`

**Related**: Links to related conventions or specs.

Adding a New Pattern

### Pattern Name

**Problem**: What problem does this solve?

**Solution**: Brief description of the approach.

**Example**:
\`\`\`
// Good
code example

// Bad
code example
\`\`\`

**Why**: Explanation of why this works better.

Adding a Forbidden Pattern

### Don't: Pattern Name

**Problem**:
\`\`\`
// Don't do this
bad code example
\`\`\`

**Why it's bad**: Explanation of the issue.

**Instead**:
\`\`\`
// Do this instead
good code example
\`\`\`

Adding a Common Mistake

### Common Mistake: Description

**Symptom**: What goes wrong

**Cause**: Why this happens

**Fix**: How to correct it

**Prevention**: How to avoid it in the future

Adding a Gotcha

> **Warning**: Brief description of the non-obvious behavior.
>
> Details about when this happens and how to handle it.

Interactive Mode

If you’re unsure what to update, answer these prompts:

1. What did you just finish?

   • Fixed a bug
   • Implemented a feature
   • Refactored code
   • Had a discussion about approach

2. What did you learn or decide?

   • Design decision (why X over Y)
   • Project convention (how we do X)
   • Non-obvious behavior (gotcha)
   • Better approach (pattern)

3. Would future AI/developers need to know this?

   • To understand how the code works → Yes, update spec
   • To maintain or extend the feature → Yes, update spec
   • To avoid repeating mistakes → Yes, update spec
   • Purely one-off implementation detail → Maybe skip

4. Which area does it relate to?

   • Backend code
   • Frontend code
   • Cross-layer data flow
   • Code organization/reuse
   • Quality/testing

Quality Checklist

Before finishing your spec update:

• Is the content specific and actionable?
• Did you include a code example?
• Did you explain WHY, not just WHAT?
• Is it in the right spec file?
• Does it duplicate existing content?
• Would a new team member understand it?

Relationship to Other Commands

Development Flow:
  Learn something → /trellis:update-spec → Knowledge captured
       ↑                                  ↓
  /trellis:break-loop ←──────────────────── Future sessions benefit
  (deep bug analysis)

• /trellis:break-loop – Analyzes bugs deeply, often reveals spec updates needed
• /trellis:update-spec – Actually makes the updates (this command)
• /trellis:finish-work – Reminds you to check if specs need updates

Core Philosophy

Specs are living documents. Every debugging session, every “aha moment” is an opportunity to make the spec better.

The goal is institutional memory:

• What one person learns, everyone benefits from
• What AI learns in one session, persists to future sessions
• Mistakes become documented guardrails