With Spec-Driven Development we've come full circle to Big Design Up Front

The text discusses the resurgence of a concept known as spec-driven development, which is being rebranded for the AI era, drawing parallels to the older Big Design Up Front (BDUF) approach. While BDUF was criticized for being slow and rigid, the modern iteration leverages AI to create dynamic, evolving specifications that facilitate collaboration and iterative design. AI tools lower the barriers to maintaining up-to-date documentation and structured planning, making it easier for engineering teams to write clear specifications, document decisions, and decompose tasks into manageable pieces. This new approach also supports the effective use of parallel AI coding agents by providing a shared source of truth, reducing inconsistencies and integration issues. With AI, the process becomes faster and more sustainable, encouraging better upfront design and implementation practices. Furthermore, the text emphasizes the need for improved observability practices to enhance AI-assisted development, ensuring AI agents have the complete context needed for debugging and iteration.